VOLUNTEER
Direct Service Volunteer Opportunities
Part of Ampersand’s role in the community is to provide 24-hour crisis intervention to anyone impacted by sexual violence. This is a great way to give back to your community and connect directly with survivors. In order to provide direct client service, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be 20 years of age or older
- Live within our 17-county service area
- Pass a criminal and Child Abuse/Neglect background check
- Complete our 40-hour training, which we provide three times a year
Click here to view the schedule for the next available training.
Ampersand centers survivor autonomy and empowerment, so the main role of an advocate is to believe and support the survivor. Throughout training you will gain a deep knowledge of survivor rights and options, as well as crisis intervention skills like active listening and safety planning. Direct service volunteers are expected to sign up for at least 4 shifts per month and can provide one or both of the following:
Support Line Advocacy:
Our 24-hour support line provides support to survivors of sexual violence, as well as their loved ones. Support can look different depending on the caller’s self-identified needs.
Medical Advocacy:
Many survivors go to the hospital after experiencing sexual violence. Ampersand will send a trained advocate to any hospital in our service area. The advocate can walk them through their options, such as completing a Forensic Exam or filing a police report, or just be there for emotional support.
Non-Direct Service Volunteer Opportunities
Office, Events, and Outreach Volunteer
If you aren’t able to make the time commitment of providing direct service, this is a great way to contribute to the organization. Help us with a variety of tasks to ensure smooth functioning at Ampersand. Tasks can include filing, organizing, data entry and any specialized skills you might have that could be helpful.
If you are interested in this type of volunteering, please contact our volunteer coordinator at htamadartaza@ampersandky.org
Internship Opportunities
Ampersand accepts undergraduate students for internships during Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. Interns answer our support line and provide medical advocacy during business hours, so they must meet the direct-service requirements. They are also assigned to a program to support when they are not providing direct service. This is a good fit for students who are interested in crisis intervention, non-profit work, or counseling. If you are a graduate student looking for a practicum placement, please reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator to see if we are able to accommodate you.