Chatham-Kent Victim Services is holding a fall volunteer recruitment session to train new community crisis responders.
The agency works in partnership with Chatham-Kent police to provide confidential, immediate emotional support to those affected by crime, tragedy or trauma in the community.
It’s seeking recruits from all backgrounds to volunteer as community crisis responders who provide “emotional support to people in their most painful moments and refer to other community resources that assist them on their healing journey,” a release said.
For example, the agency might be called to support a family just informed of a loved one’s death, it said. “Our crisis responders can be on-scene to offer immediate emotional support.”
Volunteer crisis responders must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Hold a valid driver’s license and have access to a vehicle with adequate insurance
- Have a cellphone and email
- Complete a police vulnerable sector check
- Commit to 36 hours a month of on-call shifts
- Complete mandatory training
Victim services is holding in-person training classes Nov. 4 and 5 from 8:30 am to 5 pm Both training days are mandatory.
To volunteer, apply online at ckvictimservices.com/volunteer.
For more information, contact volunteer and community engagement coordinator Jason Brown, at [email protected].