VAN can only provide this support for the UT campus community through our dedicated Volunteer Advocates who make themselves available around the clock, so there is always someone to answer the call. VAN Volunteer Advocates will receive extensive training on victim services best practices and how to develop rapport with victims to provide emotional and practical support and guidance for individuals or witnesses impacted by crime. If you are interested in learning how to integrate a trauma-informed, client-centered approach while using an anti-oppressive lens to support your community members, then this volunteer opportunity is for you.
If you:
- Feel called to serve and care for your community
- See the value in supporting someone during a difficult time
- Enjoy learning new skills and being part of a dedicated team
- Want to contribute to an innovative, ground-breaking approach to community-led first response
Then please consider becoming involved in VAN and showing up for fellow Longhorns!
Benefits to Volunteering
- Connect with a community of care-takers who share your dedication to their fellow Longhorns
- Gain new skills and knowledge; advocates attend monthly trainings to stay informed of best practices. Some training topics have included:
- Criminal/Legal System
- Advocacy with Immigrant Survivors
- Dynamics of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
- Cyber Stalking
- Crisis Intervention
- Grief & Loss
- Vicarious Trauma & Self-Care
- Tap into the many proven benefits of altruism, including improved health outcomes, satisfaction, and increasing sense of belonging
Volunteer Requirements
- 21 years old or older
- UT-Austin employee, former employee, student, student with employee status, or UT Alumni
- Must have a working cell phone
- Must have reliable transportation and state-required insurance for your vehicle
- Must be available for on-call availability, with flexible scheduling options
- Must complete live or asynchronous 2-hour monthly training
Commitment
- Multifaceted training with 5 hours of self-paced, online training, 4 hours of one on one training with a VAN staff member, and 12 hours of APD-UTPD Ride Outs
- Recommended 18 hours (three 6-hour shifts) of on-call availability per month
- 2 hours of required training monthly
Candidacy Process
- VAN Candidacy Process Checklist (DOC)
- Application form (PDF)
- Notarized Release for Background Check form (PDF); (and a "How to find a notary" section)
- Supervisor Approval form (PDF)
- Schedule an interview by emailing victims-network@austin.utexas.edu; review the interview questions (DOC) prior to your interview.
- UTPD Ride-out Instructions form (DOC)
- UTPD Ride-out Agreement form (PDF)
- APD Ride-out Instructions (DOC)
- Complete Psychological First Aid Training module Psychological First Aid (PFA) Online (nctsn.org)
- Complete Victim Advocacy Basics in person or Zoom training with the Program Coordinator Ryann Grindstaff (Ryann.Grindstaff@austin.utexas.edu)
- Attend 2 hour orientation training with VAN staff at a time that works for you
- Access schedule to sign up for shifts and officially activate into VAN!