Board member and volunteer Johnny Mason announces the Take Back the Night race winners with Executive Director Phyllis Miller.
The mission of the DeKalbRapeCrisis Center is to provide support and follow-up services to survivors of sexual assault and their loved ones. To achieve this mission, staff partner with volunteers who are critical to our operation.
DRCC offers many rewarding volunteer opportunities. The majority of our volunteers halp staff the 24-hour Crisis Hotline. The FALL 2010 training classes begin in September. For more information, please call Jamaila Winn at 404-377-1429 ext 4.
In addition to the Crisis Hotline, DRCC has several outreach opportunities and fundraising events that help educate and inform citizen about our services.
Crisis Hotline Advocate DRCC is committed to providing services to all DeKalb residents impacted by sexual assault. The majority of the contacts made with the Center are initiated through the 24-hour crisis hotline. There are a variety of call types that come into the crisis line. A sampling of the types of calls received includes survivors calling immediately post-rape, loved ones needing support and information or community members wanting general information. The volunteer's role is to provide support to these callers using empathy, understanding, good listening skills, and factual information. The Center uses only female volunteers to staff the crisis line (over 90% of our survivor calls are female); however, all genders are strongly encouraged to become trained in crisis techniques to assist significant others, friends, family members, and non female survivors. Hotline advocates also accompany survivors presenting at DeKalb Medical Center after an incidence of sexual assault or offense. In this role, volunteers provide emotional and practical support to survivors, their families or friends, the hospital staff and police investigators. The rape crisis volunteer is the advocate for the survivor in this setting. The goals are to return control to the survivor, to convey information and resources to the survivor and loved ones, and to act as liaison for the survivor with medical and law enforcement personnel.
Event & Office Volunteers Throughout the year the DRCC holds events to support our mission. In the fall, we present ‘A Night In Good Taste’, an evening event with music, food, wine and a silent/ live auction.In the spring, we present a race and walk on the Historic Agnes Scott campus. Once a year we have a jewelry sale in the bandstand in Decatur.All of our events rely heavily on volunteers. Support volunteers may work on a project-oriented basis or as a part of the office staff. Some examples of possible opportunities include program management (database management, committee coordination, assistance with data collection and program evaluation) as well as administrative support (answering phones, information gathering and dissemination, and recruitment). Speaker's Bureau DeKalb Rape Crisis Center actively works to end sexual violence in our community. One approach DRCC takes is through educational programs. Our Speaker's Bureau reaches High School students as well as adult groups. Presentations cover a wide range of topics including Healthy Relationships, Gender Roles, Dating Violence, and Sexual Violence. Members also work together organizing events, giving presentations to community organizations, and disseminating literature about sexual violence and DRCC services. The Speaker’s Bureau is an educational opportunity to enhance presentations skills as well as learn about the root causes of sexual violence in an engaging and supportive environment.
DeKalb Rape Crisis Center 404-377-1429 Office Page updated 02-17-09 204 Church Street 404-377-1428 Crisis Hotline Decatur, GA 30030 info@dekalbrapecrisiscenter.org
