Volunteer with VOICE

The VOICE Center’s Outreach Volunteer position is intended to create a team that will promote, staff, and help with the VOICE Center’s awareness events and information sessions. Volunteers in this position have partnered with SASA to lead the Take Back the Night March, staffed information tables at orientation fairs, served coffee to students on the mall during the Week of Action, and much, much more.

This position is a relatively low commitment as it does not require an office shift or a monthly meeting. Successful completion of the VOICE Center’s Violence Prevention Workshop is mandatory in order to be considered for this volunteer position. Interested in becoming an Outreach Volunteer? Please contact [email protected]

Victim Advocate Volunteer Position:

Victim Advocates are student volunteers who are trained to provide information, crisis intervention and support services to anyone impacted by sexual assault, relationship violence, or stalking. Services that Peer Advocates provide include answering the crisis line; meeting with survivors one on one; accompanying survivors to help with reporting, accessing medical, legal, and/or other services; talking with friends and family members of survivors about how to best support their loved one. Successful completion of the Violence Prevention Workshop is mandatory to be considered for the advocate position.

Advocate Training Program:

Peer Advocates receive 40+ hours of training, during which time the staff and students work together to build advocacy, interpersonal, and referral skills. The training is very interactive and allows students to obtain practical experience and knowledge in the areas of:

• Advocacy (active listening, non-verbal communication, building empathy, professionalism)
• Confidentiality
• Sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and other forms of gender-based violence
• Properly identifying different forms of violence
• Crisis and Peer counseling
• Oppression and intersectionality in regards to gender-based violence
• Community resources and referrals

The Peer Advocacy Program also offers trainings regarding:

• -QPR (suicide intervention training)
• -SafeZone (LGBTQ inclusivity training)
• -University policies and procedures

The Advocate Training Program is an incredible and intensive training that prepares trainees to work one-on-one with survivors to provide emotional support, options, and resources. This 40 hour training usually occurs in September and October in the fall semester.

Benefits Associated with becoming an Advocate:

In addition to supporting survivors and helping community members, participants experience significant personal growth and professional development as a result of participating in the Volunteer Advocacy Program. Current volunteers have reported the following positive experiences as a result of the Advocacy Program:

• Contributing to the maintenance of a safe and healthy campus community.
• Obtaining experience and familiarity with a formal application and interview process.
• Obtaining the practical skills necessary to intervene in a situation that could result in sexual violence.
• Gaining knowledge within the field of sexual violence, gender-based violence, and oppression.
• Obtaining practical experience in crisis intervention and advocacy on issues of sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking.
• Actively working with clients who have been impacted by sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking.
• Obtaining understanding and ability to gain access to appropriate resources such as law enforcement, legal services, medical healthcare services, MSU offices, and counseling services
• Tremendous personal development and growth.
• Earning letters of recommendation.
• Earning para-professional or internship hours.

Requirements to become a Peer Advocate with the VOICE Center:

• Attend a Violence Prevention Workshop. Contact [email protected] today to learn more.
• Complete the application process (which includes a written application and an interview).
• Attend all 40 hours of the Advocate Training Program.
• Commit to staffing one, 2-hour shift in the VOICE Center office per week.
• Commit to working with the VOICE program for a minimum of one year.
• Attend 1-hour bimonthly meetings

The VOICE Center’s Peer Educator program is intended to create a team of educators to co-facilitate educational presentations to student peers, student organizations, and Bobcat Athletic teams. Peer educators will be required to attend a Peer Educator Training. Peer Educators must also be able to attend a 1-hour meeting each month to receive updates and continued education. Applicants must have successfully completed the Violence Prevention Workshop and the Peer Advocate Training in order to be considered for this volunteer position.  

Current volunteers have reported the following positive experiences as a result of their involvement with the Peer Educator Program:

• Stronger presentation and public speaking skills
• Deeper understanding of primary prevention
• Increased self confidence
• Greater networking on campus
• Leadership opportunities
• Contributing to a safer campus environment

The MSU VOICE Center partners with a student organization that focuses on violence prevention and survivor support at MSU. If you are interested in getting involved, simply attend a meeting and learn how you can help!

• Students Against Sexual Assault (SASA)
  • Link Here