Our Incarcerated Survivor Support program (ISSP) hotline receives hundreds of calls every year from survivors throughout Massachusetts. Staff and volunteers work closely together to provide crisis counseling and support for survivors. We also provide resources and referrals through our ISSP mail program.
We are currently seeking ISSP hotline volunteers of all genders. Bilingual in English and Spanish a plus. This volunteer position requires our 40-hour training; see application for dates. You do not need to be a resident of the Greater Boston area, but you do need to live in Massachusetts.
ISSP hotline requirements and details
- Complete 40-hour rape crisis counselor training.
- Attend two mandatory 1.5-hour peer supervision meetings each month.
- Sign up for at least one regular weekly shift. Shifts are usually four hours in length.
- Have access to a landline or a cell phone for use during your shift in a private, secure location.
- Be available for a set time every week that you are taking calls. You know exactly when your shift begins and ends; calls can be taken from your home.
- A desire to work with folks who are experiencing incarceration.
Like all of BARCC’s volunteer opportunities, this role requires a criminal offender record information (CORI) check. The only disqualifying factor would be a history of perpetrating interpersonal violence.