Volunteer Opportunities

• Hospital Advocate

Victim advocate will meet a rape victim at a hospital emergency room to provide crisis intervention, information, and resources/referrals during the examination for evidence, or provide advocacy at a police station during the process of filing a report. Hospital advocates will respond to hospitals in the region in which they live. Currently, women only provide victim advocacy. Hospital advocates are asked to be on-call for 2-3 shifts per month. Shifts may be during the day (Monday-Friday from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm), evening/overnight, (Monday-Friday 5 pm-8:30 am), or on a weekend (a weekend shift is 24-hours).

• 24-Hour Crisis Line Advocate

The victim advocate provides support and caring to people calling the 24-Hour Crisis Line. Calls range from rape victims themselves (male and female), significant others of victims, adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and others. Currently, women only staff the 24-Hour Crisis Line.; Crisis/Support Line volunteers are asked to be on-call at least two shifts per month. Shifts may be during the day (Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5:pm), evening/overnight (Monday-Friday 5pm-8:30am), or on a weekend (a weekend shift is 24-hours).

• Rape Survivor Support Group Facilitator

Volunteers work as leaders for the Rape Survivor Support Groups. If you are a survivor, you must have successfully worked through your own issues to an appropriate level. You also must feel comfortable working in a group setting. Volunteers are asked to commit to a weekly session for one year.

• Adult Survivor Support Group Facilitator (S.T.A.R.T Program)

Volunteers work as group leaders for the Adult Survivor Support Groups in the Start and Thrivers Achieve Respect Together (S.T.A.R.T) Program. Facilitators do not need to be adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. If you are a survivor, you must be successfully working through your issues to an appropriate level. You must also be comfortable working in a group setting. Volunteers are asked to commit to a weekly session for one year.

• Children’s Group Facilitator

Volunteers work with an agency therapist as a leader for a children’s therapy group. Facilitators plan activities, prepare activity materials, coordination of children in activities during group, and clean up the space after group. Volunteers must have patience and enjoy working with children. Volunteers are asked to commit to a weekly session (evening hours) for seven weeks.

• Community Educator

Speakers make presentations to community organizations, businesses, hospitals, law enforcement, schools and many other groups. Topics include sexual assault awareness and prevention, child sexual abuse, MOCSA services and more. Volunteers must have effective public speaking skills and be sensitive to the issues of sexual abuse/assault. Speakers may be male and female. Time commitment is dependent upon a number of community education requests and speaker availablilty.

• Project Aware

Volunteers present information in the Kansas City area elementary schools to children in grades K-5. Volunteers teach children to identify sexual abuse, how to protect themselves and what to do if someone tries to touch their “private parts”. Staff members provide teachers and parents with presentation information beforehand. The Project Aware coordinator provides training. Must have effective public speaking skills and be able to relate age-appropriate material to audiences. Daytime availability is preferred.

• Youth Education

Volunteer will provide prevention education to middle and high school students for the purpose of preventing sexual assault. Topics can include: sexual harassment, date and acquaintance rape, drug facilitated rape, healthy and unhealthy relationships, dating violence, safety and prevention, and teen exchange cirriculum. Must have effective public speaking skills and be able to relate age-appropriate materials to audiences. Daytime avilibilty is perferred.

• Information Booths/Exhibits

MOCSA regularly participates in fairs, education booths and public displays throughout the city. Volunteers staff the booths, distribute printed materials, and answer questions about MOCSA and its services.

• Special Events/Fundraising

Volunteers provide assistance with planning and implementing MOCSA special events, as well as fundraising events. The primary goals of this position are 1) To develop resources in support of MOCSA program services 2) To expand community involvement in the goals and activities of MOCSA and 3) To promote positive public image for MOCSA in the community. Special Event/Fundraising volunteers are men and women who enjoy working on special events and occasionally do public speaking. They work closely with MOCSA staff to coordinate various fundraising tasks as well.

• Agency Assistance

Volunteers assist MOCSA staff in several of the program areas. Tasks range from answering the agency phone, preparing mailings, developing newsletters and public relations materials, maintaining databases and more. Agency Volunteers must maintain confidentiality, give and/or receive instructions, work well with others.

• Resource Center

MOCSA has an in-house resource library filled with information about rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse and much more. The Resource Center also has materials focusing on the sexual abuse and assault of the developmentally disabled. The Resource Center includes books, journals, videotapes, and more. Volunteers are needed to review and organize the materials and staff the Resource Center. Volunteer must be able to review materials and communicate the content in writing. Must be organized and work well with others.

Back to the Volunteer page

Please return volunteer applications to:
Lindsay Benson
MOCSA
3100 Broadway, Suite 400
Kansas City, MO 64111

Learn more about MOCSA's history.