Volunteer

Volunteer for MOCSA

Volunteers are the cornerstone of our agency and provide important services to the community that otherwise would not exist. Through volunteering at MOCSA, you join a community of diverse individuals who are dedicated to ending sexual violence in our society. Click here to see what MOCSA's volunteers did in 2016.

MOCSA has many volunteer opportunities for people interested in serving their community and working to end sexual violence. You can get involved in direct services to victims, awareness and prevention efforts, fundraising or agency support. MOCSA has opportunities for women and men, survivors and non-survivors. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, in some instances have access to transportation and/or a phone, be sensitive to issues of rape and abuse and have effective communication and listening skills. We so greatly appreciate the amazing passion, dedication and skill that MOCSA volunteers bring to the organization and to the work we do in the community! 

MOCSA's Volunteer Trainings in 2019:

March 30-31
June1-2
August 3-4
September 28-29
November 9-10

Fill out a volunteer application to get started and be a part of an organization that changes lives every day.

Current volunteers please click here to access the volunteer database.

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Check out our video about hospital advocacy volunteers!

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For more information on volunteering, please contact:

Volunteer Coordinator
816-285-1376
volunteer@mocsa.org

How to become a MOCSA Volunteer

  1. Volunteer Application: First, start by completing the volunteer application.
  2. Interview: After MOCSA receives your completed application, the volunteer coordinator will contact you to set up an interview. After the interview, appropriate candidates will be asked to attend training.
  3. Screening: All volunteers must be able to pass criminal and child welfare background checks. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the online application and the included background check forms. Additional forms may be needed if you have resided outside of Kansas or Missouri.
    Kansas Child Abuse and Criminal Record Form
    Missouri Child Abuse and Criminal Record Form
    MOCSA Authorization for Background Checks
  4. Training: The 40-hour initial volunteer training consists of online materials and in-person group learning sessions. For one-time or short-term volunteers, a short orientation may be all that is required.  

After training, you are ready to serve as a MOCSA volunteer!
 

VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

HOSPITAL / VICTIM ADVOCATE
Provide crisis intervention, information, resources and referrals to victims of sexual assault during the forensic exam or while making a police report. Advocate is on-call to respond to hospitals or law enforcement agencies throughout the Kansas City metro area.  Choose one of four metro regions to cover, or become a Metro Floater, providing support at a variety of hospital locations throughout our community. Pick two shifts per month that work best for your schedule:

  • Daytime (Monday-Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm)
  • Evening/overnight (Monday-Friday 5:00pm-8:30am the next morning)
  • Weekend (Saturday or Sunday from 8:30am – 8:30am the next morning)

CRISIS LINE ADVOCATE
Provide emotional support, crisis intervention, information, resources, referrals, and problem solving to victims of sexual violence through the 24-hour crisis line. Advocate is on-call via an after-hours support system. Spanish crisis line opportunities are available for individuals who are fluent in English and Spanish. This is an advanced volunteer position. An applicant must first have experience volunteering with MOCSA in a different role to be considered. Provide minimum coverage of two (2) Crisis Line shifts, one of which is an (A) or (B) shift each month.

  • (A) Friday 5:00 p.m. - Sunday 8:30 a.m.
  • (B) Sunday 8:30 a.m. - Tuesday 8:30 a.m.
  • (C) Tuesday 5:00 p.m. - Friday 8:30 a.m.

COMMUNITY EDUCATOR
Promote awareness and prevention of sexual violence in the community. Time commitment is dependent upon the number of community education requests and speaker availability.

  • Facilitate presentations
  • Participate in health fairs and other outreach efforts in the community.
  • Share victim impact stories as appropriate as part of the Speaker’s Bureau.

YOUTH EDUCATOR
Promote awareness and prevention of sexual violence in the schools. Daytime availability is required for 2 half-day presentations or 1 full-day presentation per month.

  • Project Aware: Provide educational presentations to children grades K-5 on how to identify sexual abuse and how to get help if someone tries to abuse them.
  • Teen Education: Provide prevention and awareness education to middle and high school students on a variety of topics related to sexual violence and healthy relationships.

SPEAKERS BUREAU
The Speakers Bureau consists of survivors of sexual violence who are comfortable with public speaking and are willing to share their stories with various audiences. Members have opportunities to represent MOCSA and provide awareness and education to the Kansas City community. Additional reuirements must be met to become a member of the Speakers Bureau. For more information, contact the volunteer coordinator. 

SPECIAL EVENTS / FUNDRAISING
Promote awareness of MOCSA services, volunteer recruitment, and fundraising through organizing and hosting small scale events or assisting with MOCSA's annual special events. Volunteer must enjoy working on special events and be comfortable with public speaking. Time commitment is flexible and can be arranged around your schedule.

AGENCY SUPPORT
Assist MOCSA in a variety of areas. Time commitment is flexible and can be arranged around your schedule. Opportunities include:

  • Answering the agency phone
  • Preparing mailings
  • Developing newsletters
  • Maintaining MOCSA databases
  • Managing the MOCSA Resource Library
  • Serving on agency or board committees

INTERNSHIPS

MOCSA partners with local universities to provide field learning opportunities for students earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work, counseling and human services. Requests from students seeking internships or service learning opportunities on an individual basis, and/or for summer or semester long timeframes, are fully reviewed and considered based on the student and agency’s needs and requirements.

Internship and practicum responsibilities include providing crisis line and advocacy support to clients, and may include facilitating individual and group counseling services, organizing community education and outreach efforts, and assisting with program development and event planning.

Use the following links to find out more about our program: 
Letter from Intern Program Coordinator about Master's Level Internships
Description of Master's Level Internship Positions
Letter from Fellowship Program Coordinator about Master's Level Internships 
Description of Master's Level Fellowship Positions 
Letter from Volunteer Coordinator about Bachelor's Level Internships
Description of Bachelor's Level Crisis Line and Advocacy Internships
Description of Bachelor's Level Project Aware Internship
Description of Bachelor's Level Prevention Internship
Description of Bachelor's/Master's Level Human Resources Internship
Bachelor's Level Internship Application

 

 Frequently Asked Questions about volunteering for MOCSA

Q: Who can volunteer?
A: MOCSA has opportunities for women and men, survivors and non-survivors. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, in some instances have access to transportation and/or a phone, be sensitive to issues of rape and abuse, and have effective communication and listening skills.

Q: What is the time commitment?
A: Volunteer commitment is typically one year and time commitment varies based on position. However, there are also opportunities for short-term or one time volunteers.

Q: What opportunities does MOCSA have for volunteers?
A: MOCSA has several opportunities for people interesting in serving their community. You can get involved in direct services to victims, awareness and prevention efforts, fundraising, or agency support.

Volunteer Coordinator
816-285-1376
volunteer@mocsa.org