Community Needs From: Gonzaga University

Our next training will be held in October 2025. See the schedule below. Please reach out if you have any questions or would like to become a volunteer!

Are you looking to build your resume, network with like minded individuals, and provide meaningful services to folks in need? Then this may be the perfect opportunity for you!

This unique volunteer experience provides valuable tools for navigating crisis and conflict by empowering and supporting survivors in the aftermath of abuse and trauma. Our volunteers often refer to their service with us as life changing. We are a small team of individuals from diverse backgrounds who embrace our mission of health, justice, and hope.

The Sexual Assault and Family Trauma Center, a program of Lutheran Community Services Northwest, hosts Spokane's only Certified and Accredited Community Sexual Assault Program (CSAP). Our program provides the following services confidentially and free of charge:

Information and referral Legal advocacy Medical advocacy Crisis intervention & support Education & prevention Support groups

Our volunteer advocates assist survivors via a 24-hour support line that can be directed to volunteers at home (no need to sit in a call center) and medical advocacy, which is provided to victims in person at area hospitals when requested.

As a non-profit, we rely on our volunteers to provide services to survivors outside of business hours. We provide a comprehensive 40-hour training and certification free of charge, as well as ongoing supervision and 24-hour support for all our volunteers. We invest in our volunteer staff and in turn, we ask for a one-year commitment of service and four evening or weekend shifts per month. Applicants are thoroughly screened and vetted for service.

Core training is a 40-hour total class teaching a foundational understanding of sexual violence and basic skills for new sexual assault service providers. Core training is a certification that is required by the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy to work as a victims' advocate in Washington state.

October Core Schedule

Monday, October 6th, 5:30pm-8pm, Virtual
Orientation, Sexual Assault and Oppression Wednesday, October 8th, 5:30pm-8pm, Virtual Child Abuse and Confidentiality  Saturday, October 11th, 9am-1pm, In-Person Advocacy, Trauma-Informed Care, and Crisis Intervention Monday, October 13th No Training Session Wednesday, October 15th, 5:30pm-8pm, Virtual  Medical Advocacy Saturday, October 18th, 5:30pm-8pm, In-Person Medical Advocacy Cont. Monday, October 20th, 5:30pm-8pm, Virtual Role Plays Wednesday, October 22nd, 5:30pm-8pm, Virtual  Legal Advocacy Monday, October 27th, 5:30pm-8pm, Virtual Self Care, and Policy and Procedure Wednesday, October 29th, 6pm-8pm, In-Person Crisis Response Advocate Team Meeting Graduation

For more information, please contact our Volunteer Supervisor at (509) 343-5011 or email crisisresponseteam@lcsnw.org

Apply by clicking here!

Spokane's community sexual assault program needs help recruiting and packaging donations for clothing and self-care kits for survivors of sexual assault.

Sexual assault is a crime of power: a victims control and decision is stripped from them by the perpetrator. In the immediate aftermath of the crime, many survivors seek help from law enforcement and go to a hospital to receive medical care and have evidence collected from their body. The process of participating in a sexual assault examination can often feel revictimizing and dehumanizing for survivors. Part of this procedure requires that the victim gives their clothes as evidence to law enforcement in the hospital at the time of the police report. While some area hospitals provide sweats for the survivor to go home in, some only provide scrubs or a hospital gown. 

The process of participating in a sexual assault examination can often feel revictimizing and dehumanizing for survivors. Part of this procedure requires that the victim gives their clothes as evidence to law enforcement in the hospital at the time of the police report. While some area hospitals provide sweats for the survivor to go home in, some only provide scrubs or a hospital gown. 

Our agency would like to equip victim advocates responding to survivors in emergency rooms with bags of clothing and items that restore dignity and provide comfort to survivors of trauma. 

If you would like more information about facilitating a clothing drive please contact our advocacy volunteer coordinator at (509)343-5021 or ecarden@lcsnw.org

http://www.volunteerspokane.org/need/detail/?need_id=269097