Fight Rape Culture! Join Resilience’s Volunteer Program! Support Survivors!

Resilience’s Volunteer Medical Advocates are on-call to provide crisis support in 12 emergency departments throughout Chicago. These advocates provide emotional support to survivors of sexual violence as well as information/resources  regarding their medical and legal rights and options.  With the survivor’s permission, advocates are expected to remain with the survivor throughout the medical examination and/or evidence collection in the hospital.  Crisis support may also be provided to significant others of the survivor (parents, partners, friends, children, etc.).

Okay, I’m In! What’s next?

If you are interested in volunteering, read over the position description and the first step is attending our volunteer training!  We are always accepting applications. Dates are listed on the right side of this webpage. Once you apply at the link below, you will automatically get an orientation invite from us before each training cycle. Training runs four times a year with the same timeframe of Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 5:30-9:30pm and it runs for four weeks. Apply below!

• If you identify as a survivor, it is important that you have processed your experience through counseling and/or other methods and do not feel a sense of crisis in your daily life. We recognize that healing is often a lifelong process.  Typically, we ask that prospective advocates who are survivors wait at least one year since experiencing sexual violence before volunteering. If applicable, it is required that advocates wait at least one year since they have stopped receiving services from Resilience or another rape crisis center before volunteering.
• You are not currently struggling with substance use or self-harm.
• You have a strong support system in place and can identify those who would be supportive of your volunteer experience with a rape crisis center.
• If you are unsure about volunteering, you are always welcome to apply, attend an orientation session, and make your decision with the support of staff who can answer your questions. You are also welcome to reach out to our Advocacy Volunteer Supervisor at volunteer@ourresilience.org with any questions or concerns!