For The Child, the local nonprofit child-prevention agency, is seeking volunteers for its Child Abuse Response Team, which responds to daytime, nighttime and weekend crisis calls when a child (infant to 14) has been sexually abused.
For The Child’s volunteers are part of the larger Sexual Assault Response Team, which includes forensic nurses and law enforcement, as well as potentially the Department of Children and Family Services and the District Attorney’s office. Volunteer team members serve as child advocates and meet children at area hospitals with teddy bears, games and information to help them through the medical exam. They also provide parents with information and referrals for assistance. The team rotates coverage and schedules to accommodate the members’ needs and availability.
Participation requires 40 hours of training, which will begin Tuesday, July 13 at 6pm at 4565 California Ave., lasting three hours. Potential volunteers must be interviewed before that meeting and have begun the screening process (fingerprinting, DMV check, references). The remaining training sessions last through Tuesday, Aug. 24.
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(562) 422-8472