Volunteer Domestic Violence Advocacy

"Domestic violence" is defined as an escalating pattern of coercive control in which one person gains and maintains control over another person in an intimate relationship. This includes family as well as romantic or sexual partners. Abuse does not have to be physical or sexual to be considered abuse.

Domestic violence advocates provide peer counseling and crisis intervention services to people of all genders, sexual orientations, and ages who are experiencing domestic violence.

All volunteer advocates take one weekly shift on our 24-hour hotline. This shift might be a day shift from 9am-5pm or an overnight shift from 5pm-9am. Most people receive an average of 0-3 calls per shift, although call volume fluctuates throughout the year. These shifts are done remotely using a personal cell phone. (Our hotline uses an answering service: the caller is NOT able to see your personal number or info on their end, and you will not see the caller's info either). Assigned shifts remain the same each week unless you request a change because of schedule changes, vacation, illness, or other life factors.

Volunteer advocates have the OPTION of participating in additional DV services:
  • In-person peer counseling during drop-in hours at 303 Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz
  • Legal advocacy (providing in-court services for family law restraining orders on Thursdays from 7:30am-12pm)
  • Survivor support group facilitation (some prior experience in facilitating groups required)
  • Restorative justice (only available on an as-needed basis)
SIgn-ups for these additional services happen near the end of the training.

All volunteer advocates must also attend a monthly virtual meeting. This is called the "professional development meeting" and occurs on the first Wednesday, 5:30-7:30pm PT.

Time Commitment (Minimum)
  • Attend an Info Night session prior to the DV training (1 hour)
  • Complete the DV training and receive your certification (approx. 40 hours)
  • Participate in one weekly shift on the hotline (either 8 or 16 hours)
  • Attend 1 monthly virtual meeting (2 hours)
  • This program asks for a minimum of 12 months.

Department: Advocacy & Prevention
Program: Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence
Supervisor: Amanda Coto (she/her)

If you have additional questions or concerns about this program that are not addressed here or through the online orientation page, please contact our main office at (831) 426-3062 and ask to speak with Amanda.
1.Your full legal name:(Required.)
2.Your preferred name or nickname, if different from your legal name:
3.What pronouns would you like Walnut Avenue to use for you?(Required.)
4.Your email:(Required.)
5.Please reenter your email. (Misspelled email addresses are the most common tech issue we experience.)(Required.)
6.Which seasonal DV training would you like to register for? Completing the DV training is required before participating in any advocacy direct services.

You may review the dates and details of our upcoming trainings here.(Required.)
Policies Regarding All Spring & Fall DV Trainings

By California law, the DV training must be a minimum of 40 hours. Our training is spread out over 4 weeks, which means that you should expect to spend a minimum of 10 hours each week on the training. Each week, 4 of those hours are virtual and 6 are part of a live session on Friday which happens in person at 303 Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA.
7.I reviewed all of the information on the online orientation page. I meet the 4 eligibility criteria, am willing to do a criminal background check, and agree to the Code of Conduct and the policies outlines in the Volunteer Handbook.(Required.)
8.I understand that the Spring and Fall trainings are only for people who are currently volunteering with, or who intend to volunteer with, Walnut Avenue. If I do not intend to volunteer with Walnut Avenue, then I will need to register for a Summer seasonal training.(Required.)
9.I understand that I am being asked to commit 10 hours/week to the DV training for 4 weeks once it begins.(Required.)
10.I understand that if something outside of my control arises which interferes with my ability to participate in the training, including any of the live sessions, then it is my responsibility to communicate as soon as possible with the facilitators.(Required.)
11.I understand that if I miss one or more of the live sessions, then the facilitators cannot guarantee that they will be available to facilitate any makeup sessions to ensure that I complete the minimum hours required by law.(Required.)
12.I understand that completing the training is not guaranteed to result in certification and it is based on a Pass/No Pass rubric assessment. I also understand that I will need to submit a timesheet to the facilitators at the end of the training to receive my certificate of completion, and that the facilitators will provide instructions about the timesheet during the training.(Required.)
13.I understand that once I complete the training and begin participating in direct services as a certified advocate for survivors of domestic violence, I must submit a monthly timesheet of my volunteer hours and attend the monthly virtual meeting on first Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30pm PT.(Required.)
14.What name would you like listed on your certification of completion? This does not have to be your legal name. Please include any special characters or notations.(Required.)
15.After completing the training, volunteer advocates pick a once-weekly hotline shift and, if they want to, may pick shifts in the other services as well (such as Legal). Then they begin their 12 months of service.
  • Spring trainings end mid-May and the official start date for volunteer advocates is June 1.
  • Fall trainings end mid-November and the official start for volunteer advocates is December 1.
Would you be able to start your service in that first week of the month? If not, please explain briefly.(Required.)