Application Process to Join S.O.S.
The members of S.O.S. welcome anyone interested in becoming a victim advocate. At the moment S.O.S. is a volunteer experience but we are hopeful that we will be able to offer it as a paid opportunity in the coming months. We are looking for people who are interested in providing support for survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence & stalking via our 24 hour crisis service, and providing support for those who are assisting survivors. S.O.S. serves anyone in the UD community: faculty, staff, undergrads, graduate students, parents, family and friends of survivors. Volunteers also present prevention-based educational programs on campus. Applicants do not need to have studied gender-based violence, as training is provided. We are looking for people who can listen to the wide range of feelings that accompany these very traumatic offenses, convey empathy, and provide information and options to callers. It is important that applicants evaluate their existing time commitments and time management skills. It is also important that applicants consider their own experiences with sexual misconduct, their healing process, support system, coping strategies, wellness or self-care plan, and have reached a place of emotional and psychological readiness to assist other survivors.
We are looking for volunteers who, once trained, are willing to:
- Be involved in SOS for at least 1 year after training
- Take shifts on the 24 hour helpline, assisting survivors or parents, friends, UD staff who call
- Provide audience support at potentially triggering campus events, deliver SOS educational programs, provide SOS info & materials at campus fairs and events
- Attend meetings at least once/month
- Conduct interviews of new candidates (November)
- Help, in any of a variety of ways, at our annual training program (January)
- Abide by the ethical guidelines and reporting mandates that SOS advocates are required to follow
If you are interested in applying, follow these easy steps:
- Read this page completely before filling out the application form. Our training program is mandatory for new volunteers. You must be able to commit to all of the training dates in order to apply. Read our answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” about joining S.O.S.
- After you have read everything on this page, click on the “Online Application Form” button at the bottom.
- Fill out and submit the application form. If you have difficulty with the online form, contact us at Student Wellness & Health Promotion, 305 Warner Hall, 302-831-3457 or email sos-non-crisis@udel.edu.
- After the application deadline, you will be contacted with more information.
- Interviews will be held in November.
- Our goal is always to notify applicants of their status by the end of November (before Thanksgiving break begins, if possible.)
- Mandatory Training is held in January and during the Spring.
Our application period is now OPEN. Deadline to apply is Fri, Oct. 28th at 5pm. Interviews will be held in November. Mandatory training is held January through March for those accepted.
The interviewing process consists of up to two interviews with S.O.S. members; applicants will be interviewed by current S.O.S. members and may be asked back for a second interview. For ease in scheduling, the form asks applicants to list the names of any current S.O.S. members whom they know. Our goal is to arrange interviews with people whom applicants do not yet know. Please allow one full hour for the interview, though the entire hour may not be needed. Interviews provide a casual opportunity for us to begin to get to know the applicants and for applicants to ask any questions they may have about S.O.S.
Training is critical and thus, if an applicant cannot commit to all training sessions, she or he cannot be accepted as an S.O.S. member.
Each applicant must be able to attend all training sessions in order to be considered. In the event of inclement weather for these weekends, we will postpone if necessary. Training is extensive and serves to: develop the group as a trusting team; cover the critical information you need to be an effective victim advocate; provide you with the practice necessary to prepare you for beeper duty; and prepare you to be able to conduct educational sexual assault programs. Training is mandatory for new volunteers, which means that your attendance is required at all of the following training sessions. Details regarding meals, housing, and training locations will be provided to you prior to the first training session.
S.O.S. Training is NACP-Pre-Approved:
Trainees who successfully complete all 40 hours of S.O.S. Training will be eligible to apply for certification in victim advocacy through the National Organization for Victim Assistance’s National Advocate Credentialing Program at the Provisional Level. (Learn more about NOVA, which is the oldest national organization providing certification credentials for victim advocates in the U.S.) With additional experience and training, advocates may seek NACP certification at the Basic, Intermediate or Advanced level. In this way, S.O.S. training and experience is an asset for those intending to pursue a career in victim services or advocacy.
SOS TRAINING is mandatory to become a volunteer victim advocate. The first 30 hours of training are mandatory to be able to take duty shifts on the UD Helpline and conduct programs. SOS training plans will depend on what is happening with the status of campus classes being virtual, in-person, or hybrid. In years past we have held the first 30 hours over 2 weekends in January. In 2021, we held one weekend of training in January, and are engaged in 7 consecutive weeks of Tuesday night sessions.
ADDITIONAL TRAINING is required for the NACP certification. 10 additional hours of training hours are required for trainees seeking NACP Certification, and are recommended for all new advocates.
Note to Seniors: It is S.O.S.’ policy not to accept graduating seniors UNLESS you know you will remain in this area after graduation for at least one more semester. Often it takes until mid-way through Spring semester for newly trained volunteers to start taking duty shifts on the Helpline. Therefore, it is not a good investment of time and resources to train new advocates who cannot serve the organization for at least 2 semesters. It is also a poor investment of your time and energy if you are unable to get a fair amount of experience after training. If you have additional questions about this policy, please call.
ONLINE APPLICATION FORM
We thank you for your interest in S.O.S.! If you have any questions about the application process or training:
email us at sos-non-crisis@udel.edu
or call Student Wellness at 302-831-3457 and ask for the S.O.S. Coordinator
or stop by Student Wellness & Health Promotion on the 3rd floor of the Wellbeing Center at Warner Hall.