Counselor Advocate Training Winter 2026

Peace Over Violence is getting ready to start our Winter 2026 Counselor Advocate Training! 

Why: We truly cannot do the work without our volunteers and to donate your time is extremely rewarding to the agency and the survivors we serve. We look forward to seeing your application and becoming a part of the movement to end sexual and domestic violence.

Who: Peace Over Violence is a non-profit, feminist, multicultural, volunteer organization dedicated to a building healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence. To achieve this mission our agency manages five departments delivering the services of Emergency, Intervention, Prevention, Education and Advocacy.

What to Expect: The main Function of the Counselor Advocate Volunteer is to provide supportive counseling, information and referrals, and advocacy services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and their significant others (friends and family).

• Provide information, support, advocacy and accompaniment services to callers on LA Rape and Battering Hotline and Emergency Response Services; shift is taken from volunteers’ own residence
• Provide advocacy, information, support and referrals through our DART Program. This shift will take place at one of our four LAPD Divisions; Hollenbeck, Central, Northeast or Hollywood.
• Respond to service area hospitals, clinics, and/or law enforcement agencies to provide support for victims/survivors of Sexual Assault and/or Domestic Violence and participate in Peace Over Violence Sexual Abuse Response Team (SART) and Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART). This will include response to hospitals without a SART center.
• Commit to a monthly interchange of the hotline and ERT and DART program.
• Provide sexual assault crisis intervention services at sites other than the hospital or over the phone, as directed by a staff supervisor.
• Provide and offer Follow-up and Advocacy services for callers or survivors of Sexual and Domestic Violence
• Provide personal, confidential peer counseling to survivors of sexual and domestic violence and significant others.
• Assess clients’ needs for additional services and make appropriate referrals.
• Complete forms required for additional services and make appropriate referrals.
• Complete forms required for client files or service provision records. COUNSELOR ADVOCATE VOLUNTEER DART, Hotline & Emergency Response Team
• Make self accessible for weekly supervision by the Volunteer Supervisor and/or Division Manager
• Maintain regular communication with Staff/Program Coordinator with reference to program needs, problems, service difficulties with other agencies and updated volunteer information (phone number, address, etc.)
• Assist in the implementation of special events (in-services, booths, fundraisers, etc.)
• Attend monthly in-service meetings through out the year.
• In-Service meetings are mandatory in order to maintain (CALEMA) counselor/advocate certification and confidentiality privileges.
• Other duties may be assigned.

• Must attend and successfully complete Peace Over Violence’s state approved Counselor Advocate training leading to certification as certified sexual assault victim counselor/advocate.
• Must participate and pass all practice role plays before the end of the Counselor Advocate training.

• Volunteers are expected to maintain a weekly shift. While it is acceptable to take a week off, it is the volunteer’s responsibility to do so, and to communicate any changes with the program director. Multiple shift changes, may lead to finding a more convenient shift or from being removed from the schedule.

• The community we serve is extraordinarily diverse, and volunteers should be comfortable providing services to various populations, including: LGBT, individuals with disabilities, immigrant and/or undocumented individuals, and people from various ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Due to our large monolingual Spanish-speaking population, bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Must be 18 years or older
• Applicants must have an interest in assisting sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, elder abuse, teen survivors and their significant others.
• Give consent to Peace Over Violence to conduct a background check
• Complete Peace Over Violence’s (CALEMA approved) Counselor Advocate Training
• Must have good communication and interpersonal skills
• Have reliable transportation (valid California driver’s license and auto insurance)
• Must be able to attend all mandatory training sessions during the Counselor Advocate training and all in-service continuing education session once a month
• Commit to one year of volunteering a five-hour weekly shift with Peace Over Violence
• Successfully pass a Department of Justice background check.

Have Questions or Need Accommodation? Email the Opportunity Coordinator below.  

This opportunity is managed by an L.A. Works partner, Peace Over Violence.

All volunteers participating in this volunteer opportunity are expected to adhere to the health and safety guidelines outlined here: /www.laworks.com/health-and-safety  

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By clicking "Express Interest" I certify I have read and agree to the Volunteer Terms and Conditions.