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If you are in danger, please call 911.

If you are not in immediate danger, and need help or advice, call our local 24/7 hot line highlighted in red below.

To reach our office, please call (903) 509-2526

B.I.P.P Program: (903) 579 – 2500

24-Hour Crisis Hotline

800-333-0358

East Texas Crisis Center Office

(903) 509-2526

Make an impact.

Volunteering

Volunteering for the Crisis Center

Volunteers make a difference in the programs and services of the East Texas Crisis Center. Many opportunities are available to those wanting to help end the cycle of violence by donating their time and talent.

The East Texas Crisis Center adheres to the highest standards of ethical conduct regarding clients, co-workers, students and volunteers. We are dedicated to the self-growth, support, and empowerment of all clients. Therefore we require any volunteers and staff who will have direct contact with clients to complete a 40+ hour training program. Training is held twice a year and is usually completed over a two month time frame.

Types of Volunteer Job Assignments

  • Peer Counselors are special friends to women living in the shelter. They maintain contact, by phone and in person, while the client is a resident.
  • Children’s Services volunteers provide constructive supervision at the shelter. Mentors help with homework, play games and provide a caring ear. Afternoon programs, evening support groups and weekend activities will fit almost anyone’s schedule.
  • Hotline Counselors provide crisis intervention and peer counseling to callers on a 24-hour hotline. For added convenience, the hotline can be forwarded to your home.
  • Flamingos resale store is an excellent way to advocate for women and children in need.
  • On-Call Advocates provide support and crisis intervention counseling to victims and their families at local hospitals.
  • Special Services volunteers lend their unique talents to our clients in many ways, including cosmetology, auto maintenance, carpentry, consulting, teaching a craft or performing artistically for residents. This is an area with few limitations!
  • Office Assistants provide much needed assistance to office personnel.
  • Special Events volunteers assist with special events and fund-raising events.
  • Violence Intervention Network volunteers are needed for data entry, letter-writing, and filing.
    Outreach volunteers are needed to assist staff in our Canton and Athens offices with crisis intervention and on-call advocacy.
  • Transportation volunteers assist with the needs of shelter residents.
  • Youth Service Opportunities

Steps to becoming a volunteer

  1. Fill out a volunteer application and a confidentiality statement and consent to a background check.
  2. Schedule a personal interview with program staff.
  3. Program staff will check your references, conduct a background check, and schedule you for training.

For more information on how to be a volunteer for the East Texas Crisis Center, please call 903-509-2526 or email: volunteerprogram@etcc.org.

You can also fill out the Volunteer Application form below:

Please ensure that you complete the form for us to contact you. (We do not retain your information on our web-server. It will be removed immediately after you receive the notification in your email)

Volunteer Application

Volunteer Opportunities Which Volunteer opportunities are you interested in? (Check all that apply) **Criminal Background Check Required for these tasks

Volunteer Availability When can you volunteer?

Language Proficiency Are you bilingual?

Employment Status

May we contact you at work?

Have you ever been convicted for a law violation (other than a routine traffic violation) or are you currently on deferred adjudication or probation?

Please list two references from non-relatives and one from member of your family (other than your spouse)

Photography Consent Occasionally, the East Texas Crisis Center photographs or videotapes volunteers and staff at work in a variety of situations. Images are generally used for:  Display panels used for exhibits at public events or conferences.  Brochures, fact sheets, program materials, reports, calendars, newsletters, etc.  Web page on the internet. Please indicate whether you give permission to the East Texas Crisis Center to use your picture in our public and intra-agency media.

Signature

Code of Confidentiality & Ethics The East Texas Crisis Center adheres to the highest possible standards of ethical conduct regarding clients, co-workers, board members, students, and volunteers. The East Texas Crisis Center is dedicated to the self-growth, support, and empowerment of all clients. The professional relationship between East Texas Crisis Center staff and clients will aim for the highest moral and ethical values possible. Staff includes employees, board members, volunteers, interns, and practicum students. Responsibility to Clients 1. Staff providing direct client services shall maintain the client’s interest as their primary responsibility. 2. Staff should respect the privacy of clients and maintain confidentiality at all times regarding information obtained while providing services, except as otherwise required by law or judicial order. 3. Personal client information should not be disclosed without written consent of the client or client’s legal representative, except in those circumstances in which not to do so would result in clear danger to the client or to others. 4. Client confidentiality must be maintained throughout the work place. Client information will not be discussed in the front office or in the hallways of any Counseling Center. Resident information will not be discussed in the resident’s general living area or administrative hallways. 5. When Counseling Center Staff provide information to co-workers or supervisors, they have a responsibility to ensure that the content is general. Whenever possible, client cases should be staffed without identifying clients by name. 6. Staff should follow the East Texas Crisis Center policy to maintain confidentiality in the storage and disposal of client files and information. 7. When Staff receive supervision or seek consultation outside the East Texas Crisis Center, client information should only be discussed for professional purpose and only with persons clearly concerned with the case. In an effort to avoid undue invasion of privacy, clients should not be identified by name. 8. Staff who present personal client information during the course of professional work in writings, lectures, public forums, or training sessions must obtain adequate prior consent to do so or adequately disguise all identifying information. 9. Staff should make every effort to foster personal growth and empowerment with each client. 10. Staff will give the client a clear description of services, reports, and fees. 11. Staff will avoid dual relationships with clients. Staff will not conduct any relationship with the client other than as professional service provider or violate the position of trust in any manner be detrimental to the client. 12. Staff may not discriminate against clients on the basis of sex, age, race, creed, color, national origin, religion, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or source of income. 13. Information regarding a client’s violation of the East Texas Crisis Center policies or rules may not be used by Staff against that client when the client is working toward improvement, and action on the part of the East Texas Crisis Center would be detrimental toward the client’s continued improvement. Page 2 Confidentiality and Code of Ethical Conduct 14. All Staff involved in direct service to a client will contribute to the decision making process on decisions which affect the type of service provided, length of service, or termination of service. 15. Staff recognize their boundaries of competence and provide only those services, and use only those techniques, for which they are qualified by training or experience. 16. If a client is already in a counseling relationship with another professional person, the staff does not enter into a counseling relationship without first contacting and receiving the approval of that other professional. 17. Staff should screen prospective group participants, especially when the emphasis is on self-understanding and growth through self-disclosure. Staff must maintain an awareness of the group participants’ compatibility with other group members and preserve the integrity of the purpose and goals of the group. 18. When the Staff is engaged in short-term group treatment training programs (i.e., marathons, and other growth groups), Staff ensures that there is professional assistance available during and following the group experience. 19. Confidentiality must be maintained after the employee, volunteer, board member, intern, practicum student, resident, and nonresident leaves the East Texas Crisis Center. 20. The executive director or, in the executive director’s absence, a designated staff must be notified immediately if a court order is served to a current or former employee, volunteer, board member, intern, or practicum student, regarding any program, residents, nonresidents, shelter center activities, or personnel issues. Responsibility to Co-workers 1. Staff will treat co-workers with respect, fairness and courtesy, and shall operate in a regard to clients on principles of good faith. 2. Staff will treat clients of a co-worker with the same respect and professional courtesies which would be extended to their own clients. 3. Staff may not become involved in a dual relationship with a co-worker whom he or she supervises or is supervised by, or any member of the Board of Directors. 4. Staff will not condone or engage in sexual harassment which is defined as deliberate or repeated comments, gestures, or physical contacts of a sexual nature.

Signature

*Submissions deleted from database within 14 days

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24-Hour Crisis Hotline

800-333-0358