It is about:
offering crisis-response and long-term support to survivors of sexual assault and abuse—women and men, adults and children, and their partners, friends and families.

It is about:
dedication to empowerment, self-determination, cooperation, equal access to resources and services, a woman's right to reproductive choice, and recognizing and resisting oppression, discrimination and abuses of power.

It is about:
the movement to end sexual violence against women and children, and the right of all people to live free from the fear and reality of abuse, assault, battery and harassment.

  Volunteer & Intern Opportunities
  - Providing peer support to clients
  - Answering the crisis line
  - Leading a support group
  - Staffing information booths
  - Coordinationg events
  - Providing legal/medical advocacy
  - Staffing the office
  - Serving on the Board of Directors
  - Facilitating presentations to community groups
    and students

To Prospective Volunteers,

Welcome to SASS and to the movement to end sexual violence. SASS' mission is to provide services to survivors of past and present sexual assault, and to change societal conditions that allow oppression, especially sexual violence, to exist. Attached you will find a brochure outlining all of SASS' services for the people of Lane County. (Download Agency Brochure PDF, 428k)

Whether you are new to this social/political movement or continuing in your work to end the violence of sexual abuse, I want to thank you for your interest in volunteering at SASS. Before you begin the volunteer training, I want to give you some important information about SASS and the schedule for training so that you may plan accordingly.

Our Direct Service Training puts sexual violence into a political and social context. It is required for all volunteers. The training will begin January 11, 2008 and will take place in the in the Michael Rogers Conference Room at Lane County Mental Health 2400 MLK Blvd. A training schedule with other logistical details is attached along with this. If you have questions about anything, please feel free to call the business line 484-9791 x306, email to find out what you need to know or to arrange a pre-training agency tour. A tour is a good idea if you would like to meet the staff, see the physical space where you will be volunteering and learn more about what we are like as a support community.

Upon completion of the Volunteer Training, each trainee will go through an informal two-way interview with the Volunteer Program Coordinator. This is an opportunity to ask questions of and give feedback to each other. Together we will discuss your interests, skills and additional training requirements necessary to move from a trainee to a regular volunteer. We also have a process of shadowing and supported on the job training for each volunteer job description. You will always be able to receive mentoring as a volunteer at SASS and in time you may become a mentor to newer volunteers.

Each new volunteer training is exciting for the current volunteers and staff because new volunteers (you!) bring new ideas, expertise and energy. The rewards of volunteering at SASS are many. You will have the opportunity to meet new people, work with others towards a common goal, acquire new skills, offer services to survivors, and network with other community agencies. In return SASS encourages initiative, dedication and responsibility on the part of the trainee/volunteer so that we may offer the best possible services to survivors and do the most effective work for social change.

Thank you for your commitment to ending sexual violence and I look forward to working with you at SASS.

Winter 2008 Volunteer Training Schedule

Core Volunteer Training Agenda: Unless otherwise noted, all trainings will take place in the Michael Rogers Conference Room at the Lane County Mental Health Building 2400 MLK Blvd. Call or email the Volunteer Program Coordinator for directions or bus information.

For more information or to ask questions, please feel welcome to call
Shanta Kamath, Volunteer Program Coordinator at 484-9791 x306 or email . SASS is located at 591 W. 19th (NE corner of 19th and Jefferson).

Advanced Advocacy Training

Calling all advocates!! For those with crisis work or advocacy experience.

Dates for the trainings are in the evenings from 5:30-9:30pm:
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008


The training will be held in the Stephen J. Carmichael Room at the Serbu Youth Campus located at 2727 Martin Luther King Blvd., Eugene, OR 97402.

Please call Jessica Gilbertson, the Advocacy Program Coordinator at (541)484-9791 ext. 302 or email to sign up.

Logistics for Winter 2008:
Snacks/Supplies: We will have a few snacks, hot beverages and at least one 10-15 minute break during each morning and afternoon session. Please provide your own lunch or dinner or prepare to buy a meal nearby (Oakway Center?) during the 45-minute break on weekend days or before the Wednesday night sessions. You may also wish to bring extra notebook paper, a favorite pen/pencil, your own mug/beverage container, and a warm sweater, hat, hoody or blanket in case the room is cold.

Cost: The training is offered free of charge. There is a requested $20.00 reimbursement to help cover the cost of the training material and criminal background checks. If you do not wish to keep your training binder, you may choose to return it after training rather than contributing in this way. This term University of Oregon students are not exempt from this arrangement due to a change in our funding.

Registration:
Download, complete, and mail the Volunteer Training Registration Form
OR call 484-9791 to register by phone.

Imagine a World Free From Violence—
and then become part of the solution by joining SASS

Call Us: (541)484-9791(V/TDD)