I got my Internship!!!

Today at 8:30 a.m. I traveled down to 180 N. Michigan Ave., which is wonderfully placed almost directly across from Millennium Park (aka the Bean), so I could have my interview with Rape Victim Advocates (RVA). I got there fifteen minutes early, and spun through the revolving doors to find a pleasantly cheerful doorman who directed me up to the sixth floor. I find suite 600, and ring the doorbell (every office in Chicago seems to be locked, even my ACM office you have to be let in). Laquita, a vibrant young woman comes to the door, tells me to sit down for a moment and that she’ll be with me soon. I’m then placed into a room filled with thirty chairs but no table (they hold counseling sessions in here), handed a piece of paper and then she says she’ll be back to conduct the interview after I read the paper.

RAPE VICTIM ADVOCATES

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Advocacy Volunteer Program Intern

General Role Description: The Advocacy Volunteer Program Intern is responsible for assisting the advocacy team in providing medical advocacy to survivors of sexual violence and the Volunteer coordinator on program projects. The intern will provide crisis intervention, emotional support, medical advocacy, legal advocacy and appropriate referral/linkages to sexual assault victims/survivors and their significant others through the emergency department of contract hospitals, telephone crisis calls, and walk-in requests. The intern will also help other volunteers with trouble shooting and shift responsibilities.

Responsibilities:

1. Provide crisis intervention, emotional support, and medical/legal advocacy to survivors seen in the emergency department. One 12-hour shift per week will be required once training is completed.

2. Provide referrals and linkages to necessary follow-up services for sexual assault survivors, including temporary housing, food, clothing, locksmith services, substance abuse treatment, counseling, and court accompaniment.

3. Provide crisis intervention, as well as information and referrals via the office telephone.

4. Provide support and information to family members/significant others.

5. Attend meetings that encompass the Advocacy program, as available (e.g. Detective Oversight, State’s Attorney, WUASA/Regional Advocates Meeting).

6. Maintain accurate and complete records of all services delivered, including inputting data into the client database.

7. Assist the medical advocacy volunteer program with volunteer recruitment, scheduling and material preparation.

8. Complete projects designed specifically for the internship, which could include any of the following:

1. update the RVA active Volunteer and volunteer recruitment database
2. research potential new topics and update present topics for trainings and in-services
3. Survey of volunteer advocates

9. Attend health fairs and college events that welcome RVA volunteer opportunities for recruitment.

10. Assist Volunteer Coordinator with planning of potential events (e.g. Remembrance Day, Annual Appreciation Even, SAAM Events, and In-services).

11. Opportunity to attend a minimum of 40-hour intensive training and certification on sexual assault, which is included as part of the internship

The Advocacy Volunteer Program Intern requires strong interpersonal skills, an ability to advocate for the needs/rights of others, and good verbal and written communication skills. Completion of a minimum of 40-hour sexual assault training is required.

Thirty minutes later, Laquita offered me the internship.

Moral to the story: I’M SUPER EXCITED!!!

-elle

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