Each year SAFE volunteers dedicate thousands of volunteer hours, extending our reach and capacity to support survivors and families in our community. Due to the complex and sensitive nature of our mission and work, careful training, screening and placement of volunteers is essential. Providing a comprehensive, trauma informed training program offers support and helps build critical advocacy skills for direct service volunteers. It is a key step towards ensuring optimal care and safety for the children, youth and adults we serve.

 

To that end, there are costs associated with volunteering at SAFE.  It is very important to note, payment is not required to be a volunteer at SAFE.

 

Volunteer Fees, Scholarships and Reimbursement Options

Fingerprinting/Criminal Background Check Fees: Costs Vary – It typically starts at $10 and can go up to $43

 

Background checks are required of most direct service volunteers.  Fingerprint based checks are required for volunteers who are on our Children’s Shelter campus and volunteering in an ongoing capacity (more than once a month). This is a requirement of SAFE due to our child care licensing facility designation.

 

TB Testing (for SAFE’s Children Shelter Campus only): Costs Vary

Our child care licensing requirements require that SAFE volunteers at our Children’s Shelter Campus undergo a TB test prior to beginning their volunteer service.

 

40-Hour Core Advocate Training Fee:

SAFE’s Core Advocate Training brings together experts in the fields of sexual and domestic violence, child welfare, trauma-informed care, and prevention work. This foundational training and covers topics ranging from The Neurobiology of Trauma; Power, Privilege and Oppression; Effective Advocacy Skills for Working with Survivors, and integrates the powerful voices of those with lived experience in a Survivor Panel. It is full of experiential activities designed to build community and offer a starting point to those interested in doing direct service work with children, youth and adults affected by trauma.

  • Training Fee for Volunteers: $150
  • Partial and Full Training Scholarships Available
  • Training Fee for Outside Organizations + Community Members: $300

 

Volunteer Scholarships and Background Check Reimbursement Options:

If the training fee or background check fee is a financial hardship, we are able to offer volunteers scholarships to assist with training fees and discuss payment options for background check costs. To inquire about Core Advocate Training Scholarships or discuss background check fees, please contact the Volunteer Services Team at SAFEvolunteer@safeaustin.org.

 

Training fees and scholarship requests are due before training begins. Training fees are nonrefundable.