Volunteering with Rape Trauma Services has led me to feel more connected with my community and those in need of support. The state-certified training was thorough and well-organized, and both staff and volunteers are very passionate people from all walks of life who are doing some of the most difficult work in the world. I am proud to be affiliated with this great non-profit that continues to rise above the challenges set by the pandemic and current sociopolitical climate in order to provide top-notch support and resources to those who need them.
RTS is truly amazing. I love volunteering here - I received extensive training, amazing ongoing support, and the opportunity to work with a flexible schedule. The RTS team truly cares about the well-being of their clients, and volunteers alike.
RTS is one of the most meaningful experiences that I had and still have as a volunteer and clinician. I feel honored and proud to be part of an organization that makes a real difference in the lives of survivors of sexual violence. Together we make the unspeakable spoken and the unheard heard, and this is where healing from trauma often begins.
I am a volunteer sexual assault counselor with RTS, and have also received counseling from them in the past in my own time of need. The support that each member of staff and volunteer has given me exceeds all expectations. They have helped me realize the inner strength I have within to both heal myself and help others on their healing journey, and also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in trauma counseling in my future.
I went through volunteer sexual assault training, and their training was excellent. I couldn't have been more prepared for the experience. Meeting the facilitators and my fellow volunteers was a life-changing experience. It's amazing they have managed such high-quality training during COVID.
I found RTS when looking for opportunities to become more involved in my community, and I am so glad that I did. This organization provides an immense amount of education and support to their volunteers, and is incredibly inclusive. If you are looking for a wonderful group of people to learn from and want to contribute to an organization that makes a huge impact by supporting survivors of sexual assault, I can’t recommend RTS enough. I really feel a part of a close-knit community with RTS, and am happy to support an organization that works so hard to provide these vital services.
I volunteer as a sexual assault crisis counselor at RTS, and have nothing but good things to say! RTS provided incredible training and has made me feel like a welcome part of their community from day one. I admire their dedication to supporting survivors in a way that incorporates social justice and intersectionality. RTS does a great job supporting volunteers so that we are able to support survivors, making sure that communication is open and we can always ask for help. I’m so glad to know that RTS is a resource in my community!
Joining RTS as a volunteer has been awesome. I have learned a lot and the staff is very warm. I am very happy being able to be an advocate for those whose voices may be not heard or those who are going through difficult times. Being here allowed me to connect in a deeper level with others and find enriching experiences.
RTS supports the community in a way that is critical and has a long standing impact. Youth and adults learn from the enriching programs that are provide and those in crisis get the one on one help they need. This is an amazing way to create change in our community.
I've seen firsthand the way that the support that RTS provides to survivors can help change and save lives. The mere fact that there is a trained volunteer available to listen to someone who is in crisis has been monumental to the healing process for many callers.
Rape Trauma Services has become one of the most significant places and experiences in my life. The staff and the organization has been a support for me in my personal and professional life. I am deeply grateful and humbled by their work and the growth they help others reach.
RTS is providing a necessary service for our community. They give voice to the voiceless, strength to the wounded and most of all compassion outside of judgement. I spent a year volunteering with RTS and the work can often be heavy. The nature of the work makes it such that it is not suitable for all people but for those feel like they can handle real situations this is important work. The ability to demonstrate compassion with people in trauma is what they train the volunteers for but it is the constant compassion RTS's staff that enables volunteers to thrive. The training is a lengthly but I feel it truly does a lot to prepare volunteers to what they face and the staff is always available if things get tough.
Words cannot represent how impressive of an organization RTS is. I'd easily recommend them to anyone that is seeking help from trauma and on the volunteer side, this organization is great for those looking to make a true impact on people's lives.
RTS is an absolutely amazing organization. They make a real difference to so many people when it really matters. I’m truly privileged to have participated in volunteering with them, and they were always so welcoming and supportive even though I’m a guy. I can hardly think of a place where you can help so effectively with emotional healing in a very real tangible way. They will always hold a safe space to listen and validate and empathize. They are a real blessing in this world, and every one of the staff and volunteers are such wonderful kind amazing people.
I've been a volunteer at Rape Trauma Services for over a year, and I can honestly say it has been a truly transformative experience for me. Not only have I learned about trauma, cycles of violence, and how to better help those in my community, I have learned to identify some of my own biases and shortcomings as a person. I could not recommend volunteering at Rape Trauma Services more.
Wonderful group of people working here. As a volunteer I always felt supported and appreciated in the work I was doing. Amazing organization that truly does everything in their power to help survivors and families!
RTS is an incredible group! The staff is so dedicated and the services they provide are much needed.
The support RTS provides survivors, and anyone seeking an advocate is indescribable. I hope what I say will do it justice and truly depict the amazing work everyone at RTS does. For the past few months I’ve been a volunteer, I’ve been able to support survivors of varying degrees and cases. Many people ask me “How do you do it? Listen to people’s stories all day?” I understand. Sometimes, the stories are so heavy it can mar your outlook in humanity and maybe even shake your faith. But, we’ve all had a moment or moments when we just needed someone. A friend, family member, partner, pet, etc. to be there in silence or in sound. We all need someone. It’s what connects us as humans.
So if in a moment I can be that person, I will be. Someone who is not questioning them about the details of the incident, or examining them. I ask if they want a blanket, have gotten something to eat, or drink, or touch on lighter subjects in case they just want to talk about something to distract themselves with. Being a volunteer has been the most rewarding experience of my life. I can’t put into words how much it means to me to not only have support at RTS as a volunteer, but to help support people who have fought their way through trauma. RTS is amazing and so much more. Your cup will runneth over with love, compassion, and solidarity.
I came to RTS after my college sexual assault by a police officer. RTS offered me counseling and also opened the door for me to volunteer as a sexual assault peer counselor. My experience as a counselor was immeasurably helpful to my healing. I was able to help other survivors of assault - children, teenagers, and adults. RTS provides me the opportunity to tell my story publicly and that’s also been super helpful - I get to educate my community and shed the feelings of shame and guilt that come with sexual assault.
I volunteered as a trauma counselor with RTS from 2013 to 2015. My experience there was truly great. The training classes offered a profound depth of knowledge and sensitivity to the experience of survivors from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Serving with RTS, I was continually impressed with the collaborative efforts the organization made with others in the community (schools & educators, law enforcement, social services, etc.) while maintaining a steadfast commitment to the safe & private advocacy and to the healing journey of survivors, while also showing to a deep care & respect for their volunteer trauma counselors. As a result, the work was very impactful and also personally meaningful. I highly recommend working with (or seeking services with) RTS.
Rape Trauma Services (RTS) is one of the most impactful, critical, and important nonprofits I have ever had the pleasure of working with. They have helped countless people navigate the challenging landscape of sexual assault from informative and interactive presentations around prevention all the way to ongoing services for those grappling with the aftermath of an assault. By providing a 24 hour hotline, in-person crisis support, one-on-one counseling both in the office and out in the community (including schools), and prevention materials they truly meet everyone where they are and provide what they need. In addition to this amazing work with clients, they also turn that attentiveness and strengths-based approach inward and are remarkably through in their training and support of their staff. I cannot recommend this nonprofit enough, I only wish there were more like them!
I've been volunteering as a sexual assault counselor (SAC) with RTS for two years and I love it. The staff is very organized and always willing to answer questions and help out. I know I'm making a difference in my community because I have so many friends that have experienced sexual assault and when they find out I volunteer with RTS they almost always say something like "I really wish I'd known that RTS exists. Being able to talk to a SAC would have helped me a lot." If you're thinking about volunteering with RTS, or using their services, I highly recommend it!
After experiencing a frightening night, triggering memories of past a molesting, I called the RTS hotline and was able to share my immediate feelings, not slip into a deep depression, and in general got the help I needed. I was put back onto my healing path. I thank everyone that associates with this wonderful organization!