Volunteer Your Time
CCS has a wide range of unique volunteer opportunities available to suit your personal skills and interests. Please download a Volunteer Application and return it to the specified department contact listed below.
Rape Crisis Center
Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Advocates: CCS volunteer SART Advocates provide immediate, in-person support for sexual assault victims during their forensic exams. All volunteer SART Advocates complete our comprehensive 60-hour Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Crisis Intervention Training and an extensive background check before volunteering. A twelve-month commitment of 4 six-hour shifts per month is required. SART Advocates are needed in San Diego and Escondido. To learn more about this unique volunteer opportunity, please call Cara Kiggins at 858.272.5777 ext. 140. Volunteer applications may be emailed to Cara Kiggins at ckiggins@ccssd.org.
San Diego County Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Hotline: Volunteer Hotline Crisis Counselors provide emotional support, information and referrals to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault who call our 24-hour hotline. Completion of our 60-hour Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Crisis Intervention Training is required prior to volunteering. To learn more about this opportunity or send in your volunteer application, please contact Cindy Geldreich at cgeldreich@ccssd.org or 858.272.5777 ext. 147.
Domestic Violence Services
Domestic Violence Residential Counselor: Volunteer Residential Counselors will provide emotional support, education, and crisis counseling to residents of CCS’ two domestic violence emergency shelters. Comprehensive training prepares volunteers to assist survivors of domestic violence in dealing with the traumatic impact of family violence. Residential Counselors may also lead children’s activity groups, women’s support groups, and arts and crafts groups. Volunteers must complete our 60-hour Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Crisis Intervention Training, a Live Scan criminal background check, and a tuberculosis test prior to working in our shelters.
If you are interested in volunteering as a Residential Counselor in East County, please submit your volunteer application to Juli Finch at jfinch@ccssd.org or call 619.631.6442. For North County, please submit your volunteer application to Carmen Maldonado at cmaldonado@ccssd.org or call 760.480.0055.
Prevention and Education
Prevention & Education Community Leaders: CCS offers a variety of volunteer opportunities in our school and community-based programs. Volunteers are needed to lead activities, provide homework assistance, and assist with special events in our school-based programs for kids age 5 to 15. Volunteers are needed to help organize our resource library, participate in our speakers’ bureau, assist with introductory self-defense classes, assist in tabling events, and provide administrative support. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, and want to learn more about getting involved, please send your volunteer application to Jessica Towne-Cardenas at jtowne@ccssd.org or call 858.272.5777 extension 127.
CCS Legal Clinic
Volunteer Legal Advocate: The CCS Legal Department assists victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Volunteer Legal Advocate opportunities for Law Students, Paralegals, and California-licensed Attorneys are available year-round in six locations throughout San Diego County. CCS offers all necessary supervision, information, and documentation needed for school credit, Supervision for Certification by State Bar, or pro-bono requirements. All volunteers are encouraged to complete our comprehensive 60-hour Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Crisis Intervention Training and background check before volunteering. Volunteer Legal Advocates are needed in downtown San Diego, Pacific Beach, El Cajon, La Mesa, Escondido, and San Marcos. Click here for a PDF list of our walk-in clinics. To learn more about this unique volunteer opportunity, please call Kristine Rowe at 858.272.5777 ext. 113. Volunteer applications may be emailed to Kristine Rowe at krowe@ccssd.org.
Clinical Department
Clinical Interns: CCS’ MFT and MSW clinical traineeship/internship program provides candidates with individual, couple, family and group experience counseling women, men, and children affected by relationship violence and/or sexual assault. Individual and group supervision are provided by a licensed MFT supervisor and meet the standard requirements set by the BBS. All interns complete our comprehensive 60-hour Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Crisis Intervention Training and an extensive background check before volunteering. Ongoing training is provided to enhance the trainees/interns experience. Enrollment in a MFT or MSW graduate program is required. Clinical interns are needed in Escondido, Pacific Beach, and La Mesa. To learn more about this unique volunteer opportunity, please call Nelly DeLeon at 760.747.6282 ext. 135. Volunteer applications may be emailed to Nelly DeLeon at ndeleon@ccssd.org.
Resource Development Department
Resource Development Department Volunteers: The Resource Development team operates out of CCS’s Pacific Beach Office and is the primary fundraising arm of the agency tasked with hosting special events, producing marketing materials and nurturing donor relations. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available within this department. Our Public Relations Committee meets monthly and is always looking for volunteers interested in helping us promote our agency’s great work in the community. This is a great fit for individuals with strong writing backgrounds, graphics experience or social networking skills. Our Development Committee (DevCom) also meets monthly and needs new volunteers to help us expand our network of corporate and individual donor contacts. Our PSH Auxiliary is always looking for new members to help us support the needs of clients at our East County residential shelter. In addition, we rely on the help of volunteers to produce several special events throughout the year: Tea on the Town, Chef Showdown and Glowball Golf Under the Stars. Special events volunteers might assist with any number of tasks including: securing auction items, running general errands, or assisting with event set up or tear-down. Additionally, we have a need for assistance in our Pacific Beach office with data entry, answering phones, and database management. If you are interested in volunteering with the Resource Development Department, please submit your volunteer application to Gemma Markham at gmarkham@ccssd.org or call 858.272.5777.
