Castle Rock’s Victim’s Assistance Program is calling all
volunteers.
Requirements: compassion, flexibility, quick thinking,
willingness to work with local law enforcement agencies and a good
heart, said program coordinator Carole Malezija.
The program trains volunteers to help victims of crime and those
affected by accidents or other misfortunes, she said. Volunteers
are on-call during evening and weekend hours to provide
information, follow-up support and referrals to those in
need.
“They’re really making a difference for somebody,” Malezija
said.
She’s hoping to line up five or more volunteers by August to
complete the 40-hour training it takes to qualify as a victim’s
assistant.
Volunteers work with victims of domestic violence, sexual
assault, traffic accidents, homicides and suicides, and are also
counseled to deal with their own emotions that arise from handling
such cases.
Training includes role-playing, hands-on learning and expert
speakers on everything from sudden infant death syndrome to the
Victim’s Bill of Rights. The training, Malezija said, is
transferable beyond the program.
“It’s the kind of training that anyone can utilize throughout
their lives,” she said.
Marsha, who volunteers only by her first name to ensure safety,
has been with the program for six years. The main idea is to give
the victim back some type of control as quickly as possible, she
said. When accidents or tragedy strikes, that is often the first
thing victims deal with – a loss of control. By providing
information and resources, victims gradually begin to regain their
lives.
“Sometimes that takes one night, sometimes it’s for an extended
period of time,” Marsha said.
Volunteers are generally escorted by police and are trained to
recognize potentially dangerous situations. Their safety, Malezija
said, is a top priority.
Dealing with people who are scared, confused or overwrought is
not for everyone, Marsha said. Assistants must be careful not to
overstep their roles as providers of information and support – a
task easier said than done.
“Each incident that I go through, I learn from it,” she said. “I
try very hard to separate it out. The grieving belongs to the
victim. It’s not my job to grieve for them.”
Not all victims readily accept help from volunteers, Marsha
said, and responses vary from sincere appreciation to disbelief.
Sometimes victims remain in such shock they don’t react, and
volunteers are left wondering if they’ve done any good.
That sentiment doesn’t last long, because most volunteers know
their job is making a difference. For Marsha, it’s a lifelong
calling “to help them make sense out of a situation that can’t be
made sense of. It’s that feeling you get when you see them after
their crisis is over and knowing that they’re going to be
OK.”
For information on how to apply to volunteer, contact Malezija
at the Castle Rock Police Department at 303-663-6110.