READING, PA – Berks Women in Crisis (BWIC) will offer the spring session of its educational seminar on domestic and sexual violence beginning on March 12, 2013 and running through May 21, 2013. The seminar consists of 21 three-hour sessions including an introduction to BWIC and its services and covers topics such as basic domestic and sexual violence information, childhood sexual violence, the effects of domestic violence on children, the Protection From Abuse civil legal process, prevention education and systems advocacy.
Presenters are experienced BWIC staff members and members of the professional community who speak on their specific areas of expertise. The sessions will take place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, from 9 AM until Noon in the conference room of our center on Chestnut Street in Reading.
All new staff members as well as potential volunteers who would like to participate in delivering direct services to BWIC clients and/or their children are required to complete the seminar. Direct services include answering hotline calls, working with adults and children in the safe house, legal advocacy, and medical accompaniment. BWIC has identified a special need for volunteers who speak other languages, especially Spanish, American Sign Language, Vietnamese, and Middle and Far Eastern languages; if you are interested in volunteering and are bi- or multi-lingual, we encourage you to join this seminar.
Individuals interested in non-direct service volunteer opportunities with the agency are asked to complete a shorter version of the seminar. Those interested in the sessions for any other reason, personal or professional, may choose the topics that best suit their needs from eleven sessions.
The seminar is free but there is a fee for the optional training manual and handouts. Upon completion of the seminar, participants who meet the qualifications of the agency may volunteer in direct and non-direct service areas.
For additional information, or to request a registration form, please call Karen at 610-373-1206, or email karenn@berkswomenincrisis.org. Volunteer applications, as well as the class schedule and registration forms, are also available on our website: www.berkswomenincrisis.org/seminars.html.
