What are the responsibilities and job description for the Victim Services Unit position at Holland, City of (MI)?
VSU responds to such incident types as: Fires, Traffic Accident, Medical Emergencies, Rapes, Missing Persons, Robberies, Deaths, Drownings, Natural Disasters, Homicides, Industrial Accidents, Plane Crashes, Shootings, Assaults, and Death Notifications.
When a sudden, unexpected crisis occurs in our lives, we frequently experience degrees of depression, despair, confusion and emotional shock. Imagine what a victim of random violence feels, or someone who has arrived home to find their personal property has been violated, a driver who has struck a child, a wife whose husband suddenly dies, or a homeowner whose home and memories have been destroyed by fire.
It is these and other life experiences that we all dread, but may be forced to endure. VSU volunteers respond to these challenges and:
•Provide comfort and emotional support.
•Help arrange for shelter, food, and clothing.
•Notify family and friends.
•Serve as liaison between the victim and other agencies.
•Help arrange follow-up services.
•Provide information and referral to appropriate agencies for on-going assistance.
The VSU provides 24/7/364 coverage for Holland residents. VSU volunteers are scheduled as teams to be on-call for 12 hour shifts (a.m. or p.m.), for seven-day periods to provide initial support for victims. Police and Fire personnel, when necessary, contact 911 dispatchers to request VSU assistance. The on-call VSU team is then paged to respond immediately to the scene.
Training Provided: Required training courses include crisis intervention skills, victimology, legal procedures, law enforcement and resource information.
•Provide emotional and practical crisis support to victims of crime and survivors of tragedy•Help arrange for shelter, food, clothing and transportation
•Serve as a liaison between the victim and other agencies
•Cooperatively work with law enforcement and other emergency personnel
•Provide information and referrals
•Must be at least 21 years old.
•Have an open, non-judgment attitude with genuine concern and empathy for crime victims and tragedy survivors.
•Able to cooperate with police, staff and other agencies.
•Excellent interpersonal communications skills.
•Must have own transportation and telephone.
•Be willing and able to follow regulations for appropriate Victim Advocate behavior.
•Must have the necessary availability (be able to respond within 15-20 minutes)•Possess a valid driver's license.
Time Commitment
Must commit no less than one year to the advocate program. Attend monthly meetings and continuing education and training. Be on-call Monday through Sunday for 12-hour shifts one week out of every four as a minimum.
