Shelby Hull, the SafeHouse Outreach Coordinator, also works as a SafeShelby advocate and manages all of SafeHouse’s volunteer advocates. Advocates play a vital role during sexual assault and strangulation forensic examinations by offering emotional support and guidance to survivors. An advocate remains with a survivor throughout the entire exam process, providing information and reassurance throughout. The advocate ensures a survivor’s needs are communicated and respected. It is a best practice to have an advocate present at all sexual assault forensic examinations. We spoke with Shelby to learn more about what it’s like to volunteer as a SafeShelby advocate at SafeHouse.
What does an advocate do?
An advocate receives specialized training to provide support to victims and survivors during forensic exams, court appointments, medical appointments, and when making statements to law enforcement.
How does someone become an advocate at SafeHouse?
To become an advocate, an individual will first express interest to SafeHouse and may be asked to fill out an application. If selected, they will undergo a 16-hour in-depth training. Prospective advocates learn about the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence, the forensic exam and interview process, and how trauma affects everyone differently.
What is the best part about being an advocate?
The best part of being an advocate is providing support to a person who is experiencing a crisis. Although there are difficult cases at times, it is rewarding to know that you made a positive impact on someone who has just experienced a traumatic event.
What is the hardest part about being an advocate?
The hardest part of being an advocate is being totally objective. There are some cases in which I have desperately wanted to give my own opinion or offer advice. However, the role of the advocate is to be supportive of whichever decisions the victim makes. Our goal as advocates is to give victims and survivors their autonomy back. Therefore, we encourage them to make their decisions for themselves. We inform the clients of all possible decisions to be made and the potential outcomes. Then they decide which route they want to take. They may choose to stay at our shelter, seek counseling, or file a police report. They may also choose to do none of these things. The choice is in their hands.
Who should volunteer?
A great SafeHouse volunteer or advocate is someone who is passionate about helping others. They will have an interest in supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. We welcome anyone to volunteer. Providing advocacy can be retriggering for some survivors. But it can also provide an opportunity for them to heal from their own trauma by providing advocacy to others.
When advocacy is hard, are there any self-care tips that have helped you?
Because our services are completely confidential, there is a very small number of people I can talk to when we have had a difficult case. If I am unable to verbally process after a tough case, I will sometimes write down words or phrases that are stuck in my head and then rip up that piece of paper and throw it away. I then write down some positive words and phrases that I want for a particular client or words to bring myself peace of mind. I’ll light a candle or listen to some of my favorite music. Doing these things also work when I’m just having a crummy day!
What is something you want victim-survivors to know?
I would want victims and survivors to know that they are not alone in what they have experienced, although it can be a very isolating feeling. There are resources within their communities to help them process their trauma, and they each have so many people who care about them. Don’t be afraid to talk about your trauma because everyone has experienced trauma to some extent. You never know who you could be helping by sharing your words.
If you are interested in becoming a SafeHouse Advocate, or in learning about our other volunteer opportunities, please contact volunteer@safehouse.org.
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