Volunteer with PRS CrisisLink
Join Our Crisis Worker Volunteer Program!
Join our Team as a Hotline/Textline Crisis Worker:
We are seeking empathetic, non-judgmental, and compassionate volunteers to answer our suicide and crisis prevention hotline calls, chats, and texts at PRS CrisisLink.
PRS CrisisLink volunteers receive extensive and intensive classroom and on-the-job training. Volunteers also complete self-paced, online training that is paired with the classroom sessions. All training is evidence based and includes content on active listening, crisis de-escalation, providing information and referrals to clients, and much more. Both training and responding to calls, chats, and texts is done entirely virtually.
Because we are virtual, volunteers can expect to use a range of technologies on each of their shifts, including our cloud-based phone system and a portal to document calls, chats, and texts. Training on these platforms is provided.
A training fee of $75 is required and covers the cost of a background check and all training materials provided to each trainee.
PRS CrisisLink trainees commitment to about 60 hours of training followed by a one-year, 3-hour a week volunteer shift, all completed remotely. Our current needs for volunteers are:
- Chat Volunteers, any day 8pm-11pm EST or 9pm-12am EST
- Hotline volunteers, 4pm-12am EST any day, with our greatest need being Saturday 5pm-8pm EST or 8pm-11pm EST
How to become a PRS CrisisLink Hotline Volunteer:
- Apply online
- Watch a recorded information session and complete a Volunteer Survey, both sent via email after applying
- Attend a virtual group interview
- Attend all training dates, including classroom sessions and on-the-job-trainings, and complete self-paced training materials
- Reference and background checks
- Begin your first shift!
More About the PRS CrisisLink Training Program
In the PRS CrisisLink classroom, volunteer crisis workers receive training in the following areas:
1. Active and Reflective Listening
2. Call or Text Process
3. Crisis De-escalation and Suicide Intervention and Prevention
4. Information and Referral
5. Sexual and Domestic Violence
6. Self-Injury
7. Mental Health Basics
8. Self-care and Emotional Labor
All elements of training in the classroom are required. Trainees initially learn through role-plays with experienced crisis workers and other trainees. Once a trainee has successfully completed their role-play sessions, trainees receive 6-9 hours of supervised hours with an individual trainer on the hotline in which trainers are able to monitor and support the crisis worker’s development. After the successful completion of hotline training, each crisis worker enters into an Apprentice period in which crisis workers will be re-evaluated at the end of their first three months. It is our goal to ensure adequate support to all of our crisis workers as they provide this much-needed service to our community. All volunteer candidates are encouraged to ask questions at the group interview session to enhance their understanding before making the commitment with PRS CrisisLink.
