Active Listener For Crisis CallsAt — Community Helpline

Want to work as a Crisis Listener?

The community Helpline is staffed by rigorously trained Volunteer and Intern Crisis Listeners. All volunteers and interns must attend and successfully complete our 35 hour of Listening and Communications Training. If you want to serve the community and join our volunteer force, please e-mail or call us at the number provided below. 

Position Type: Internship, Volunteer.  

Description: Community Helpline empowers high school, college, and community members to be empathetic listeners through our active listening training. Crisis listener volunteers and interns will answer the crisis hotline and assist callers in need. 

Our rigorous training classes are held in the summer, fall, and spring. This training takes place in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. Classes are held on Mondays and Wednesday evenings from 5 pm - 7.30 pm. With the successful completion of training. Listeners then begin at least 9 hours on the helpline under the guidance of an experienced and seasoned listener.  

This training will equip someone with new listening skills in the following areas: reflective and nonjudgmental listening, avoidance of giving advice and deriving solutions, and providing empowerment and support to the caller. 

Volunteers must give a 1-year commitment of 1 shift a week (shifts are 3 hours) or 2-shifts a week for 6 months. Interns must give a 9-month commitment of 3 shifts a week (shifts are 3 hours) or 4 shifts a week for 5 months. 

The minimum requirements are age 16 or older, must be able to communicate effectively in English, and can clear a live scan fingerprinting and background check. 

Please complete the application attached to this job posting, write an essay about yourself and why you would like to be a volunteer with CHL, and a resume, then email all three to chl@chelpline.org.

Tasks:
Attending the helpline calls, responding to crisis. Taking notes, assessing for suicide and self-harm.

Training:
Our rigorous training classes are held in the summer, fall, and spring. This training takes place in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5 pm - 7.30 pm. With the successful completion of training. Listeners then begin at least 9 hours on the helpline under the guidance of an experienced and seasoned listener. This training will equip someone with new listening skills in the following areas: reflective and nonjudgmental listening, avoidance of giving advice and deriving solutions and providing empowerment and support to the caller.

Learning Outcomes:
Get a better understanding of the field in terms of crisis, being empathic, and active listening. Students will learn how to help people in different areas of mental health conditions dealing with different levels of crisis, and being present with them in general.