Crisis Support Services of Alameda County
Volunteer
Crisis Support Services of Alameda County, Oakland, California, United States, 94616
Volunteer
Department:
Crisis Services
Employment Type:
Volunteer
Location:
Oakland, CA
Description
The purpose of the volunteer position is to answer calls or text/chat conversations from community members seeking support.
Key Responsibilities
This role will support the Crisis Line or the Text Line by providing service on one 4-hour shift per week for a period of at least 365 days. This role is responsible for upholding standards of care for Crisis Support Services of Alameda County and all of its associated partner agencies and accrediting bodies by providing call (or chat-and-text) -based crisis counseling with a focus on suicide prevention. This role will collaborate with team members on a weekly shift via video and chat, maintain thorough documentation of contact with clients, and simultaneously utilize multiple tools to meet the needs of callers (or texters) and their shift.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Strong verbal and written communication skills, desire for and openness to receiving constructive feedback, ability to learn and navigate multiple web-based platforms simultaneously, flexibility in adapting to changing needs of each shift, willingness to engage in self-reflective work, timely adherence to deadlines, commitment to displaying empathy and attunement along with effective engagement/connection skills toward callers (or texters). Demonstration of respect for individuals and cultural responsiveness for callers/texters and folks working at our agency as staff and volunteers.
Training Schedule
Our final training cohort for 2025 is taking place in September 2025 and applications for that cohort have now closed. Any applications submitted after July 14 will be considered for 2026 Q1 beginning in January 2026.
Please review the schedule for the January 2026 cohort before applying.
Training cohorts for 2026 will take place as follows:
Q1: Training starts in January and ends in March Deadline to apply for 2026 Q1 (January-March) is November 17, 2025
Q2: Training starts in April and ends in June Deadline to apply for 2026 Q2 (April-June) is February 18, 2026
Q3: Training starts in July and ends in September Deadline to apply for 2026 Q3 (July-September) is May 18, 2026
Q4: Training starts in October and ends in December Deadline to apply for 2026 Q4 (October-December) is August 17, 2026
Department:
Crisis Services
Employment Type:
Volunteer
Location:
Oakland, CA
Description
The purpose of the volunteer position is to answer calls or text/chat conversations from community members seeking support.
Key Responsibilities
This role will support the Crisis Line or the Text Line by providing service on one 4-hour shift per week for a period of at least 365 days. This role is responsible for upholding standards of care for Crisis Support Services of Alameda County and all of its associated partner agencies and accrediting bodies by providing call (or chat-and-text) -based crisis counseling with a focus on suicide prevention. This role will collaborate with team members on a weekly shift via video and chat, maintain thorough documentation of contact with clients, and simultaneously utilize multiple tools to meet the needs of callers (or texters) and their shift.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Strong verbal and written communication skills, desire for and openness to receiving constructive feedback, ability to learn and navigate multiple web-based platforms simultaneously, flexibility in adapting to changing needs of each shift, willingness to engage in self-reflective work, timely adherence to deadlines, commitment to displaying empathy and attunement along with effective engagement/connection skills toward callers (or texters). Demonstration of respect for individuals and cultural responsiveness for callers/texters and folks working at our agency as staff and volunteers.
Training Schedule
Our final training cohort for 2025 is taking place in September 2025 and applications for that cohort have now closed. Any applications submitted after July 14 will be considered for 2026 Q1 beginning in January 2026.
Please review the schedule for the January 2026 cohort before applying.
Training cohorts for 2026 will take place as follows:
Q1: Training starts in January and ends in March Deadline to apply for 2026 Q1 (January-March) is November 17, 2025
Q2: Training starts in April and ends in June Deadline to apply for 2026 Q2 (April-June) is February 18, 2026
Q3: Training starts in July and ends in September Deadline to apply for 2026 Q3 (July-September) is May 18, 2026
Q4: Training starts in October and ends in December Deadline to apply for 2026 Q4 (October-December) is August 17, 2026