Enid News and Eagle
ENID —
YWCA Crisis Center is seeking individuals interested in becoming Sexual Assault Response Advocates (SARAs). SARA training will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. today at the YWCA. Interested individuals must call the YWCA by noon today if they plan to attend. Dinner will be provided.
SARAs are on-call volunteers who respond to St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and assist hospital personnel with victims of sexual assault. SARAs provide emotional support, advocacy, crisis counseling and assist nurses during the forensic exam.
St. Mary’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) room provides the only sexual assault forensic exam in northwest Oklahoma, according to Kayte Anton, YWCA’s community educator and SARA coordinator.
Along with completing the initial two-hour orientation, and volunteering 10 hours in the Crisis Center, SARAs must complete an online training course and field study hours. Volunteer SARAs can decide when they would like to be on-call, including weekdays or weekends.
“We are not asking you to commit to this role just yet,” Anton said. “We have a training process in place to help individuals decide if this is the right fit. This is not for everyone, but it can be one of the most fulfilling volunteer opportunities out there.”
Along with providing 24-hour advocate response, the YWCA also collects clothing, hygiene items, and teddy bears for the SANE room.
Volunteer applications are available at the YWCA, located at 525 S. Quincy or by going to www.ywcaenid.com. For more information about the seminar, contact Anton at 234-7581 or kanton@ywcaenid.com.
