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01.17.2023

Safehome’s Healthcare Advocacy Program

For over 20 years, Safehome has partnered with all of the hospitals and clinics in Johnson and Miami County. When a medical agency has a patient or staff member experiencing domestic violence, they know they can call us for help.

The mission of our Healthcare Advocacy Program is to assist the individuals we are referred to by connecting them to resources in our community and by empowering them to make decisions that will help them reach their goals. The role of our Healthcare Advocates is NOT to tell survivors what to do, but to provide them with options and allow them to choose which options they want to take.

Our Healthcare Advocacy volunteers are truly the backbone to this crucial program. Without their dedication and support, our Healthcare Advocacy Program would not be able to operate 24/7.

Check out the information below and reach out to kimberly.paul@safehome-ks.org to learn more about this AMAZING volunteer opportunity.

 

Responsibilities & Requirements

Our Healthcare Advocates are responsible for responding to referrals from our community partners when they are on-call. They work directly with domestic violence survivors and provide advocacy.

Healthcare Advocates assist survivors in creating safety plans, understanding power/control dynamics, and getting connected to Safehome services and other community resources.

Some of the requirements for being a Healthcare Advocate are as follows:

  • Undergo 40 hours of extensive training so they are equipped with the tools they need to be advocates for DV survivors.
  • Comfortable working in a medical setting and high-pressured situations.
  • Available to pick up at least two 12-hour on-call shifts per month.
  • Must be reliable. If you are on-call, a Healthcare Advocate must be able to respond to the referral.
  • Not have any unresolved trauma.
  • Capable of working with diverse or marginalized groups.

 

Coverage

Safehome’s Healthcare Advocacy Program strives to have in person or over-the-phone advocacy available 24/7.

Currently, Safehome is seeking volunteer coverage within the following time frames:

Daytime Shifts:

Sunday 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Saturday 6:00AM to 6:00 PM

 

Evening/Overnight Shifts:

Sunday 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM

Monday 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM

Tuesday 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM

Wednesday 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM

Thursday 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM

Friday 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM

Saturday 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM

If you are unsure these times will work with your schedule, feel free to reach out to Safehome’s Director of Community Programs, Kim Paul. She would be happy to discuss the on-call schedule in farther detail and what kind of coverage opportunities are available to volunteers.

 

Hospitals

Safehome’s Healthcare Advocacy Program collaborates with all of the hospitals and medical facilities in Johnson and Miami County. Some of Safehome’s Healthcare Advocacy community partners include:

  • AdventHealth
  • Johnson County Mental Health
  • KU MedWest
  • Menorah Medical Center
  • Miami County Medical Center
  • Olathe Medical Center
  • Overland Park Regional Medical Center
  • Saint Joseph Medical Center
  • Saint Luke’s South Hospital

*This is not an exclusive list. There are many other medical facilities Safehome’s Healthcare Advocates respond to.

 

Alternative Opportunities

Our Healthcare Advocacy Program also collaborates with hospitals on leading groups and providing domestic violence education to their patients and staff.

We lead a weekly Healthy Relationships group. This group not only discusses the importance of having a healthy relationship with yourself but it also covers the differences between a healthy, unhealthy, and an abusive relationship.

This group takes place every Wednesday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Interested volunteers can be trained on leading this group. If you have a passion for education and have availability during the day, this could be a great volunteer opportunity for you!

Sign Me Up!

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer for Safehome’s Healthcare Advocacy Program, please contact our Director of Community Programs. Her contact information is listed below:

Kim Paul
(913) 378-1520
kimberly.paul@safehome-ks.org

Click here to download a printable application!
*If you do not have access to a printer or scanner, please email kimberly.paul@safehome-ks.org to receive a fillable form.