Volunteers began Blackburn Center, and volunteers have continued to be a vital part of our work. Most of our volunteers do not have a background in social work. They may be teachers, business professionals, nurses, students, homemakers, or retirees. They are all people who care deeply about making a difference in their community.

Each year Blackburn Center volunteers provide thousands of hours of service answering hotline calls, counseling victims in hospital emergency rooms, handing out literature at health fairs, sitting in courtrooms and corridors with victims as they await hearings, reading to children at the shelter, educating the community through our speakers bureau, and helping out with all kinds of administrative tasks.

Our comprehensive training program—required for all volunteers who work with clients—focuses on the development of active listening and empowerment counseling skills and an understanding of the issues commonly faced by victims and those who care about them. Academic internships are available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. For more information about becoming a Blackburn Center Volunteer, call our office: 724-837-9540, X144.