Volunteer Training Program
CONTACT’s 50-hour Volunteer Training Program includes 35 hours of classroom instruction, provided over the course of 12 weeks, and a hands-on internship where you will be guided and supervised by an experienced CONTACT Listener. During the internship you will have the opportunity to perfect your skills on the hotline.
The 12 week course includes dynamic and interactive presentations by guest experts in active listening, grief recovery, mental health issues, substance abuse, and suicide prevention. The program is designed to develop each volunteer’s ability to listen actively, assess a caller’s needs and provide empathy and support.
“We have been told time and again how valuable CONTACT’s Volunteer Training Program is. The active listening skills people learn in our training help them in all areas of their lives — not just on the hotline.”
— David Owens,
Executive Director
In addition to our traditional fall and spring 12-week training sessions for new volunteers, we offer a new Flexible Training Program to meet the needs of individuals who have some prior education and experience in the field, or for interested individuals whose schedules prohibit them from attending the weekly program. For highly motivated, independent learners, the Flexible Training Program may be a terrific option.
There is a $50 fee to cover the cost of training materials.
For more information about becoming a CONTACT Listener, please call our Training Director, Sue Fasano at 908.301.1899 or email sue.fasano@contactwecare.org.
Complete and submit a Volunteer Application.