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By MICHAEL SOUZA
SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Over the years, the Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County has helped thousands of people to stand on their feet and take control of their lives.
The success stories are many, a testament to the strength and will of human spirit. What is remarkable, however, is that many of the staff at the DVRCSC work there without being paid, their only motivation being to help someone, to have a positive impact on a person’s life. They all agree it’s the most rewarding job they’ve ever had. Each volunteer works four hours each week, taking little time out of their busy lives, but with that time, their impact on others can be enormous. Volunteers provide information, referrals, emotional support and crisis intervention by answering the agency’s 24-Hour Helpline and meeting “drop in” clients at their Wakefield office Staffing the phones today are Elizabeth Colagiovanni and Ena Volpe. “Someone I know was in a domestic violence situation. I saw how the center worked, and I thought I’d like to be a part of it,” said Volpe. “It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” she said. Colagiovanni agreed. “I worked as a medical assistant for 35 years. In many ways, this is as gratifying,” she said. The two are well prepared to handle any emergencies, each having undergone 12 hours of training. “Primarily, we answer the hotline. People call with things on their mind that are difficult to talk about. The most important thing we do is listen and give advice,” said Colagiovanni. “It was difficult at the beginning,” said Volpe. “Some of things people talked about were sad, but that’s where the training comes in. We offer advice, but it’s important that people make their own decisions.” “Many callers just need to talk. ‘You have no idea how good it feels to get this off my chest,’ they’ll say. Right there, you know you’ve helped,” she said. “We give options, but it’s the people that have to take the initiative,” said Colagiovanni. The center offers services such as support groups, court advocacy and even a safe house, to name a few. It was never designed, however, to meet every possible need. Fortunately there are many “partner organizations” throughout the area, places like South County Community Action and the Welcome House, better suited for some emergencies. “Some days, the phone never rings, while on others, it might be very busy,” said Volpe. Each call is made with extreme confidentiality, and each one is very different. There is no “typical” conversation. “People can call is in varying stages of their relationship. Some, you can tell, are ready to leave. Others are more unsure,” said Colagiovanni. Their training to handle situations has served them well. Prior to volunteering, each person is educated on the definition of domestic violence, cycles of violence, barriers to leaving, and types of violence. Volunteers also learn the profile of an abuser and victim, elder abuse, communication techniques, active listening, boundaries and services provided by the DVRCSC. “It’s been quite an education. It’s very nice to realize that I can contribute, that I can help,” said Volpe. This fall, the center will be holding training classes on Tuesday, September 18, 25 and October 2nd from 6:00-9:00 p.m. The final three hours of the training involve a 3-hour observation session scheduled during weekday office hours For more information, please call 782.3995 x14. |
