Help I need your Assistance?

Question

Sorry I know this in the wrong section but everywhere else I put it I get no answers.

I am interested in becoming a Victims Advocate. I have always wanted to help others and believe this is a great way to do it, however I have NO IDEA how to get started. Someone working in this field please give me all the information on this career choice and everything I need to do to acomplish this. What do you reccomend I do? What schooling do I need? What is involved with this type of work? What can expect from it once I complete school? Will I make enough $ to survive? Also please include information that I have not though of but you are aware of being in this field. Please try to be as specific as possible seeing as I will utilze all your recomendations and suggestions. Thank you for all your help!!!

Answer 1

You will need a social work degree, a bachelor's degree is good, but you'll make more money with a masters, especially if you get licensure.  VA's are usually found at domestic violence agencies, rape crisis centers, some police forces actually employ a few.  My recommendation is that you talk to a guidence counselor at a college near you, and get an idea of what they will require for you to get your degree.  Your salery will depend on what kind of agency you work in, you level of education, if you have licensure, and what kind of funding the agency you work for has.  whether you can survive on it depends on your lifestyle.  I was a children's advocate at a domestic violence shelter in Cleveland for 4 years and I loved it.  It is definitely a love it or hate it career!  In the process of getting your degree, you'll have to do what they call a field practicum, it's an unpaid internship, in the last two years of your studies.  Most schools have you do two, and I would recommend that you do them at different agencies, just so you get a feel for more than one type of environment.  i would also recomend that you learn a second language, like spanish or whatever is prevalent in your area, it opens your options quite a bit.  Learning sign language would help, because there aren't very many victims' advocates who have that skill, so they're very high in demand.

I will say that this is not something for the squeemish, and you have to develope a thick skin, you also have tobe able to leave work at work, but still care while you're there.  It's a very delicate balance, but one that can be done if you have the committment to try.  If you have more questions, write me.