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Community Counseling
& Crisis Center
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Job Description
Paraprofessional Hotline Counselor Responsibilities: A volunteer Hotline Counselor is responsible for answering the 24-hour crisis hotline and after-hours Child Abuse Hotline. A Hotline Counselor is also responsible for assisting clients who may walk in to the Crisis Center and request face-to-face crisis intervention counseling. Callers/clients seek assistance in dealing with a wide variety of presenting problems, including relationship problems, domestic violence, grief, child abuse, chemical dependency, concerns about sexuality, financial problems, etc. Clients may also be struggling with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, schizophrenia, or thoughts of suicide. The Hotline Counselor's role is to establish rapport with the caller/client and, through counseling skills acquired in our training program, assist the caller/client to cope with the current situation. Hotline Counselors often assist clients by providing appropriate information and referrals to other resources and services. Hotline Counselors must complete accurate written records of all contacts in accordance with the Crisis Center's policies and procedures. Hotline Counselors must have an understanding of client confidentiality and agree to follow agency policies regarding clients' rights. When providing services, the Crisis Center does not discriminate based upon age, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Qualifications: A Crisis Center Hotline Counselor must be at least 18 years of age. Retirees and other community residents are welcome and their contributions are highly valued. Hotline Counselors must have a genuine interest in assisting people who use the Crisis Center's services. Prior to serving as Hotline Counselors, all volunteers must complete an application, interview, background check, 30-hour training class, and 30-hour supervised "apprenticeship" period. All Hotline Counselors must complete the entire prescribed training program, regardless of previous background and experience, unless specified by the Hotline Director. Hotline Counselors must also sign a contract that binds them to confidentiality regarding all matters pertaining to clients, and agree to fulfill a minimum of 60 total volunteer hours (an average of 4 hours per week) per Miami University semester, not including summer, on the hotline telephones. These hours must include at least one overnight shift (midnight to 8 am) per semester. In addition, Hotline Counselors are required to attend review sessions at the beginning of each semester (these sessions take place during the third week of each semester, and last approximately an hour and a half). All volunteers are hired at the discretion of the Hotline Director and utilized by the Crisis Center "at will". The Crisis Center is an equal opportunity employer.
The Hotline has partnered with Miami University's Continuing Education program to promote crisis intervention training in our community. To learn more about Miami's other continuing education programs, you may wish to view their online Continuing Education information.
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Copyright © 2002, 2003
Community Counseling & Crisis Center
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