KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM/FM) — Kalamazoo’s YWCA chapter will host a training session next month for on-call volunteers who want to help with sexual assault examinations.
The organization says it’s the only provider of sexual assault nurse exams in Kalamazoo County, offering the medical forensic assessments free to victims.
Cathy Brown, the YWCA’s Director of Victim Services, says volunteers play an important role.
“The nurses will meet them at the YWCA or at Bronson for the kids, and the volunteers sit and help the parents or the person who was assaulted and believe them, first of all, then secondly, support them,” Brown said.
The two-day training course begins Sept. 15. Another training session will be held in March.
Prospective volunteers are required to fill out an application and pass a background check beforehand.
More information can be found here.
