Victi advocacy

1. Read each of the four hypothetical situations and answer the following question for each:

What skills will you use, as a victim advocate, to aid the victim?

a. You are a victim advocate working at a domestic abuse shelter. A call comes in from the local police station informing you that there has been an instance of domestic abuse, and a perpetrator has been arrested. You are asked to go to the scene to talk to the victim.

b. You are a victim advocate working on a suicide prevention hotline. A call comes in from a teenage boy who is considering taking his life.

c. You are a child counselor/advocate at a Victim Witness Program. You are asked to talk to a ten-year old boy who has just witnessed a homicide.

d. You are a victim advocate for a rape crisis center. You are responsible for working with the female victim of a violent sexual assault by a stranger. You also need to work with the victim's spouse.

You may wish to consider the following before discussing each hypothetical:

- Is this an example of a crisis situation? If so, what crisis interventionist skills will you use?

- How will you help the victim cope with their short-term emotional trauma?

- How will you help the victim cope with their long-term emotional trauma?

- What type of listening skills will you use in helping the victim?

- What kinds of advocate skills will you use in working with the victim's family or friends