Volunteers needed to work with domestic violence victims in Essex County

The Rachel Coalition, the domestic violence division of Jewish Family Service of MetroWest NJ, needs volunteers for its Court Advocate Program. The 40-hour hands-on training program teaches participants how to provide domestic violence victims with emotional and administrative support as they wait for their restraining order hearings in Essex Family Court in Newark.

“Participation in this training is essential to strengthening the support available to survivors in our community,” Suzanne Groisser, JD, the director of domestic violence legal services at Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, said. “Volunteers play a critical role in helping victims navigate a complex and often overwhelming legal and emotional landscape.”

Training sessions will be held on Mondays, from 6 to 9 p.m., from March 9 through June 15. They will be on Zoom from March 9 through April 13 and in person in West Orange from April 20 through June 15. No formal legal experience or education is required for the volunteer position. Volunteers who have already taken a 40-hour domestic violence training class in the last five years may qualify for an abbreviated training. For information or to schedule an interview, email Beth at bdiangelo@jfsmetrowest.org, call (973) 765-9050, or go to www.jfsmetrowest.org.