Victim Assistance Advocates work with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) Victim Assistance Program to help victims of crime and critical incidents regain their physical, emotional, social, and economic well-being by means of intervention and advocacy.

As an Advocate, "Talbot carries a pager for one week each month; each week she is on duty she responds to pages from law enforcement to help victims, survivors, and/or witnesses at the scene of a crime, death, or other traumatic event. She works with individuals or groups, providing emotional support, referrals to resources, and advocacy, both at the time of the original call and in follow-up contacts," Victim Assistance Program Director, Nancy Knoohuizen said.

Victim Assistance Advocates "go out and be with people during the worst point in their life," Talbot said. "We do what we can. It can be really sad, emotional, rewarding, and especially humbling. This helps me step back and realize my own life isn't so bad."

Talbot started volunteering with BCSO after reading a blurb in the newspaper encouraging potential volunteers to come in and fill out an application. She has been a Victim Assistance Advocate for three years now and plans to continue. "It's a really good fit for me," she said.

While she admits that this type of volunteer position "isn't for everyone," Talbot encourages those interested to consider becoming an Advocate. "It's only a one-year commitment and the interview process helps you determine if you'd be a good fit."

Knoohuizen lauds Talbot as a "competent and compassionate advocate and a strong contributor to our team of volunteers, often volunteering for additional shifts when we are short on available advocates and willing to take shifts outside of her usual assignment."

Talbot enjoys volunteering as an Advocate because she has the opportunity to "connect with a lot of people" and it makes her feel good about herself because "you really know you are helping someone and when they feel better, so do you."

For information about volunteering with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office's Victims Assistance Program or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904, or go to our Volunteer Central.