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Good Samaritans Volunteers Helping Victims Program Handbook and Training Guide
Top navigation About This Guide Message From the Director Acknowledgments About the Authors Related Links
Photo: Man and woman looking out of a broken window.

Publication Date: April 2009

minus iconFilling a Void—Origins of the Program
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Building Partnerships

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What Good Samaritans Do

minus iconVolunteers: Recruiting,
Screening, and Training
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Planning Your Program

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Training Volunteers

Module 1: Program Overview

minus iconModule 2: The Victim Experience
minus iconModule 3: Basic Skills for Volunteers
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Module 4: Providing Services

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Module 5: Self-Care

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Resources

Module 1: Program Overview

Topic: Crime in America

    Learning Objectives
    After training, participants will be able to—

    • Describe the criminal justice process from incident to trial.
    • Explain when an arrest can be made without a warrant.

    Materials
    Handouts
    Crime in America
    The Criminal Justice Process

    Training Techniques
    Lecture, Case Story

Topic: What Do Victims Want?

    Learning Objectives
    After training, participants will be able to—

    • Name two examples of progress in service for crime victims since the 1980s.
    • Articulate the mission of the Good Samaritans.
    • Identify at least four needs of crime victims.

    Materials
    Handouts
    What Do Victims Want?

    Training Techniques
    Lecture, Group Discussion

Topic: The Effective Good Samaritan

    Learning Objectives
    After training, participants will be able to—

    • Name three personal attributes of an effective volunteer.
    • Define and explain the parameters of confidentiality.
    • Name three examples of unethical behavior.

    Materials
    Handouts
    The Effective Good Samaritan
    Ethics and Confidentiality
    Exercise 1. Value Voting
    Exercise 2. Ethical Decisionmaking

    Training Techniques

    Value Voting Exercise
      NOTES: The influence of personal values affects a volunteer's effectiveness. This exercise will help people become more aware of their values and how they might create barriers to service. Distribute index cards to each participant labeled YES and NO and ask them to hold up the appropriate answer after each question. Discuss.

    Ethical Decisionmaking Exercise
      NOTES: This exercise is based on a version of a moral dilemma used by psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg in his research on the development of morality over the lifespan. The exercise is most effective in small groups. Divide the group into groups of 3–4. Hand out the scenario and its associated questions. Give the groups 10 minutes to discuss the questions and record their responses. Each group should choose a spokesperson who will share the group's conclusions with the class. Trainers should facilitate the discussion by illustrating concepts about the role of values in decisionmaking.