Volunteer
I want to donate my time to help people in my community affected by domestic violence and sexual assault.
Volunteer of the Month
Kyla
Featured Volunteer of the Month: April 2026
Volunteer Start Date: August 2025
Time Served: 236 Hours
Kyla is interning at Catalyst through Chico State’s Psychology Department. She is committed to supporting individuals in improving their mental health and working to break down the stigma surrounding it. Kyla grew up in Chico and has seen how important community organizations are in supporting people during difficult times in their lives.
“I chose to do my internship at Catalyst because they provide safety, resources, and a path forward for individuals and families who need it most. They help rebuild lives, empower survivors, and strengthen the entire community. Being able to be trained and involved in this kind of work is truly a privilege, because it means contributing to something that creates real, lasting change.”
Kyla said that the most rewarding part of interning at Catalyst has been the variety and depth of each day as a volunteer– from providing childcare while participants attend therapy or restraining order appointments, to tabling at community events and distributing hotline tear-off flyers to local businesses. She is also a big help at HAVEN through organizing donations, deep cleaning projects, assisting shelter residents with their immediate needs, and answering crisis hotline calls.
Fun Facts: Kyla has been working at a local Italian restaurant for close to 5 years. She is a Capricorn and greatly enjoys being physically active. You can find her spending her free time hiking outdoors, rock climbing at the gym, or practicing hot yoga. She also loves to attend local community events. She enjoys listening to live local musicians and going to farmer’s markets or pop-up artisan shops.
Thank you, Kyla, for all you have done to support Catalyst participants and the community!
We love our volunteers!
Winter 2026 Class of Volunteers
Next Training Opportunity:
Summer 2026 – 3 Week Intensive
August 3rd-August 20th
Monday-Thursday 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM, 1 hour lunch break
In-person, Chico, CA
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Crisis intervention on the 24-hour hotline;
- Direct support to participants in our housing programs and drop-in offices (Chico and Oroville);
- On-call Sexual Assault Forensic Exam accompaniment;
- Assistance in the Children’s Program;
- Legal advocacy and court accompaniment;
- Educational groups for HAVEN residents;
- Providing information at community events;
- Administrative assistance.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- A minimum commitment of 6 service hours per week for no less than 6 months (volunteers are
welcomed and encouraged to continue with the program after 6 months); - Completion of 65-hour domestic violence and sexual assault counselor training (CA Evidence Codes 1037.1 & 1035.2);
- Completion of screening and background check;
- Participation in 8-hours continuing education per year offered by Catalyst.
If you are interested in volunteering with Catalyst, please review the Volunteer Job Description and the Volunteer Training Schedule, then complete the online application by clicking the link below. Please note that during the application process, you will be prompted to agree to the responsibilities listed in the job description and to the training dates listed in the schedule.
Training is required for all new volunteers, interns, and staff. Class space is limited to 20 total participants. Apply as soon as possible. Interview is required.
