Wisconsin Center Needs Volunteers for Abuse Survivors

When someone escapes a dangerous partner at 2 a.m., a volunteer might be the person who saves their life.

The Family Support Center in Chippewa Falls connects with domestic violence survivors through an urgent process called the Lethality Assessment Protocol. Since 2020, local police officers have used this screening tool when responding to domestic violence calls. If someone scores as high risk of being killed by their partner, officers immediately connect them to the center.

But many of those calls happen when the center is closed. That's when on-call volunteers step in to help people through their darkest hours.

"They're beyond essential," says Xander Bobolz, a resource development coordinator with the center. "We could not do the work we do without on-call advocates volunteering their incredibly precious time to be here for survivors."

These volunteers do more than answer phones. They provide crisis support until staff arrive the next morning. They respond to hospitals for forensic examinations. They work directly with law enforcement during the screening process.

The need keeps growing. In 2025, the Chippewa Falls and Lake Hallie Police Departments and the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office conducted 117 lethality screenings. That's a 5% increase from 2024. Nearly half of those cases, 55 total, were classified as high lethality risk.

The Ripple Effect

Every trained volunteer multiplies the center's ability to reach people in crisis. When someone answers that middle-of-the-night call, they're not just helping one person. They're potentially saving lives, protecting children, and breaking cycles of violence that can span generations.

The center currently has a healthy volunteer roster, but Bobolz says they can always use more hands. A training session scheduled for late this month already filled up completely, showing strong community interest in helping.

The training teaches volunteers how to handle crisis calls, work with law enforcement, and support survivors through traumatic moments. It's demanding work that requires compassion, clear boundaries, and a willingness to be available when others need help most.

Anyone interested in becoming an on-call volunteer can reach out directly to the Family Support Center. The next person who calls in fear for their life might depend on someone who decides to step up today.

##