Police, nonprofit offer domestic violence help Civilian counselors available in Aberdeen, Keyport and Matawan The nonprofit 180 Turning Lives Around Inc., in collaboration with the Aberdeen, Keyport and Matawan police departments, have assembled a team of specially trained volunteer advocates available to meet confidentially with domestic violence victims at police headquarters, days and evenings, weekdays and weekends. The volunteers work in conjunction with the police to provide support, information, referrals and a safety plan to victims and their family members at the time of crisis. The advocates also discuss with the victims their legal rights with regard to obtaining a temporary restraining order. The Northern Regional Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT) went into service on Dec. 1. The volunteer advocates, who completed a mandatory 40-hour DVRT certification training, are civilian members of the community. Victims or those who know a victim of domestic violence can stop by police headquarters in Aberdeen, Keyport or Matawan at any time and ask to speak to an advocate. The next 40-hour certification training for new DVRT volunteer advocates will take place in the spring of 2007. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, have access to transportation, possess a valid driver’s license, be willing to serve on an on-call shift basis, and submit to background investigations and fingerprinting. Prior knowledge of domestic violence is not required. Local law enforcement and 180 Turning Lives Around are committed to culturally diverse teams to better serve the community, therefore bilingual capability is a plus. There is no fee for the training. For more information about training to be a volunteer advocate with the Northern Regional Domestic Violence Response Team, or the DVRT that serves your local community, contact 180 DVRT Program Coordinator Sue Levine (Northern Monmouth County) at (732) 264-4360, ext. 124, or Tina Morgan (Southern Monmouth County) at ext. 112. For 30 years, 180 Turning Lives Around Inc., a private nonprofit organization, has been dedicated to providing shelter, counseling, protection, support, prevention, education and advocacy for residents of Monmouth County who are affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. Those who know a victim of domestic violence can call the 180 confidential domestic violence hotline at (732) 264-4111 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In an emergency, dial 911.