Join our Board of Directors
Help lead one of the Shenandoah Valley’s most trusted organizations serving survivors of sexual violence and child abuse — for over thirty years.
Our Mission:
Promoting healing through compassionate and collaborative services to all affected by sexual harm.
The Collins Center & Child Advocacy Center is seeking mission-driven community members to serve on its volunteer Board of Directors. As a nationally accredited nonprofit based in Harrisonburg, we provide free and confidential services — including crisis response, trauma-informed therapy, forensic interviews, and prevention education — to survivors across the City of Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Page County, Warren County and surrounding communities in the Shenandoah Valley.
30+
years serving the Shenandoah Valley
ALL SERVICES ARE FREE
TO ENSURE COST IS NOT
A BARRIER TO HEALING
NCA
Nationally Accredited Child Advocacy Center
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Essential Programs. One Coordinated Mission.
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24/7 crisis hotline (540-434-2272 -talk and text), professional advocacy services, medical and court accompaniment and crisis support sessions and referrals.
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A safe, child-friendly setting where child victims of abuse receive forensic interviews, therapy, and advocacy — supporting a coordinated response.
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Supporting local community response teams which are collaborative groups of professionals designed to provide a victim-centered, coordinated response to sexual assault and child abuse.
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Counselors providing specialized outpatient mental health services to children and adults who have experienced sexual harm, and non-offending family members.
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Community, church, and school-based programming across the Harrisonburg-Rockingham region, with services available in Spanish and multiple languages.
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Working daily with law enforcement, child protective services, prosecutors, medical and mental health professionals and other community partners to meet client needs.
“As someone who has traveled throughout a significant portion of our state investigating crimes against children, the level of professionalism and quality of employees from the Collins Center takes our investigations, and the counseling and care of our victims to the highest level I have observed.”
WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR
Skills & Backgrounds We Seek
Our bylaws call for a board that reflects the breadth of our community. We are actively seeking individuals from the following areas — and we strongly encourage those with lived experience as survivors to apply:
Finance / Accounting
Mental Health
Development / Fundraising
Local Government Experience
Legal
Human Resources
Law Enforcement / Child Welfare
Community Connections: Page and Warren Counties
Healthcare / Medicine
Business / Management
Education / K-12 and University
Lived Experience as a Survivor
Highlighted areas reflect current priority needs. All backgrounds are welcome. We are committed to building a board that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Board Member Commitment
Six board meetings per year (bi-monthly), typically evenings in Harrisonburg
3-year term; renewable once for a maximum of six consecutive years
Approximately 5–10 hours per month including prep, committee work, and events
Complete new board member orientation and annual training requirements
Serve on at least one standing committee (Finance, Governance, or Personnel)
Annual personal financial or in-kind contributions at a level meaningful to you
Support at least one Collins Center fundraising event per year
Serve as a community ambassador for the Collins Center’s mission
Hybrid meetings to support membership throughout the region served.
WHY IT MATTERS
Governance with Real Stakes
Govern a nationally accredited CAC
Collins Center is fully accredited by the National Children’s Alliance — Your oversight helps maintain that standard.
Steward complex, multi-funder finances
Funded through VOCA, VAWA, VDSS, DCJS, local government, and private donors — board service here means real engagement with nonprofit financial governance.
Lead a community institution
For over 30 years, the Collins Center has been the Shenandoah Valley’s primary resource for survivors of sexual harm. Board members help set the direction for an organization that is irreplaceable in this region.
Work alongside exceptional people
You will support a dedicated professional staff, an engaged board, and community partners that influence the safety and health of our community.
Ready to learn more or apply?
We welcome inquiries from prospective board members at any time. Please reach out to the Executive Director to learn more about the Collins Center’s work (540-432-6430, erin@thecollinscenter.org)
Interested individuals should complete the board inquiry form below.