The ABCs of Advocacy

If you've looked into applying for M.S. in Genetic Counseling Programs, you've probably noticed that practically every admissions website says that strong applicants have "had experience with advocacy or counseling." Many programs specifically require you to have advocacy experience in order to be considered for admissions. 

What is Advocacy Experience?

According to the NSGC, "Advocacy experiences are an important aspect of the [genetic counseling] application. Advocacy experiences usually allow the applicant to obtain training in interpersonal and communication skills as well as providing an opportunity to work with the public and people in a one-to-one setting." Advocacy experience often encompasses working with diverse populations or a variety of individuals from different backgrounds. 

Reference: http://www.aboutgeneticcounselors.com/About-Genetic-Counselors/Genetic-Counseling-Training#apply

Advocacy experience often encompasses working with diverse populations or a variety of individuals from different backgrounds. 

Source: https://www.hhcenter.org/

What Qualifies as Advocacy Experience? 

Advocacy experiences can vary widely. My recommendation is that you find a particular organization or cause you are passionate about! While crisis-counseling is most commonly suggested by GC programs, there are many avenues to gain experience. If you can explain how your experience will help you be a good genetic counselor, it will beneficial to you in your application process!

According to the NSGC website, some examples of advocacy include but are not limited to: "volunteering with a crisis hotline service, working with a pregnancy center, volunteering at shelters for domestic violence or homeless individuals, working with individuals with mental or physical disabilities, providing respite care, or working in research settings interviewing participants." 

What Are the Most Common Advocacy Experiences that Applicants Have? 

• Serving as a counselor with Crisis Text Line (CTL) https://www.crisistextline.org/
• You can volunteer with CTL from anywhere in the country! You must fill out an application, go through a background check, and participate in the online training. You will serve shifts where you counsel people via text.
• Volunteering with a crisis phone-line (suicide hotline, sexual assault or domestic violence hotline)
• Hospice Volunteering/Grief Counseling
• Serving as a Victim Advocate (ex: supporting survivors after a sexual assault)
• Volunteering in a Children's Hospital/NICU/ER
• Volunteering with a youth crisis center or volunteering in another capacity with at-risk-youth (ex: Big Brothers/Big Sisters)
• Volunteering with Special Olympics or another charity supporting children/adults with disabilities. Personally, I love volunteering with therapeutic horseback riding centers!

Where Can I Find Advocacy Opportunities? 

If there is a specific area you are interested in volunteering in, turn to google! Search for "domestic violence shelters" or "hospice facilities" in your area and see if there are any volunteering opportunities. 

https://www.volunteermatch.org/ is another great resource, where you can find volunteering opportunities that suit your needs!

If you are fortunate to live near a genetic counseling program, they may have suggestions for advocacy opportunities in the area! This is especially useful if you are thinking of applying to that particular program, as they will suggest organizations they highly regard. 

If you are still in undergrad, definitely check out opportunities available through your university. There may be student organizations or on-campus centers you can volunteer with that will suit your needs. Experience serving as a peer mentor or RA is valued by many programs! Camp Kesem is also popular on many campuses. College students organize and serve as counselors for summer camps for kids who have a parent affected by cancer. 

Other Advice:

• While it is great to gain experience in a few different settings (for example working on a crisis-line and working with children with disabilities), you should aim for quality > quantity. Programs would rather see you dedicate a year or 2 to an advocacy experience than serve multiple organizations for only a couple months each. 
• Some programs specifically emphasize that they like to see advocacy experiences, which require a lengthy period of training (often 40+ hours.) Consider this while you compare different advocacy opportunities.  
• If there are specific programs you are looking, take a lot at their admissions websites. Certain programs may really value the traditional "crisis counseling" advocacy. Schools that offer students the opportunity to participate in the LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) may really want to see that you have experience working with children or adults with disabilities. 

Hope this helps! :D If you have any questions, comment or feel free to message me!