SERVICE SEEKS VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST ASSAULT VICTIMS.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer

Antelope Valley Hospital's Sexual Assault Response Service is seeking more volunteers after seeing its caseload increase markedly over the past year, officials said Tuesday.

The service helped 528 people through September 1996, the latest figures available, compared to 499 people in all of 1995.

The jump is being attributed to more sex crimes, victims' greater willingness to report attacks, and the service's expansion of its coverage last year to include children under 12.

``I think violence is going up in all aspects of our society. There's increased violence against women and children,'' SARS director Sandy Darrington said. ``Life is getting very complex. One characteristic in the perpetrator is the lack of coping mechanisms and skills, the inability to deal with normal life stresses in a positive, constructive way.''

The service, formed in 1978, counsels and provides other assistance to victims of sexual assault and their families. Staffed by Darrington and trained volunteers, the free, 24-hour service based at Antelope Valley Hospital is the only one of its kind in a 1,500-square-mile area that encompasses southeast Kern County, the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys and part of San Bernardino County.

The service provides a 24-hour crisis hotline and assistance at local emergency rooms, where volunteers respond within 30 minutes of a call.

Continued support is furnished if the victim decides to pursue criminal prosecution. Also offered are one-on-one counseling, referral services and community outreach and education.

The service will offer 60 hours of free training to those interested in becoming victim advocates. Training sessions will be held at Antelope Valley Hospital beginning Feb. 1, and will continue every Friday night and Saturday afternoon through March 15.

Friday sessions will run from 6 to 10 p.m., and Saturday meetings from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Attendance is mandatory at all classes.

Advocates may be either men or women, must be 21 or older, be good listeners, and have a high regard for confidentiality. A nonjudgmental attitude and a sincere desire to help people in crisis are desirable. A second language, especially Spanish, is helpful.

Those selected to become advocates are required to commit a minimum of six months to the SARS program.

The classes will offer training in crisis intervention and living skills, an overview of sexual assault and information about post-traumatic stress disorder, discussion about sexual assault offenders, incest, child molestation, and adults molested as children.

Listening and communications skills, suicide, emergency room procedures, as well as law enforcement and prosecution procedures also will be covered.

For more information or to register for the training, call the SARS office from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays at [phone].