Direct Service Volunteer Positions

DIRECT SERVICE

Provide the interest, affection and guidance of a caring adult through one to one relationship and regular outings/activities
Improve, if necessary, the child’s/teen’s self esteem, self confidence and initiative
Role model, as appropriate to assignment, consistency, acceptable behavior, responsibility, etc.
Assist child/teen to develop these qualities
Relate to and participate in effective supervision with case worker
Report to worker/supervisor or Coordinator, Volunteer Resources any matters of urgent concern immediately and to report regularly according to Volunteer Services Contract
Plan for and seek worker’s assistance in terminating the assignment when necessary and to model appropriate behaviors for parting and farewell
Seek to develop a congenial relationship with family
Commitment required: one year with an average of approximately 2-3 hours per week

Drive children to and from appointments/visits, as scheduled
Ensure child is picked up on time from scheduled pick-up point and passed to a responsible adult at place of appointment
Conveys pertinent information back to worker/agency that may be observed or verbalized by child during trips
Commitment required: 8 months with an average of approximately 2-3 hours per week (depending upon driver availability).

Spend time providing and engaging in a recreational outing with a child or youth
Help expose them to low cost, community recreational activities on a weekly basis.
Instill the interest and value of continued recreation pursuits as a benefit to a child or youth
Commitment required: 6 months with an average of approximately 2-3 hours per week (depending upon length of events and activities planned with child each week)

To provide tutoring and one -to-one attention to a child/teen to improve school performance in a subject or subjects
To work to increase both the young person’s skills and self confidence in his/her ability
To attempt to develop a more positive attitude to school and learning if needed
To help children overcome schooling lags resulting from frequent moves or turmoil in family setting
To liaise with teacher/school as appropriate
Able to advocate for child with school if needed
To seek to develop positive relationship with family/foster family
To provide structure and direction to enhance study skills and approach to school work
To provide maximum possible encouragement of effort
To provide feedback to child’s worker according to the Volunteer Services Contract
Commitment required: one school term (Sept – June) with an average of 1-2 hours per week or 2 one hour tutoring session (some flexibility re: school year commitment depending upon volunteers availability and child’s tutoring needs)

Provide support, friendship and encouragement to an isolated high risk mother in a non-professional relationship
Provide role modeling to enhance parenting and coping skills
Help reduce the isolation felt by many mothers
Assist client in connecting to community resources and in building own social network
Commit to regular weekly meetings with client
Initiate contact with worker(s)/ Coordinator, Volunteer Resources as required and if situation warrants
Communicate with Social Worker at intervals according to Volunteer Services Contract
Commitment required: one year with an average of approximately 2-3 hours per week

To care for children of a family for a few hours to give parents some private time
To develop and participate in constructive and safe activities with the children
To communicate regularly with the family case workers according to the Volunteer Services Contract
Commitment required: six months with an average of approximately 2-3 hours per week

Assist social worker to develop an informative life book for a child in care
Research family file and extract relevant information as directed by social worker
Meet with the appropriate persons (social worker, previous social worker, foster parent or previous foster parent, birth parent, teachers, child’s grandparents, etc.) as directed by social worker
Under the direction of the social worker, may be asked to collect memorabilia such as photos, letters and cards, take pictures, research community records, newspapers
Organize the material in chronological order
Commitment required: 3-4 months with approximately 2-3 hours per week (depending upon amount of research required)