VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

March 25, 2008

www.sdycs.org

AGENDA

Meet and Greet Program Overview Guest Speakers Current Volunteer Needs Volunteer Expenses (Reimbursable in 6 months)

Policies and Procedures Next Steps

Our Mission

The mission of San Diego Youth & Community Services is to help at-risk youth become self-sufficient and reach their highest potential by investing in them, strengthening their families, and building their communities.

Center LocationsA:

B:C:D:E:F:G:H:I:J:K:L:M:

Take WingAdoption SupportFoster CareIndep. Living Skills

Breaking CyclesThe BridgeCoastal Com. CenterBehavioral HealthEast County Com. CtrThe StorefrontTeen OptionsTeen Recovery CenterTeen Recovery CenterNFL YET City HeightsNFL YET Golden Hill

Bridgman HomeYou are

Here

WHAT SERVICES DOES SDYCS PROVIDE?

Emergency Shelter for Homeless Youth Temporary residential facilities for runaway and

court-referred youth Counseling services for youth recovering from

drug/alcohol abuse and/or mental illness Community centers that provide individualized, family-centered counseling

and life skills training for youth at risk, including pregnant and parenting teens

After-school recreation and computer learning labs for low-income youth and families

Foster families providing therapeutic care for high-risk teens Affordable transitional housing for formerly homeless youth, young families,

and youth “aging out” of their foster care placement

Guest Speakers

Chiou-Ling LaiEast County Community Center

Kimberly OcheskeNFL Youth Education Town, City Heights

Donna Luffe Foster Care Mentoring

ECCCEast County Community Center

Administrative Help Administrative help may eventually segue into group facilitation if desired Monday-Friday.

Group Facilitators (during school hours)After school activities

NFL YOUTH EDUCATION TOWN (YET)

Requires: Experience or Passion for Art projects, Recreation, Athletics

3:00pm-5:30pm Monday-Friday (Golden Hills)

3:00-5:30pm Tuesdays and Thursdays (City Heights)

Location: City Heights and Golden Hills

After School Tutors, program assistants and group

facilitators

Agency Overview

VOLUNTEER NEEDS

The Storefront3 Programs:

Outreach Drop-in Center (Days) The Shelter (Nights)

Volunteer Activities Include: Supervising youth in residential setting Going out on the streets to help youth

Facilitating recreational outings and events Tutoring

Teaching youth to interact positively Assisting residential counselors with keeping the shelter

safe and running smooth

Laptops provided so teens may email their families

Going out in teams of two or three to find homeless youth and offer resources.

STREET OUTREACH

Monday-Saturday

5:30pm-10:30pm

Tuesdays and Wednesdays

12:30pm-5:30pm

THE STOREFRONTDROP- IN -CENTER (Days)

Mondays: 2:00pm -6:15pm

Mornings:6:00am-8:00am

LOCATION: Hillcrest

THE STOREFRONTSHELTER

(Nights) San Diego’s only emergency night shelter program for

homeless, runaway and “street” youth. Its goals are to return young people to their families or to

find alternative living arrangements and to prevent their sexual exploitation.

Night shifts needed: Thursday (immediate need)

and Saturday (by May)5:30pm to 10:30pm

LOCATION: Hillcrest

Like to Dance?

Elevate Teen Dance Troupe  

 

A program of San Diego Youth & Community ServicesNFL Youth Education Town/City Heights

 

Looking for Guest Speakers on Dance Specialties

(One Time Event)

Mon-Thurs.

4:00-6:00

STARS ProgramSurviving Together, Achieving and Reaching

for Success

GOAL:To provide support to teenage girls aged 13-17 who have experienced prostitution or commercial sexual exploitation and who are interested in improving their lives by participating in the STARS program.

STARS ProgramSurviving Together, Achieving and Reaching for Success

Provides the following services to sexualy expoited youth free of charge:

*Life Skills Education

*Job Readiness Skills

*Self-defense

*Goal Setting

*Health Education

*Alcohol and other Drugs education

*Individual/Group Counseling

*Community Referrals

STARS ProgramSurviving Together, Achieving and Reaching for Success

What can YOU do to help?

Volunteers Needed by the end of April:

*Thursday evenings from 4-8pm *Weekly commitment of at least 4 months

required*

*Provide help with:

*Childcare

*Dinner pick-up

*Program set-up/clean-up

*Being a positive role model to teens

*CPR/First Aid Certified preferred*

East County Behavioral Health Center

Needs Administrative HelpMonday-Friday9:00am-5:00pm

Location: El Cajon

Mentor/Tutors

Volunteers interested in becoming a mentor/tutor should first attend movie night groups to become acquainted with the children.

ADOPTION SUPPORT SERVICES

ADOPTION SUPPORT SERVICES

Group Assistants needed for:

Friday Movie Nights

*************************************

First Friday of month: 5:30-9pm (location: SDYCS board room)Second Friday of the month: 5:30-9pm (location: Chula Vista)Third Friday of the month: 5:30-9pm (location:  La Mesa)Fourth Friday of the month: 5:30-9pm (location: Vista)

Group Assistants needed

For Monday night Respite

Parents attend our support group next door while children eat pizza, socialize, and join in organized activities.

(Preschool children, school aged children, and teens are divided into separate groups.)

ADOPTION SUPPORT SERVICES

Fourth Monday of the month 6pm-8pm

(location: Chula Vista)

FOSTER CARE

MENTORS (one year commitment)

Locations vary

FOSTER CAREChild Care Workers

(ages 4-17)For (Parent) Respite Night

3rd Friday of each MonthHere at Wing Street

5:30-9:00Help with board games, puzzles, arts & crafts,

storytelling, movies

HOW DO I BECOME A VOLUNTEER? ORIENTATION COMMITMENT

At least 2-4 hours each week for a minimum of 6 months. (some exceptions) VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM

Includes 3 personal or professional references with email contacts. PLACEMENT INTERVIEW

Includes completing appropriate paperwork and forms. (See page 8 of Orientation Handbook.)

BACKGROUND CHECK Criminal history does not necessarily mean that you will not be accepted as a

volunteer at SDYCS. However, failing to disclose criminal history is grounds for non-acceptance or dismissal as a volunteer.

HEALTH TESTS Most volunteers must be tested for Tuberculosis. Testing sites will be available at the

interview. Drug testing required for some programs. TRAINING

Mandatory training for new volunteers is offered periodically. INTERVIEW AT THE PROGRAM CENTER:

Start date, days and times of volunteering will be discussed.

After all the appropriate procedures and documents have been obtained, you may *******START VOLUNTEERING*****

Volunteer Expenses

Testing Requirements Vary With Each Project

All Initial Expenses will be Reimbursed

After 6 months Service:Most programs require one or more of the following:

1) TB Test $8.00

2) Livescan Background Check $10.00-$96.00 (Depending on the level of clearance needed)

3) Drug Testing $35.00

SDYCS POLICIES

EXCEPTIONIf there is a suspicion of abuse, law requires that you as a volunteer report this information to Child Protective Services. Law requires that all suspicions or acts of child abuse and neglect be reported.

CONFIDENTIALITY

The relationship between the youth we serve and the staff is confidential. This means that unless written permission is given by the youth, information may not be shared with anyone outside of SDYCS.

Regular conversations between staff members and volunteers regarding youth is expected. Service partners know that part of the job of a volunteer is to report back to staff behaviors and observations of the service partners. It is our policy that staff and volunteers do not hold information in confidence. All information about residents must be shared between staff and volunteers.

RULE

RULE

EXCEPTIONIf a service partner is to mention to you that they are HIV positive or if they have AIDS, you, by law, are not permitted to share that information with anyone.

Boundaries/Self Disclosure

Touching/Hugging

Giving out Phone Number/address

Sharing Personal Information

Act Professional

More Policies HIPPA: SDYCS is a covered entity via the Health Insurance Portability and

Accountability Act. All volunteers must ensure the protection of service partner information. Such Volunteers must also read the Agency’s programs policy and procedure manual and attend the HIPAA II training.

Time Sheets will be collected at the end of each month.

At SDYCS, the dress code is comfortable and casual. Please no tight-fitting clothing or clothing displaying drugs, alcohol paraphernalia or any type of sexual connotations.

Anti-Harassment/Discrimination: SDYCS is committed to creating a maintaining a work and service environment free of any form of harassment or discrimination. Any employee or volunteer who violates this policy will be subject to termination.

Next Steps

1- Schedule a placement interview with Volunteer Servicesand complete all necessary paperwork.

Testing requirements for your program will be discussed.

2- After references have been checked, interview with the center director of the program you selected.

(The start date and other specifics will be discussed.)

3- Complete background check, TB test, and if necessary, drug test.

“In a nation of millions and a world of billions, the individual is still the first and basic agent

of change.”

-Lyndon B. Johnson