Family Strengthening Volunteer

Safe Kids, Strong Families, Brave Volunteers

Family Advocates works to strengthen families and keep kids safe by empowering everyday people to protect and enrich the lives of youth.

We are fortunate to partner with hundreds of volunteers and many
businesses to make sure that Idaho families have the resources they need.

Family Advocates is a private, independent 501 (c)(3) non-profit agency founded in 1978 and serving Southwest Idaho. Our founders, two foster homes (Mr. and Mrs. Glen Hogin and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Murphy), saw the need to keep children out of the foster system and they established a long-term vision of seeing the end of child abuse in Idaho. Family Advocates was incorporated in Boise on September 28, 1978.

The CASA program began late in 1980, when the Junior League, the Boise Bar Association, and Family Advocates received permission from the Honorable Richard Grant, Juvenile Magistrate, to initiate a pilot Guardian ad Litem program in Ada County. In 1982, the CASA program officially accepted its first child protection referral and, in 1986, Family Advocates, including attorney Eric Haff, took an active role in working with legislators to revise the Child Protection Act to clearly define the role of a Guardian ad Litem (GAL). The CASA program at Family Advocates serves children in the Fourth Judicial District (Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley Counties).

Keeping families healthy, stable, and preventing child abuse from ever happening, was the foundation of the Family Advocates’ vision. This vision has evolved from a volunteer-based Home Visiting Program to our current Family Strengthening Program. This program includes best practices and theories of modern day and has expanded out from Boise to Caldwell and Mountain Home.

*Attend a story tour to hear about the brave work Family Advocates is doing to keep kids safe and families strong.

*Show my own bravery by attending a volunteer orientation. I understand that volunteers must be over 21 years of age and submit to a background check.

Job Title: Children's Education Volunteer Reports to: Children's Development Coordinator
Classification: Volunteer

Purpose:
The Family Strengthening Program encompasses the whole family in building Five Protective Factors that are known to help families thrive. The Protective Factors include social connections, knowledge of parenting and child development, social and emotional competencies of children, knowing about concrete support in times of need, and parental resiliency.

Volunteer Description:
The Children's Education Volunteer supports the Family Strengthening Program on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis, as the volunteer's schedule permits. The Children's Education Volunteer ensures that participating children remain safe and secure during class time; while also helping Family Strengthening staff implement individualized education and development curriculum for children. The youth curriculum achieves growth and development goals through constructive play, interactive activity, and reading time.

Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Prior experience with parenting, daycare, school setting, or mentoring preferred
• Be able to lead, guide, and mentor an individual child or groups of children
• Ability to role-model healthy interactions with staff, volunteers, and families
• Participate in 7 hours of training
  (Includes 1 hour interview, 4 hours classroom, and 2 hours observation/on-the-job training)
• Commit to a 2-4 hour shift of programming weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly as your schedule allows
• Make a minimum commitment of 6 months to the Family Strengthening Program
• Able to lift at least 20 lbs. (Accommodations can be made if needed)
• Able to pass Idaho State Police background check (inclusive of National Sex Offender Registry and Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Registry check)

Responsibilities:

• Follow Family Strengthening policies and procedures to create a safe, nurturing environment for participating children
• Help the Adult and Youth Facilitator carry out weekly activities of the Program
• Have positive and active interaction with participants
• Sanitize and clean program areas before and after activities
• Maintain required confidentiality and appropriate boundaries
• Complete weekly progress notes for children

OTHER FAMILY STRENGTHENING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

• Guest Teacher in Adult Program (Contact Adult Facilitator for details)
• Incentive Room Assistance
• Meal set up