1 / 20

Volunteers

Learn how to keep your foster parents returning year after year by implementing thorough training, clear communication, personalized care, and gratitude. Set limits, show compassion, build trust, and value their time to create a supportive foster program.

rudolphs
Download Presentation

Volunteers

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Volunteers How to Keep Your Foster Parents Returning Year After Year

  2. Poll Do you have a formal volunteer program with a paid volunteer coordinator or manager? Do you have a formal foster training class? Do you do training for your staff re: working with volunteers? How many fosters do you currently have?

  3. Why do volunteers leave?

  4. Training Process • Volunteer orientation • Interview/Placement • Foster training

  5. Training Expectations • Thorough • Consistent • Multiple training methods • Clear communication • Honest about job • Want to do the right thing photo courtesy of youtube.com

  6. Policies and procedures

  7. Discipline • Ask questions/investigate • Clearly defined • In the moment • Consistent • Thorough • Document everything

  8. CE opportunities

  9. Advancement • Mentor Assistants • Mentors • Intake Assistant • Recovery • Surgical Packs • Adoption Counseling • Events

  10. Value Their Time • Have kittens ready • Carrier, baby bag, medical records • Don’t be at lunch • Medications ready • Food, litter, toys if requested • Don’t schedule them too close together

  11. Make it personal • Get to know their names • Greet them each time • Ask about their lives • Ask about their pet • Touch them on the arm or shoulder when you talk to them

  12. Thank Them at every opportunity

  13. Everyone says thanks

  14. Extra touch • Handwritten card • Thank you email • End of year celebration • Recognize impact • Milestones – 100 kittens • Sympathy card or email

  15. Limits • Have program limits • Know each foster parent’s limits • Help them keep to their limits • Explain why limits are good • Think long term • Don’t abuse them • Don’t place at risk kittens with families who have small children

  16. Remember compassion • They are not shelter workers • They don’t see it every day • They have feelings and big hearts • They love the kittens • They think of them as their own pets • If they don’t love them they shouldn’t foster them

  17. Trust • Upfront training = great volunteer • Trust that they will follow rules and save you time. • Know that they want to help and have the best intentions.

  18. Bonus • Donors – special supplies • Help you when you really need them • There to pick you up • Mutual respect • Follow rules • Trust you • Stay for years

  19. Questions?

More Related