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Volunteers. How to Keep Your Foster Parents Returning Year After Year. 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?
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Volunteers How to Keep Your Foster Parents Returning Year After Year
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?
Training Process • Volunteer orientation • Interview/Placement • Foster training
Training Expectations • Thorough • Consistent • Multiple training methods • Clear communication • Honest about job • Want to do the right thing photo courtesy of youtube.com
Discipline • Ask questions/investigate • Clearly defined • In the moment • Consistent • Thorough • Document everything
Advancement • Mentor Assistants • Mentors • Intake Assistant • Recovery • Surgical Packs • Adoption Counseling • Events
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
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
Extra touch • Handwritten card • Thank you email • End of year celebration • Recognize impact • Milestones – 100 kittens • Sympathy card or email
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
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
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.
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