Volunteer Orientation [Insert your presentation title]

Volunteer Orientation[Insert your presentation title] [Insert presenter information:] Presenter Name(s) Organization Name Program Name Date [Or insert your logo]

Welcome Volunteers • Congratulations on joining the [insert your organization & program name RSVP/FGP/SCP]!

Session Agenda • Who We Are • Our mission • Our programs • The Volunteer’s Role • Eligibility • Assignments • Program Expectations • Policy, procedures, and paperwork • Volunteer Resources

Training Objectives By the end of this session, you will be able to: • Understand the purpose of the FGP program • Understand a bit more about fellow volunteers • Locate resources to answer your questions about our programs, assignments, policies and procedures • Complete the Volunteer Registration form • Select a volunteer assignment

“Many ask, what can I do to help in our fight?” The answer is simple. All of us can become a September 11th volunteer by making a commitment to service in our own communities.” -President George W. Bush, November 8th, 2001

National Call For Volunteers “President Bush Taps AmeriCorps and Senior Corpsto Support Homeland Security Efforts” “Corporation for National and Community Service to mobilize 20,000 volunteers” -November 9, 2001

Why Volunteer? • Make a positive difference in your community • Share your skills and life experiences • Offer assistance and guidance to others • Learn new skills • Meet other volunteers with similar interests

Introductions • Introduce yourself and tell us: • “How did you hear about this program?” • “What most interests you about volunteering for this program?”

Our Mission Statement [Insert your organization or program mission statement here]

Who We Are • National Senior Service Corps • Foster Grandparents Program (FGP) • Senior Companion Program (SCP) • Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

www.seniorcorps.org

Organizational Chart [insert your organizational chart]

How FGPs Make a Difference Foster Grandparents serve children with special needs: • Offering emotional support to child victims of abuse and neglect • Tutoring children who lag behind in reading • Mentoring troubled teenagers and young mothers • Caring for premature infants and children with physical disabilities and severe illnesses.

Activity Activity: “Making a Difference” • The goal: • Learn more about each other’s skills, career backgrounds, and interests • Think about how we can work together to make a difference in our community

Activity In small groups… • Pick a project that you think would make a difference in the community. • Answer the following: • What are your goals for the project? • Who would you be serving directly? • Who else would benefit from this effort? • Determine what is needed to get the job done successfully: • What exactly do we need to do? • What inputs do we need? (e.g. materials, information, skills and experience, etc.) • Where do we get what we need? • What skills can each of us contribute to the effort?

Is It Right For You? Foster Grandparent Program is for you if you: • Are 60 years of age or older • Want to serve 20 hours a week • Thrive on direct interaction with children

FGP - Eligibility Requirements • Foster Grandparent or Senior Companion volunteers must be: • 60 years of age or older • No longer in the regular work force • Medically qualified to serve without detriment to themselves or others • Willing to accept supervision • Meet certain income eligibility guidelines

FGP Helps You By Providing: • Pre-Service and monthly training sessions • Modest tax free stipends • Transportation reimbursement • Meals • Paid holidays • Annual physical • Accident and Liability insurance • Volunteer recognition events

How Our Program is Making a Difference • Specific project descriptions • [insert your own examples]

The Volunteer’s Role How Volunteers Make a Difference • In the community • To themselves

…In the Community "Children are everybody's responsibility and it is up to us to make a difference. We all have to be involved. " • Wanda Floyd-Fields serves as a Foster Grandparent in York, Pennsylvania.

…To Themselves "I love kids. I think these kids need something and it gives me something, too. " • Ruth Holmes serves at a center for developmentally disabled children in Oxford, Mississippi. "Helping those children really boosts your self-esteem and makes you feel young at heart." • Thelma Johnson serves at a Washington, Pennsylvania Head Start Center.

Volunteer Assignments • Selecting a station • Interviewing with the station • Reporting your hours (timesheets) • Programming for impact • “What difference does it make in the community?” • Disciplinary action • Volunteer separation

Volunteer Stations • Our Volunteer Stations • [insert your program’s volunteer stations] • [If you’re online, insert a URL that links to the station’s website if they have one.] • Current volunteer positions available • [insert your program’s available volunteer positions] • [If you’re online, insert a URL that links to your own program’s website where available positions may be posted.]

Rights Receive a job description Receive adequate training Receive appropriate guidance/feedback Receive recognition for services provided Responsibilities Adhere to policies and procedures Attend training(s) Report any problems encountered Maintain confidentiality Volunteer Rights & Responsibilities

Program expectations • Program requirements • Program policies • Required paperwork • Common concerns • For new volunteers • For the organization

Volunteer resources • Volunteer handbook • Other supporting materials • [If you’re online, insert a URL that links to your own program’s website, and give participants a tour] • Contact name/phone for organization • Volunteer tips • See FAQ handout

In Conclusion • Our mission • Our hopes for you

Activity Your Own Action Plan • Now it’s time to construct a plan to apply what you’ve learned today to your own volunteer work. • Individually complete “My Individual Learning Action Plan” worksheet.

“Volunteering is an act of heroism on a grand scale. And it matters profoundly. It does more than help people beat the odds; it changes the odds.” -President Bill Clinton “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” -Mahatma Ghandhi

Volunteer Orientation [Insert your presentation title]