Volunteer TrainingBy Donna Brown

The Women’s Center of Montgomery County is a volunteer, community organization with a primary focus on freedom from domestic violence and other forms of abuse.

The Women’s Center of Montgomery County has been volunteer-powered since its inception in 1976.

Executive Summary

24-hour domestic violence hotline elder abuse counseling and supportive services individualized peer and group domestic violence

counseling telephone counseling information and referral legal advocacy court and hospital accompaniment emergency relocation funding for victims of

domestic violence outreach to the community and schools

Services Provided

Background Information/Statement of Problem

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) has minimum requirements for direct service volunteers:◦ 45 hour training course includes basic information

on domestic violence issues, active listening skills, cultural sensitivity, options counseling and empowerment advocacy.

◦ Additional 8 hours of domestic violence related training annually

Funder

In the past, two hour in-services have been offered several times a year in the different offices

Recently, the volunteers are not completing their required yearly training hours

If volunteers do not complete the 8 hours annually, then they can no longer be direct service volunteers

DVDs Webinars Volunteer Retreat

◦ One Saturday◦ 6 hours of training

Options to complete training

Choose your attitude◦ Should the volunteers continue to “slide” on

completing the required training hours? ◦ It’s not only about the volunteer or funder, but the

clients as well.◦ Without the additional knowledge gained from the

trainings, the counselor will most likely not have accurate information.

◦ Trainings should be an opportunity to learn not be treated as “what are they going to do, fire me?” if I do not go.

Volunteer Retreat using FISH

Start the retreat with a fun activity 6 hours is a long time even with a lunch

break so starting off will set the tone for the rest of the day

Play

Answer these questions on an index card:◦ What is your favorite animal?◦ Favorite animal?◦ Favorite TV show?◦ Favorite hobby?◦ Favorite color?◦ Sign your name at the bottom and pass the cards

to me

Activity

Thank the volunteers for the hard work they do

Thank the volunteers for giving up most of a Saturday for the training

Make Their Day

During the retreat, time will be set aside for volunteers to just talk to each other and staff

Discuss difficult calls they have The volunteers will see the support they

have from each other and the staff

Be there

Goal #1: to have the volunteers’ training hours in compliance with the funders’ standards.◦ Objective 1.1: To provide volunteers with

alternative training methods.◦ Objective 1.2: To identify and notify volunteers not

in compliance.

Goals and Objectives

Goal #2: To provide a one day series of workshops on domestic violence related topics◦ Objective 2.1: To define domestic violence related

topics by funder’s standards◦ Objective 2.2: To schedule 6 hours worth of

appropriate workshops

Clientele: volunteers Methods: alternative trainings and retreat Staff: current staff and guest speakers

DVDs at the offices Volunteer retreat held at one of the office

buildings Volunteer Coordinators: staff Photocopier: print materials for workshops

Available resources

Personnel: Speakers for workshops Supplies: paper, pens Equipment:

◦ Chairs and tables for one large conference room◦ Chairs and tables for one small conference room

Needed Resources

Paper: $50 Pens: $10 Lunch: $50 Blank DVDs: $10 Total: $120

Budget

Goal 1: DVDs and Webinars Survey volunteers to determine if they think

they are completing the required hours and compare the results to volunteer coordinator’s records.

Survey again after 3 months to determine if volunteers have been using the DVDs and Webinars.

Evaluation

Goal #2: Volunteer Retreat Survey volunteers with a list of approved

training topics to determine interest in the topics.

Pre and post survey on day of retreat to determine if the one day of trainings is better for them then series of topics through out the year

December 2: Send out Save the Date Cards for Retreat

December 15: Survey volunteers about approved topics

December 30: Complete list of topics January 5: Identify speakers for topics January 30: Finalize schedule for retreat February 2: Send out registration forms March 24: Day of Retreat

Timeline