Volunteers support programs that provide opportunities not otherwise available to many children.
If you have a heart for service and for children, volunteering for programs with children gives you a perfect way to give back to your community and provide a positive role model for young hearts and minds. Scouts, Campfire, 4-H, Heritage Girls, Big Brothers and Sisters, Boys' and Girls' Clubs and many other youth organizations are always looking for more volunteers to help maintain their programs and services to children. Churches have children's and youth programs as well and need volunteers to teach Sunday School classes in addition to organizing and supervising special children's events such as harvest parties, vacation Bible school activities, dramas and musical productions. Children's hospitals also need volunteers to ease the stress of hospitalization for critically and chronically-ill children and their families.
Instructions
1. Identify the youth program or organization for whom you wish to volunteer.
2. Contact the person in charge of the program to get any necessary clearance forms. Most organizations that recruit adults and teenagers to work with children will require an application and a background check. Some require fingerprints. Ask whether they pay for any fees that this incurs, as this varies by organization. Check on the age limits for volunteering for the organization. Some allow children and others require minimum ages for volunteers, usually from 14 to 21, depending upon the position.
3. Fill out the forms and pay any necessary fees for joining the organization or for the background check. Attend required orientations or training sessions. Some organizations may wish to interview you or require health screenings or immunizations as well. Wait for the organization to notify you that your background check has come back clean.
4. Find out what needs you can fill in the program. Set up a volunteer schedule according to the organization's needs and your availability. Go at your scheduled time and make a difference in the life of a child.
Tags: background check, need volunteers, with children