Youth Services is offering a Volunteer Training on Monday, April 1 from 9 am-noon at their offices in Brattleboro for community members interested in becoming more involved with the nonprofit. Volunteer opportunities range from helping on an ad hoc basis with transportation, meal prep, sharing parenting and life skills to more formal roles such as volunteering as a mentor for a youth-led screen printing business, sitting on a once-a-month Diversion Panel, or serving as a temporary Host Home.
The first part of the evening will orient prospective volunteers to Youth Services’ philosophy and trauma-informed approach to building communities where young people and families are healthy, empowered and valued. The second half of the evening will provide specifics about each of the volunteer opportunities currently available.
Mentors are sought from Brattleboro’s vibrant small business and art community; adults who can apprentice young people ages 17-24 in bookkeeping, design, sales and marketing and entrepreneurship, among other skills needed to run a business. This commitment is twice a month for 2 hours on a afternoon or evening.
Host Homes are volunteer households who agree to provide shelter, food and include youth in family activities while they can stay up to 21 days during a family crisis. Host home applicants undergo a screening process that includes an interview, home visit and criminal background check. Youth Services provides shelter parents with training, ongoing support, and a small stipend to help cover costs. Shelter parents also have access to 24-hour on-call services at Youth Services. Shelter parents aren’t responsible for any type of counseling or case management.
Diversion Boards involve victims, offenders and community members in a constructive restorative justice process that helps offenders made amends to victims and the community while taking responsibility for their unlawful actions. Volunteers as a group meet once a month with individuals referred to Youth Services by the State’s Attorney Office after involvement in delinquency or criminal activities. It is a voluntary alternative to the court process and has been quite successful in reducing repeat offenses, according to Youth Services.
“We’re excited to be offering training opportunities that are integrated across our programs. It means that we can bring many more people into our work, and know that they’ll understand and engage with a wider slice of our community,” explained Emilie Kornheiser, Youth Services’ Director of Workforce Development.
For questions or to register for this informational session on volunteering at Youth Services, contact Michaela Stockwell at (802)257-0361 or email michaela.stockwell@youthservicesinc.org. There will be another volunteer training in the spring.
