Being a volunteer advocate
Citizen Advocacy is dedicated to helping people with disabilities participate fully in community life. We do this by matching a volunteer advocate one-on-one to a person with a disability. Matches participate weekly in activities they both enjoy, planning what they'll do and when they'll do it at their own convenience.
What is a volunteer advocate?
Volunteer advocates offer companionship and assistance with a variety of issues, including housing, budgeting, relationships, and more. As a result, the people with disabilities we support are less alone, feel better about themselves, and are less vulnerable.
Volunteer Advocates come from all walks of life and offer a range of experiences and knowledge. They may or may not have previous experience with people with disabilities.
A volunteer advocate:
- Is supportive and flexible.
- Can accept someone for who they are.
- Finds joy in doing simple things.
- Is open to new experiences.
- Is 18 years or older.
- Is available 3-4 times per month, for a few hours each time.
- Makes a commitment to staying matched for at least 12 months.
- Is open to a long-term match beyond the one-year commitment, if available.
- Knows they can ask for support from Citizen Advocacy any time.
Enjoy the flexibility
- Make your own schedule, pick your own activities, and enjoy flexibility around work, travel, family, school, etc.
- You may include family and friends in your match.
- No previous experience with people with disabilities is required.
Would you like to be a volunteer advocate?
There are a number of steps that lead to making successful matches. This includes information sessions, screening interviews, introductions, and more. We consider a number of factors when making matches, including shared interests and values, geography and distance, and schedules. At Citizen Advocacy, screening and matching of volunteer advocates to people with disabilities is done by professional staff.
- Contact us and we'll mail you information about volunteering with us.
- Come to a 1-hour volunteer information session (several times available each month).
- Decide if Citizen Advocacy is a fit with your volunteering interests.
- Participate in one or more conversations that will help up get to know you.
- Get or update your police check (it's free).
- Give us three names as references.
- Participate in choosing the person with a disability you would like to be matched to.
- If we think we have someone who needs a volunteer advocate like you
- We'll introduce you.
- We'll support you throughout your match.
SEND ME MORE INFO ABOUT VOLUNTEERING
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