If your abuser enters the room, click the red Escape tab to be taken to a safe website. Take safety precautions.
If your abuser enters the room, click the red Escape tab to be taken to a safe website. Take safety precautions.
Hope House volunteers assist our paid staff in nearly every aspect of our services. Due to the nature of our work, it is important to ensure that our volunteers are well trained, responsible and sensitive to the issues of domestic violence.
The first step toward becoming a volunteer is filling out an application. The application requires a list of personal references, who are contacted before the initial screening. Prospective volunteers then go through a short interview. This gives us a chance to get to know each volunteer as an individual, which makes it easier to determine which aspect of Hope House would best suit the volunteer.
Once the volunteer has completed the application and screening process, they are asked to go through training. Volunteers who are interested in special events, facilities, daycare or clerical work attend a two hour training focusing on Hope House services, domestic violence and volunteer opportunities. This training is offered bi-monthly.
Those who are interested in direct service, which includes working in the shelter, courts or the on-call program are required to attend the first two hour training class in addition to six hours of specific training on counseling techniques, the court system and the shelter. After completing this training, offered quarterly, most volunteers choose to concentrate on one volunteer position. Some have a regular schedule in court or in shelter, and some choose to be available to us on an on-call basis.
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Volunteer Opportunities Requiring Two Hour Training
*Clerical: The clerical volunteer assists Hope House's administrative staff with daily duties, such as answering the phones, making copies, preparing mailings, typing, entering data and other general office tasks. This volunteer opportunity does not require direct interaction with clients.
*Facilities: Facility volunteers assist with the maintenance of our complex. Activities include helping with yard work, cleaning, moving heavy items, and other upkeep duties. This volunteer may choose to sort donations in our clothing closet and gift store (which is especially needed during the holiday season). This is a constant need and does not require direct interaction with clients.
*Special Events: Special Events volunteers assist with special events and fundraising activities. This is a sporadic need and does not require direct interaction with clients.
Children's Program: Volunteers provide childcare and organize activities for the children of Hope House clients who are either in shelter or in the outreach program. Volunteers may also participate in the shelter's Children's Reading Program through Reading Reaches Kids' Minds and Kids' Hearts.
BridgeSPAN: The BridgeSPAN program is a hospital-based advocacy program. Volunteers assist emergency room patients who have been identified as possible domestic violence victims. Volunteers offer moral support, in addition to information about available community and domestic violence resources. Hope House provides advocates at the following Eastern Jackson County hospitals: Centerpoint Medical Center, St. Mary's Medical Center, St. Luke's East Lee's Summit and Truman Medical Center Lakewood.
Volunteers can also choose to assist with trainings, assist with clerical work or assist with marketing the program by completing rounds at area hospitals. Volunteers who are interested in the program must complete additional BridgeSPAN training.
Court Advocacy: Court advocates act as liaisons between the criminal justice system and the victims of domestic violence. They will also educate the victim on the cycle of violence, and on the options and the resources available to her. Volunteers may choose to work in any of the following area courts: Blue Springs, Grandview, Independence, Lee's Summit and Raytown.
Shelter/Hotline: Shelter volunteers assist in women's advocacy, assist with intakes, assist clients in replacing toiletries that have run out, and answer the Hope House Hotline. Shelter/Hotline volunteers set their own schedule and are not on an on-call schedule. Volunteers may occassionally be asked by Hope House shelter staff to come in to fill an open shift.
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Volunteer Opportunities for Groups
Donation Drives: An organization may choose to sponsor a donation drive for Hope House. Items that are always needed include: paper products, large-size diapers, twin bed sheets, bath towels, ethnic hair care products and cosmetics for women of color. You may also call Gretchen at 816.257.9342 or email her at ghicks@hopehouse.net an up-to-date list of urgent needs.
*Special Events: An organization may choose to organize a small fundraiser for Hope House. Some groups in the past have sold crafts or baked goods and donated the proceeds to Hope House. An organization may also choose to help during a Hope House special event, such as Hope and All That Jazz.
*Facility Maintenance: A group may choose to spend the day at Hope House helping us to improve our facilities. Activities in the past have included: working in the yard, painting, shoveling snow, building a playground for shelter children, building a meditation garden (complete with a waterfall and fish), planting shrubs and moving offices. Many companies promote volunteer work done on company time, so be sure to check with your employer. Call us for ideas on how you can help.
*Gift Shop/Donation Assistance/Clothing Closet: Hope House constantly receives generous donations from the community and volunteers are needed to help us sort donations of clothes, toiletries and toys in our gift shop. This is a great activity for small groups.
*Holiday Parties: Volunteer groups are needed to plan and implement holiday parties in the Shelter throughout the year. Parties should include activities for all ages, such as arts & craft projects, games or outdoor activities.
*Holiday Programs: Hope House has many opportunities for those who would like to help around December. Possible activities range from decorating the Shelter and buildings, helping with donations, setting up the holiday store, helping clients and their children in the gift shop, helping with holiday dinners and sorting donations.
* While all volunteer opportunities are appropriate for adults, the positions preceded by an asterisk (*) are also appropriate for teen volunteers.
If you have any other ideas that we haven't listed, we'd love to hear them. We are open to any suggestions that would enhance the lives of our clients.
If you would like someone from Hope House to speak to your organization about domestic violence and Hope House services or if you would like more information on volunteer activities for groups, please call our Volunteer Manager, Gretchen, at 816.257.9342 or e-mail her at ghicks@hopehouse.net.
If you've decided that you're ready to volunteer for Hope House, please click here and complete our volunteer application.
Click here to email Gretchen regarding volunteer opportunities and questions.
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