Volunteer
Volunteer Orientations are held every month
Volunteers
SAY relies on volunteers and could not be as successful in reaching our goals without them. Volunteers bring a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to our existing programs. Although most of our volunteers work with children in some capacity, SAY also is in need of volunteers to help with office work and special events. Please see below or contact Volunteer Services at (858) 565-4148 or volunteer@saysandiego.org to find out about current volunteer opportunities.
As A Volunteer
SAY wants you to have a successful and fulfilling volunteer experience. Our volunteers have a mix of the following skills that allow for the most mutually beneficial relationship: patience, empathy, reliability, confidence, respect for others and effective communication skills.
The Volunteer Process
All volunteers (except special event volunteers) are asked to fill out an application, attend an interview with the Volunteer Coordinator, and attend a volunteer orientation. To get an application, call Volunteer Services at (858) 565-4148 or email volunteer@saysandiego.org. Before beginning, volunteers go through a screening process that includes a background check, TB test, drug screen, reference check and possible driving record check. SAY provides these screenings at no cost to the volunteer. Some positions require training before volunteering can begin. Bilingual volunteers are especially needed.
Volunteer for your Community
Tutors:The Reflections program needs tutors to help youth on probation. The tutors work with youth either one-on-one or in a group setting. All the tutor assistance is provided on-site at the program located in La Mesa. The youth at Reflections need help with a variety of subjects.
Mentors: Mentors are positive role models for youth. All volunteers interested in becoming mentors receive initial and ongoing training and are needed in several programs:
1. Vision Achievement Mentoring (VAM). Are you interested in mentoring middle-school age youth in a group setting? Consider being a VAM volunteer. Through the use of art, conversation, games and more, youth learn about conflict resolution, pregnancy prevention and decision making. VAM classes meet weekly in area middle schools for 10 weeks and are led by SAY staff and co-facilitated by volunteer mentors.
2. The Community Assessment Team (CAT) needs mentors to work one-on-one with at-risk youth ages 9-18 years old. These youth benefit from a supportive, trusting, consistent relationship with an adult in a one-on-one setting. A CAT mentor meets with his or her mentee a minimum of twice a month for six months. Training and ongoing support is provided.
3. The Reflections program needs mentors to work with youth on probation. Reflections mentors spend an hour a week on-site at the program with their mentee. Reflections mentors must be available to come to the site in La Mesa during the weekday.
4. Project L.I.V.E. Mentors spend a couple of hours each week at O’Farrell Middle School with students who have a parent incarcerated. Students benefit from one-on-one activities such as: homework help, reading books, sharing stories and playing games.
After School Program Assistants: Volunteers are needed primarily to help with homework, arts/crafts and outdoor recreation at one of SAY's after school programs. Volunteers spend one afternoon (from 2 or 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.) each week at the school of their choice, assisting SAY staff and interacting with the children.
Interns : SAY serves as clinical training ground for graduate and undergraduate students, trainees and registered interns seeking school practicum experience and/or hours towards licensure. Most positions average 16-20 hours per week with a minimum 9 month commitment. Students, trainees and registered interns work in both our Youth, Family & Community Services unit and our Extended Day Services unit. They receive training and experience in providing such direct services as: individual and family counseling, latency and adolescent psycho- educational and group counseling; multi-family group counseling, gang, drug abuse and child abuse prevention/intervention; psycho-social assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning; information/referral and outreach activities; crisis intervention and community education and development.
Contact us now to sign up as a volunteer!
Call Amy at (858)-565-4148 ext. 261 or email volunteer@saysandiego.org
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