NCJ Number
209809
Date Published
2005
Length
64 pages
Annotation
This booklet provides guidance for community groups and faith-based organizations in recruiting, training, and using volunteers to enhance their effectiveness and expand services to the community.
Abstract
Although the handbook focuses on volunteers involved in prevention, treatment, and recovery services for substance abuse and mental illness, the principles presented can be applied to any field that relies on volunteers. The five chapters address planning, recruiting, training, managing, and evaluating. The outline for planning encompasses defining the mission, assessing the organization, developing the volunteer program, and describing volunteer positions. Aspects of recruitment addressed are assessing the organization's image, deciding how to recruit, developing the recruitment message, finding volunteers, selecting volunteers, and screening volunteers. Guidance for training volunteers consists of developing the organization's orientation program, assigning orientation leaders, scheduling orientation, developing materials, conducting the orientation, and training the volunteers. Aspects of managing volunteers are the assignment of a supervisor, regular communication with volunteers, evaluation of volunteers' work, avoidance of volunteer burnout, and the recognition of volunteers' efforts. Guidelines for evaluating volunteer programs pertain to a description of the program, evaluation design, data collection, data analysis, and a report of evaluation results. Resources are listed for each chapter, and appendixes contain sample forms and worksheets as well as lists of references, other print resources, and other Web sites.