Get Ready! Get Set!

To Become a Volunteer: Click on this link www.buckscountyfamilyfriends.org



JOIN A REMARKABLE PROGRAM

Family Friends is a national program that matches adult men and women with families who have children with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Family Friends has also reached out to families who are homeless, grandparents raising grandchildren and other at-risk families.

Family Friends volunteers are caring, positive adults who know all about life's challenges. By reading a book or playing a game with a child, listening to a concerned parent or accompanying the family to appointment, they strengthen and support families.

Family Friends projects nationwide have both public and private nonprofit sponsors, such as schools, hospitals, social service agencies, and aging and disability services organizations.


BECOME A FAMILY FRIEND


You can work your whole life and wonder whether you've made a difference.

Family Friends make a difference in just a few hours a week.

If you want to feel fulfilled, gain a new perspective on life, and open your heart to new relationships, please join us.

Share Your Skills

People of any age can apply their experience and skills to Family Friends in many different ways: joining an advisory council, gathering resource materials, raising funds or recruiting participants. Skilled program staffs match individuals' talents, interests, and availability with a role that fits.

Family Friends receive pre-service and ongoing training, support from experienced staff, recognition, liability insurance, and the chance to interact with like-minded, caring and committed people. Persons may participate individually or on a team. Schedules are flexible to meet everyone's needs.

Opportunities for Volunteers for Family Friends:

Home/Volunteer Family

Become a friend to the child, siblings, and parents. Support the individual as a companion and friend. Provide appropriate nurturing activities that enhance the child's life experiences. Gently promote adaptive and positive behavior. Develop social skills, self-image and self-esteem. Dynamic and sensitive engagement with the child's family, while respecting the family's organizational and value system. Include siblings when appropriate Provide respite to parents, if they choose to take a break from child care during your visit.

Volunteer Meetings

Volunteers are encouraged to attend monthly Family Friends meetings. Maintain communication with Family Friends regarding progress and help for any problems that may arise with individual or family. Be a liaison between matched family and Family Friends Program. Inservice trainings are provided to help maintain match and support volunteers. Trainers, such as, psychologists, doctors, and speech therapists provide training on various topics.

School

Provide periodic services to special needs classes and or individuals in elementary, middle school, high school or technical schools, under the direction and in coordination with teachers and staff. Provide music, art, crafts, reading or story telling services.

If appropriate, in accordance with volunteer's education and experiences, help to develop social, intellectual, emotional, and or vocational skills for children.

Group Home or Residential Facilities

Assist and support house parents and social workers with child clients directly or thru activities. Assist and support staff in providing cleaning, cooking, recreation, sports, games, shopping and organizational tasks. If interested in RTF'S - inquire about mentoring.

Other types of Volunteer Opportunities

Administrative support: Telephone calls, filing case notes, update records on the computer, make calendars.

Grant applications: Use skills to assist with writing grant proposals.

Fund raising: Use skills or experiences to work With civic, business and entertainment communities in order to
raise funds or provide services for Family Friends.

Marketing: Assist in recruiting new volunteers For the Family Friends Program.