Friends of Guest House: Volunteer

Friends of Guest House relies on community members volunteering their time and services to further assist our clients and act as role models. All volunteers are screened through the application and interview process, and are required to undergo a background check. Following an orientation, volunteers work directly with staff and/or clients to help promote a positive and productive environment.

Volunteers utilize their areas of expertise and/or personal interests to help our clients achieve their goals. In determining placement of a volunteer, equal attention will be given to the interest of the volunteer and to the requirements of the agency.

> Planning, coordinating, and taking clients on fieldtrips

> Assisting with writing resumes

> Researching & coordinating external resources
(i.e. job leads, housing opportunities, dental care, etc.)

Mentoring at Guest House

Under the umbrella of the volunteer program is the mentoring program. After an orientation and training seminar mentors are able to work directly with clients. Each of our residential clients are assigned a mentor when they enter the program. The mentor and mentee set the dates and times that they plan to meet, and both parties are expected to keep their commitments.

A mentor is a caring, adult friend who devotes time to a person. Although mentors can fill any number of different roles, all mentors have the same goal in common: to help people achieve their potential and discover their strengths. A mentor’s main purpose is to help a person define individual goals and find ways to achieve them. By sharing fun activities and new experiences, a mentor encourages positive choices, promotes high self-esteem, supports academic achievement, and introduces the person to new ideas.

Total Woman Program

The Total Woman Program was developed to further assist our clients in learning how to transition well back into society. This program teaches them the life skills they will need to become self-confident enough to live on their own in today’s society. Through a series of weekly sessions, our clients are exposed to different techniques and ideas that promote responsibility and self-awareness.

Some topics that have been used for a Total Woman session include:

> Communication

> Home tips

> Internet & computer skills

> Organization

> Job preparation & conduct

> Spending/ budgeting plan

> Health & beauty