Get Trained 
Become a Trained Volunteer!
Among the many rewards of volunteering is the satisfaction felt in being effective and in bettering the lives of others. By giving more time and commitment to a specific effort,
There is nothing more important than getting trained. With training you can be extra effective in helping people. With more commitment you can really make a difference. By concentrating energy in one area, you can see results. Trained positions often require a commitment to individuals. They give time to form relationships, and really feel the difference you are making in an individual life.
A Few Volunteer Opportunities
Big Brother Big Sister of America (BBBSA): Provides one-to-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers and children, aged 5-14 who are from single-parent families, or are having problems. The Lane County chapter is run through the YMCA.
Birth to Three: Promotes positive parenting through support groups of similarly aged infants' parents; a newsletter, information and telephone assistance for parents with children aged birth to three.
CASA: Volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) are everyday people who are appointed by judges to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children who are going through the court system.
Young Parents, Young Fathers (Catholic Community Services):
The Young Parents Program operated by Catholic Community Services of Lane County serves over 500 teen parent families each year. Services include in-home case management, life skills training, GED preparation and for students completing high school or GED requirements, transition to further education or employment.
The Young Fathers Program offers services specially developed for teen fathers. These services include mentors who serve as role models of responsible fatherhood and contributing members of the community.
Child Advocacy Center: Provides a warm, home-like environment where children can be interviewed in matters concerning child abuse. The Center will ensure that the child's well-being is first priority, enables effective investigations, and coordinates the child's legal and treatment needs through community resources. This saves children from being shuffled through police stations, doctors' offices and courtrooms.
Foster Parents: Provide care for children who have been abused and neglected and cannot remain in their own homes. The local program is run through the Lane County Office of Services to Families and Children (OSCF).
Parenting Now!: A positive strength-based curriculum, designed to be inviting to a wide range of parents with young children. The curriculum helps parents identify and integrate their values into daily and long-range parenting, with an emphasis on respecting their child as a unique individual. In addition to the prevention of child abuse, the vision of Birth To Three, Success By 6¨ and the Parenting Now!; program is that parents will build a positive, enjoyable and healthy relationship with their children, providing a solid foundation throughout their lives.
Relief Nursery: Serves children birth to six years of age in a pre-school setting. Relief Nursery is a family focused intervention program serving low-income parents. Relief Nursery's goal is to prevent child abuse and neglect and keep families together. The facility includes eight classrooms, a kitchen, office, and playground.
SCAR/Jasper Mountain (Lane County Department of Youth Services): This diverse agency has a variety of intensive treatment programs for children with serious problems under the age of 12. Programs include Day-Treatment, Therapeutic Foster Care, Crisis Residential, Assessment and Evaluation, short term and long term residential treatment.
Siuslaw Outreach Services: Dedicated to assisting women and their families to lead safe, dignified and secure lives by offering range of services from basic necessities to self-empowerment.
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