By Donna Brown

 The Women’s Center of Montgomery County is a volunteer, community organization with a primary focus on freedom from domestic violence and other forms of abuse.  The Women’s Center of Montgomery County has been volunteer-powered since its inception in 1976.

 24-hour domestic violence hotline  elder abuse counseling and supportive services  individualized peer and group domestic violence counseling  telephone counseling  information and referral  legal advocacy  court and hospital accompaniment  emergency relocation funding for victims of domestic violence  outreach to the community and schools

 Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) has minimum requirements for direct service volunteers: ◦ 45 hour training course includes basic information on domestic violence issues, active listening skills, cultural sensitivity, options counseling and empowerment advocacy. ◦ Additional 8 hours of domestic violence related training annually

 In the past, two hour in-services have been offered several times a year in the different offices  Recently, the volunteers are not completing their required yearly training hours  If volunteers do not complete the 8 hours annually, then they can no longer be direct service volunteers

 DVDs  Webinars  Volunteer Retreat ◦ One Saturday ◦ 6 hours of training

 Choose your attitude ◦ Should the volunteers continue to “slide” on completing the required training hours? ◦ It’s not only about the volunteer or funder, but the clients as well. ◦ Without the additional knowledge gained from the trainings, the counselor will most likely not have accurate information. ◦ Trainings should be an opportunity to learn not be treated as “what are they going to do, fire me?” if I do not go.

 Start the retreat with a fun activity  6 hours is a long time even with a lunch break so starting off will set the tone for the rest of the day

 Answer these questions on an index card: ◦ What is your favorite animal? ◦ Favorite animal? ◦ Favorite TV show? ◦ Favorite hobby? ◦ Favorite color? ◦ Sign your name at the bottom and pass the cards to me

 Thank the volunteers for the hard work they do  Thank the volunteers for giving up most of a Saturday for the training

 During the retreat, time will be set aside for volunteers to just talk to each other and staff  Discuss difficult calls they have  The volunteers will see the support they have from each other and the staff

 Goal #1: to have the volunteers’ training hours in compliance with the funders’ standards. ◦ Objective 1.1: To provide volunteers with alternative training methods. ◦ Objective 1.2: To identify and notify volunteers not in compliance.

 Goal #2: To provide a one day series of workshops on domestic violence related topics ◦ Objective 2.1: To define domestic violence related topics by funder’s standards ◦ Objective 2.2: To schedule 6 hours worth of appropriate workshops

 Clientele: volunteers  Methods: alternative trainings and retreat  Staff: current staff and guest speakers

 DVDs at the offices  Volunteer retreat held at one of the office buildings  Volunteer Coordinators: staff  Photocopier: print materials for workshops

 Personnel: Speakers for workshops  Supplies: paper, pens  Equipment: ◦ Chairs and tables for one large conference room ◦ Chairs and tables for one small conference room

 Paper: $50  Pens:$10  Lunch:$50  Blank DVDs: $10  Total:$120

 Goal 1: DVDs and Webinars  Survey volunteers to determine if they think they are completing the required hours and compare the results to volunteer coordinator’s records.  Survey again after 3 months to determine if volunteers have been using the DVDs and Webinars.

 Goal #2: Volunteer Retreat  Survey volunteers with a list of approved training topics to determine interest in the topics.  Pre and post survey on day of retreat to determine if the one day of trainings is better for them then series of topics through out the year

 December 2: Send out Save the Date Cards for Retreat  December 15: Survey volunteers about approved topics  December 30: Complete list of topics  January 5: Identify speakers for topics  January 30: Finalize schedule for retreat  February 2: Send out registration forms  March 24: Day of Retreat