Volunteering with AIDS Interfaith Network

Volunteers have helped form and define AIN - our vision, mission, purpose, structure, and identity. Volunteer service to clients is a profound gift of self-a meaningful and compassionate response to humanity. Volunteerism strengthens the agency and expands our service capacity beyond the limits of grant funding. Volunteer commitments to the agency help us to be responsive, stable, and fiscally sound-an enduring HIV organization.

Recognizing the profound contribution that volunteers make to AIN, we provide a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the agency. We also continue to strengthen the structure of volunteer services, and continue to invest in supporting our volunteers.

For more information about volunteering with AIN or to attend a volunteer training, please contact Blake M. Peery (214) 943-4444 or email Blake at bpeery@aidsinterfaithnetwork.org.

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The Volunteer Program in Client Services

• Care Team Volunteers come from area churches or faith communities, and provide client services that range from in-home chore assistance to social and emotional support. 
• Buddy Project Volunteers are individuals from all walks of life who are matched one-on-one with clients for longer-term psychosocial and practical support relationships.  
• Pastoral Services Network Volunteers are pastors, ministers, or lay people to whom clients are referred if they desire spiritual support.
  

Concepts
With different curriculums, we provide volunteers with experiences that best suit their needs and best serve clients -- experiences range from a one-time interaction to a long-term, one-on-one, in-depth support relationship with a client.

We professionally recruit, train, and coordinate volunteers who render a level of client service that we could not otherwise afford to provide with paid staff. 

Volunteers serve as a front-line client monitoring staff, often being the first to identify medical, health care, or medication needs; and/or the need for additional services because they provide frequent personal contact with clients.  Volunteers provide direct support/service to clients and respite care for primary care givers. They are part of the support/care surrounding the client. Volunteers meet with clients in their homes or wherever is most convenient for the client.

• Care Team volunteers can be assigned to clients by groups, in pairs, or individually.
• Each of these volunteers join a team; each team consists of 5 to 15 volunteers.
• We ask for a minimum commitment of 3 client contacts per month for a minimum of 3 hours of each contact.
  

Care Team Relationships - By addressing practical needs of clients through nonjudgmental, affirming relationships, volunteers help support client's home care or other needs. Care Team Volunteers and clients negotiate the level of desired contact and the amount of time they will spend together. Staff guides volunteers and clients during development of their relationship.

Participating in Care Teams helps those volunteers express their faith through volunteer work while not imposing their religious/spiritual beliefs on any individuals.

Although Care Team volunteers primarily come from
area churches, religion is not imposed on clients.

• Together, the volunteer and client create the companion [Buddy] relationship that accomplishes the purpose of the program.
• We ask Buddy volunteers for a minimum commitment of 3 client contacts per month for a minimum of 3 hours at each contact. 

The Buddy Relationship is the Purpose of this Service - A trust-based, extended friendship with the volunteer serving as confidant and companion, the Buddy relationship is professional in nature though it has elements of a more personal friendship. Professional staff gives guidance to volunteers and clients to help develop appropriate Buddy relationships. As the relationship solidifies, volunteers and clients negotiate the level of contact desired by the client, the amount of time they will spend together, and the types of interactions they will include.

We ask Buddy volunteers for at least a 6 month commitment. Program staff manages volunteers and clients in relationship.

Following training, a criminal background check, and a comprehensive matching process,
Buddy volunteers are individually assigned to clients.

Curriculum #3 - The Pastoral Services Network Component of the Program
Through a network of pastors, ministers, and lay ministers, these Volunteers provide
emotional and spiritual support/care through pastoral contact.

• Clients request a professional who represents their own faith group or belief system. These volunteers come from affiliated churches, denominations, and faith groups.
• Together, the volunteer and client create the type of relationship that accomplishes the purpose of the program.
• The volunteer and client negotiate the level and duration of the contact desired. These volunteers report directly to staff. Professional ethics govern the relationships and contact.

We cultivate referral relationships and give training to
pastors, ministers, and lay ministers.

 
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