This is an excellent opportunity for students who are considering work in the fields of social work or clinical psychology, or for those who have a strong interest in having an immediate, positive affect in the lives of children and families. As a volunteer, you would work alongside a dedicated team of professionals including Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and Licensed Clinical Social Workers, while providing critical support to families who are in immediate need of services. No prior counseling experience is required.

This important community resource provides support for parents and other caregivers who are feeling stressed, isolated, overwhelmed or at risk of neglecting or harming their children. Callers to our hotline often have no one else to turn to when they are facing the challenges of raising children, and we work to ensure that there is always someone available to listen when a parent or caregiver reaches out for help.

Volunteers to this hotline attend an intensive 33-hour training, which will prepare them to confidently answer the line and provide callers the support and resources they need.

Apply now to join our Winter Pre-Service Training - gain valuable skills in a supportive learning environment.

Topics covered in the training include:
• child development
• child abuse
• domestic violence
• multiculturalism
• substance abuse
• alternative families
• positive parenting
• crisis/suicide intervention
• family dynamics.

After successfully completing training, volunteers are asked to take one 4-hr shift per week between the hours of 9am and 9pm, Monday through Friday, and to commit to a minimum of 1 year as a volunteer. Bilingual (Spanish/ English) volunteers are especially needed!

Our upcoming volunteer training begins in January 2010, and will be held on the following dates:

January 22, 23, 24 & February 5, 6 & 7 (Fridays 5:30-9pm; Saturdays & Sundays 9am-3:30pm)

For more information, or to request a volunteer application, please contact Vincenza Baldino: vbaldino@familypaths.org
510 893-9230, ext. 244

Training is offered two or three times a year. Our next training is the Spring 2010 Pre-Service beginning in April.

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About Us:
Family Paths promotes the development of nurturing, responsible and resilient families within our diverse communities by providing comprehensive services that foster positive change, empowering parents and children.

For 38 years, we have been at the forefront of providing family support services to the people of Alameda County. We believe that there are many paths to creating strong and healthy families, and we are committed to providing the tools and resources necessary to help prevent child abuse and to ameliorate the effects of abuse when it has occurred.

Learn more at www.familypaths.org

• Good communication skills, the capacity to listen openly and to respond non-judgmentally; as well as a strong interest in helping to support parents, caregivers and their children.