Teach children about the impact of addiction
Volunteers of America Oregon
As a Speaker’s Bureau Facilitator, Bring current clients of residential treatment to Washington, Gresham-Barlow, and Multnomah county high schools to speak in health classes. Clients share their stories about how addiction has impacted them in their lives, while you, as the facilitator, explain the Men’s Residential Center, talk about addiction and how it relates to the criminal justice system in our country, assist clients when they get stuck, keep clients on track, and ask follow up questions.
Sample Activities:
- Bring 2-3 clients to a high school and speak in 1 to 7 classes. Facilitator does and intro for about 10-15 minutes, then each client speaks for 15-20 minutes, and then time is left for questions from students. Facilitator actively listens the entire time to make sure clients are staying on track and being supported with follow up questions.
- Before going to a school preparing clients for what to expect, provide questions to help them prepare, and discuss rules of Speakers Bureau.
You will be helping educate students on addiction and providing a space for clients to give back to the community by utilizing their stories to help change students’ perspective on addiction.
Time Commitment:
Schedule varies depending on when schools schedule for us to come, but it always takes place any time between Monday-Friday, 6:30am-4:00pm from September to June. Depending on the month there could be 3-4 speakers bureaus a week. We are looking for a long term commitment.
Qualifications:
- Comfortable with public speaking
- Strong skills with facilitating
- Empathetic and supportive of clients as they share their vulnerability
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Valid driver’s license
Men’s Residential Center: A one-year chemical dependency and cognitive restructuring program utilizing therapeutic community, evidence-based practices, and compassionate accountability to provide our clients with the opportunity to make the choices to engage in recovery both from their disease of chemical dependency and from their criminal lifestyle/harmful thinking patterns.
About Volunteers of America Oregon
Location:
3910 SE Stark Street, Portland, OR 97214, US
Mission Statement
Our Vision Volunteers of America Oregon is a leader in creating vibrant, compassionate communities where every member is valued, every home is safe and every life is self-determined. Our Mission Volunteers of America Oregon changes lives by promoting self-determination, building strong communities and standing for social justice. Our Values High quality of service to our community. Ethical communications, Diversity, inclusiveness and equality, Partnership/collaborations and innovative solutions, Compassion and acceptance.
Description
Since 1896, Volunteers of America Oregon has worked to change lives by promoting self-determination and building strong communities. Today, through the dedication of over 300 staff members and more than 1000 volunteers, we help thousands of families in the greater Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington areas. We serve men, woman and children with a continuum of services, touching individuals from all walks of life, from the youngest to the oldest.