Our Volunteers
New Song Center is a volunteer based organization where your desire to serve is matched by our willingness to train you appropriately for your task. The foundation of our organization is the volunteer facilitator team working with our program staff and the children, youth, young adults and their care-givers in our ongoing support group programs.
There are many opportunities for volunteer service at New Song Center.
- Facilitate a support group
- Serve on the Board of Directors
- Provide office/clerical support
- Join the speakers Bureau
- Serve on the Marketing/Public Relations Committee
- Help raise funds
- Assist in IT projects
- Plan and promote special events
- Design & publish a newsletter
- Provide Training & Conference Leadership
- Conference Planning
- Direct assistance (set-up, food, decorations, etc.)
What is a New Song Group Facilitator?
Many New Song Volunteers want to work directly with the families we serve. These are called Group Facilitators. Each facilitator needs 25 hours of training and up to 20 hours of mentoring prior to being assigned to a group. Training is offered multiple times a year. In order to provide the children and families with much needed consistency, we ask each facilitator to make at least a one year commitment. In addition to training and mentoring, all facilitators are fingerprinted; and are provided with in-service education throughout the year.
Support groups are based on the age of the participants. Evening family support groups are available for 4 - 8 year olds, 9 - 12 year olds, teens and adult care givers. Young adult support groups are available for 18 - 26 year olds. Once training is completed, each facilitator is invited to mentor in two different age groups before requesting a permanent placement.
After the death of a loved one the whole family is affected. Children do not come to New Song without a care-giver. We encourage all siblings to attend, even if only one child appears to be having difficulty dealing with the death. While the children meet in their support groups, adults have a group of their own to gain support and learn how to assist their children.
Each family and each facilitator comes to New Song Center every-other week for group. The facilitators arrive at 5:30 to help set up the rooms for the evening activities and to have their pre-meeting with the Evening Coordinator. Families arrive at 6:30 for a pizza dinner and then group begins at 7:00pm. At 8:15 everyone gathers together to have a closing ceremony. At the end of each group, each facilitator helps clean up and then attends the post-meeting.
Grief can be a challenging process for many children and families. Here at New Song Center, we honor the difficulties associated with grief and believe that each person has the inner strength to heal. Although the stories are sad and tears are shed, we have a lot of fun at New Song. We recognize the whole child and include laughter and play in each group. Being a New Song Center Group Facilitator can be challenging, but it is a very rewarding way to make a difference.
If you are interested, please fill out our application or get in touch with us.