Sidelines National Support Network Orientation for Online Volunteers
Sidelines rewrote the Virtual Volunteering Project's "Are Your Ready to Volunteer Virtually" to fit its own needs for screening a potential volunteer, and there online orientation has a very personal feel, which is suitable to the nature of the kind of volunteer support they need:
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Becoming a Sidelines Volunteer
- Your name
- Address
- City, State & Zip code
- Phone # during the day
- Email address
- Willing to support via internet only?
- Willing to support via telephone only?
- Willing to support via BOTH telephone and/or email?
Hi !
Thanks for your interest in becoming an Sidelines volunteer. The only
prerequisites for becoming a Sidelines volunteer are:
1) having experienced a high risk pregnancy
2) willingness to help others in a similar situation
3) ability to support moms via email (or phone)
Being a Sidelines volunteer is a *wonderful experience*!!!!! I have personally supported over 20 moms in Ohio, the US and internationally. I have found email support to be GREAT and also very easy! I can send a quick note anytime day or night to my high risk mom! I can also chat "real time" via internet chat or AOL instant messenger. It's a wonderful way to support someone!
Read on to see what volunteers do, learn how we train volunteers, and determine if you are ready to volunteer.
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What does a Sidelines volunteer do?
* We participate in a minimum of one formal Sidelines training session (a live in-person training or video tape packet)
* We offer support and understanding to women and their families experiencing a high risk pregnancy.
* We do not give medical advice! We support the Moms and their families emotionally and encourage them to have their medical questions answered by their health care provider.
* We encourage compliance with Dr.'s orders.
* We are team players, confidential and dedicated!
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Are you ready to volunteer virtually?
Below are some questions and ideas to help you think through if you are ready to volunteer "virtually".
Volunteering from a home or work computer is different from working on-site with an organization for many obvious reasons: there's usually more flexibility in the use of your time, a greater degree of independence. For some, these differences make virtual volunteering ideal; these same reasons can make it difficult for others.
Setting your own schedule is one of the chief joys of virtual volunteering. However, there's nothing virtual about the commitment you are making.
Before you volunteer to help Sidelines via the Internet, consider the following to determine if you are ready:
1) Do you have regular, ongoing access to the Internet?
If access is only from work on certain days, let us know. We can work
around your schedule if needed. If your access is only 1 or 2 days a week
we may have to wait until you have more access to your email. Let us know!
Ideally you would have access daily.
2) Do you know how to communicate well via the written word?
You don't need to be an English major! ;-) But you do need to know how to
convey empathy and feelings to these high risk moms.
3) Are you comfortable working on your own, without direct supervision?
I am always available for consultation--for problems or questions that may
arise.
4) Are you self-motivated?
5) Do you have a set time of day when you can email your referral? (that can be any time, day or night)
6) Do you answer your emails quickly (no more than 48 hours after receipt)?
This is VERY important. I rely on volunteers to check their mail to take
referrals and the referrals rely on you to respond to their emails.
If you answered no to any of the above questions, or had difficulty answering some of the questions, perhaps you are not ready for volunteering virtually. Still, you may never know until you try!
Many times new or prospective volunteers ask..."What if I become too busy to be a volunteer?" I know that we as Moms are busy people! So each time I have a referral for you, I will ask you if it's OK for you to support her at that time. If you continually turn down referrals we will probably take you off our active list till you are ready to volunteer again.
We have a policy of a maximum of two referrals per volunteer, whether that be an email, phone or combination. I encourage volunteers to let me know if they will not be available to support referrals due to vacation, a family situation etc.
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How do we train volunteers?
Volunteers are trained by:
1) A live "in-person" training session held by your Sidelines State Chapter
or
2) A Sidelines video tape packet. This consist of an approximately 2 hour
video tape and a folder of information that you need to read.
Once trained you will be eligible to support moms via the internet or by phone in your area of the country. If you have a preference for volunteering by email only or by phone let us know.
I will contact your state Sidelines Coordinator to see if she can train you
via her chapter--in person or by video. If this is not feasible, then I
will send your name to:
Dannise Parker (daparker@earthlink.net), Sidelines Administrative Assistant.
She will contact you about getting a video tape packet to you.
If you end up being trained by video, try to go through the training as
quickly as you can because others will be waiting to get the video tape.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime!!
:-)
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READY?
If you feel you are ready to volunteer virtually, I need the following information from you for our records:
I look forward to getting to know you and receiving your information so that we can start the Sidelines training. Thanks so much for volunteering! You will be making a difference in the lives of mothers, babies and their families!
