1. The Dougy Center’s
Care and Feeding of Volunteers
Volunteers
The Foundation of our Program!

2. Volunteer Component
Presentation Goals
1. Volunteer Role
2. Retention & Appreciation
3. Recruitment
4. Training & Placement
5. Supervision
6. Special Issues

3. Role of the Volunteer
Volunteer Opportunities
– Peer Group facilitators
– Fundraising
– Office
Volunteer Facilitators
– Bring an open heart & mind
– Complete training
– Commit for one year
– Participate in a peer grief
support group
– Adhere to the Safety
Guidelines

4. Volunteer Retention
• 160 + Volunteers
• 100 (63%) 0-4 years
• 32 (20%) 5-9
• 17 (11%) 10-14
• 10 (6%) 15-20+
• Longest standing
volunteer is 22 years
What makes them
stay?

5. Volunteer Appreciation
• Pre and Post meeting
acknowledgement
• Birthday cards
• Anniversary beading
ceremony
• Closing ceremonies
• Bereavement cards
• Thank you notes
• Appreciation Dinner

6. Volunteer Recruitment
• Create a plan
– Who?
– Where can we find them?
– Who already knows them?
• Who is your ideal volunteer?
• Assess community resources
• Target outreach efforts
• Talk about your program –
everywhere!
“Anybody who loves to work with people and is
compassionate, understanding and willing to get rid of their
own unfinished business. That is the only requirement.”
~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

7. Volunteer Screening
• Create a job description
– Time, training, role, supervision
• Design an application
– Loss history, experience working with
children, references.
– Look for red flags – criminal background
check, poor references
• Interview teen volunteer applicants before
training.

8. Volunteer Training
Training Goals
• Process their own grief
• Be part of a peer support group
• Learn TDC model
• Practice individual & group
facilitation skills
• Experience different means to
express grief
– Art, Dramatic Play, Talk, and
Big Energy Play

9. Volunteer Training…cont.
• Pick days & times that
work for your
audience
• Our model is 25 hours
1 or 2 weekends +
mortuary tour
• Schedule in-service
trainings for ongoing
skill development

10. Volunteer Placement
• Post training application
• Meet with volunteer
coordinator to discuss
– Reactions to training
– Suitability concerns
– Schedule/group
preferences
• Place in a group!

11. Volunteer Supervision
Supervision Issues:
• Role & responsibilities
• Who is the supervisor?
• When – pre & post meeting
• How to address concerns
• Asking volunteers to leave
• Ongoing training – 3-4 in service trainings,
newsletters

12. Special Issues That Impact
Volunteers
• Death of family member or friend
• Changes in the Program
– Move or change program space
– Change of staff responsibilities
• Loss of staff member or facilitator
– Quit or closed, left under positive conditions
– Fired or left under challenging conditions
• Illness or Death of a Facilitator or Staff