Volunteer

The first steps toward becoming a SCAN volunteer are to complete the SCAN VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM HERE and to attend a volunteer orientation.

Upcoming volunteer orientations will be held at the SCAN office 205 S. Whiting Street, Suite 205, Alexandria, VA 22304, on:

Wednesday, November 7, 2018 – 12:30 PM
Wednesday, December 12, 2018 – 6:30 PM

Attendance at an orientation is required before volunteering with SCAN.

After orientation, potential volunteers will receive a volunteer application to complete and be routed to the appropriate program(s). Acceptance into the training classes for the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Program, Parent Education Program, or The Parent Support Group is based on the completion of the application and an initial interview with the Program Staff. Once these are complete, your acceptance into a program is based on the completion of the training, reference checks, criminal records check, a Child Protection records background check, and for the CASA Program, a final panel interview. These steps provide a safety net for you as a volunteer, as well as for the programs.

 

CASA Program

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Volunteer:
The Alexandria/Arlington CASA Program recruits volunteers twice a year for fall and spring training classes.

Volunteers are needed to advocate for children in the Alexandria/Arlington juvenile court system. Volunteers advocate for children in abuse and neglect cases, custody cases, and cases where a child is in need of services. Volunteers conduct interviews with the children, families, and professionals involved in the case, monitor compliance with the Court orders, and attend Court hearings where they represent the best interest of the child. The time commitment is roughly 20 hours a month, and we ask volunteers to make a one-year commitment to the program.

Bilingual, Hispanic Volunteers and African American Volunteers are greatly needed. Learn More about the CASA Program.

 

Parent Education Program

Nurturing Parenting Facilitator: Are you passionate about supporting future generations? Are you excited to support others in the amazing adventure of parenting? If so, join the SCAN team in supporting parents by co-facilitating Nurturing Parenting’s “ABCs of Parenting” 8 week parenting class. Meetings are held weekly from 6pm to 8:30pm for 8 consecutive weeks. SCAN is seeking both English speaking and Spanish speaking facilitators. 

Parent Support Group Facilitator: Educational Parent Support Groups are facilitated by trained professionals who volunteer to work with a group of parents for at least one year. Parents share the leadership role with the facilitator who guides the group and acts as a resource to link the parents with other community services. Meetings are held weekly for 1 ½ to 2 hours. SCAN is seeking both English speaking and Spanish speaking facilitators.

Childcare Volunteer at Parenting Classes: SCAN provides various daytime and evening classes and workshops for parents throughout the year. SCAN is seeking volunteers to provide childcare during these various events.
> Learn more about being a Childcare Volunteer at Parenting Classes

Childcare Volunteer at Parent Support Groups: SCAN provides various daytime and evening classes and workshops for parents throughout the year. SCAN is seeking volunteers to provide childcare during these various events.
> Learn more about being a Childcare Volunteer at Parent Support Groups

Meal Logistics Volunteer:
> Learn more about being a Meal Logistics Volunteer

 

Public Education Program

Baby Boxes: SCAN distributes Baby Boxes Tuesdays and Fridays between 10 AM and 3 PM. Volunteering to assemble boxes and distribute Baby Boxes to new parents and grandparents while sharing about safe sleep environments is a rewarding experience.

Fact Sheets: We’re constantly adding to our collection of fact sheets and would love help researching and writing more. Or if fact sheets aren’t your thing, but you enjoy writing, then try your hand at a blog post. This is a great remote volunteer opportunity!

Translations: Another fantastic remote opportunity! All of our fact sheets are published in English and Spanish, and we can always use volunteers who are willing to take a document and translate it into another language.

 

Other Opportunities

Administrative Volunteer: Volunteers are needed to help with office organization, newsletter mailings and more. This can include working to support SCAN’s annual Northern Virginia Child Abuse Prevention Campaign through the preparation of mailings and other public education materials as well as providing support for important outreach events.

Special Event Volunteers: SCAN seeks Fundraising Volunteers to assist with the coordination of special events, solicitation of local businesses for donations of silent auction items, preparation and organization of materials related to fundraising, and/or planning around solicitations of local businesses. Actual volunteer tasks will vary according to the volunteer’s experience, contacts, and comfort level. Fundraising volunteers are provided with training, support, and materials. There are opportunities to assist in all stages of fundraising projects, including: coordinating an event, graphic design of promotional materials, assistance with mass mailings, follow up calls to local businesses, or meetings with local business leaders. Commitment can range from several hours a week for a limited number of weeks leading up to an event or a few hours a month long-term. For more information on fundraising volunteer opportunities at SCAN, call Sally Richards, Director of Development, at (703) 820-9001 or email srichards@scanva.org.

You may also be interested in organizing a fundraiser and making SCAN the beneficiary. You can work with a group of your coworkers, your Civic Club, a women’s group, a church group, a Scout troop, or any group that wants to work together to organize a fundraiser to help stop child abuse in Northern Virginia. Be creative! More information and a benefit proposal form are available.

Volunteer with your Group: Your community service, church, civic or just a group of your friends can volunteer together to help SCAN, either through a one-time activity or by planning a benefit for SCAN. Some one-time activities include helping SCAN with one of the family meals before parenting classes – anything from buying groceries to cooking and eating with the families. Other one-time activities could include planting a pinwheel garden to raise awareness or a few people could help our childcare volunteers one evening at our support groups or parenting classes. You could also plan a benefit, like a concert or fashion show, and donate the proceeds to SCAN. If you want to plan a benefit, but aren’t sure what – how about organizing a Dining for Dollars event at a local restaurant? (We have a whole list of them who have offered!)

Research Aide: SCAN strives to keep on top of current information regarding child safety, child abuse and neglect, and resources available for education and prevention. SCAN seeks volunteers to research topics for fact sheets, workshops, and various SCAN activities.

Technical Support Volunteer: SCAN is seeking volunteers to assist in website design, maintenance, database maintenance and general office support.

For more information on volunteer opportunities, email SCAN at info@scanva.org or call SCAN at (703) 820-9001.