Family Life Line Volunteers

Licensed NY nurse, parent-aide licensed social worker, early childhood staff, maintenance, technical assistance, child care, and tutoring are usually needed on a regular basis.

Family Lifeline Volunteers

serving at

Little Sisters

of the Assumption

Family Health Service

East Harlem, NYC

Service Descriptions

Home-based Child Development Program

This program monitors infants’ and toddlers’ development and behavior, makes referrals to other programs as needed, and offers educational and emotional support to their parents.

1)   Home-based Home Visitor: Under supervision and direction of the Home-based Supervisor, Volunteer will make home visits to families with young children ages 0 – 3 in order to enhance the parent-child relationship through parent guidance and child development information. The home visitor models stimulating adult-child interactions through developmentally appropriate play, identifies a developmental delayed and at risk children, provides corrective interventions, and monitors and assesses mother-child responses. Volunteer will work as part of the Home based team, and attend regular Early Childhood program meetings.
2)   Corporate Liaison: Contact toy companies and baby product companies for donations of manipulative and developmental toys. These toys can also be lent or given away to moms to be used for their own convenience at home (i.e. baby baskets of items for infants). Duties would include researching companies to determine to whom to make a request, write letters explaining our need and follow-up with phone contacts. Volunteer must be someone who can take the initiative to do this mainly on her/his own. Volunteer reports to and is supervised by head of Early Childhood Program.
3)    Spanish Translator: Main duties would include translating, typing and correcting agency materials, developmental information, correspondence etc. Volunteer must have good working knowledge of written English and Spanish. Supervision would be provided by individuals requesting the translation. Hours are flexible.

Toddler Nursery Program
The Toddler Nursery offers care for children participating in the Preventive Services Program or the Early Intervention Program. It also provides a unique opportunity for children to enhance their EI therapies, socialize with other children, and apply skills they are learning.

1) Nursery Assistant: Assist with children 15 months – 3 years of age in our Toddler Nursery, working under the direction of the nursery teacher, and with the nursery team, carry out curriculum that meets the children’s individual needs. Flexibility and emotional stability are necessary to work with children and families in stressful situations, as well as having a sense of fun and enjoyment in work. Hours needed: at least two mornings or afternoons a week, from either 9 am – 12 noon, or 12:30 – 2:30 pm, Mondays through Thursdays. Supervision provided by Director of Nursery.

Family Support Program

Keeping highly stressed families together and preventing the trauma of children going into foster care are the goals of this program. Social workers and specialized caseworkers offer concrete help with employment, education, housing, and health problems. They also provide individual, family, and group counseling. Funded mainly as a “Preventive Services” program by the Administration for Children’s Services, the Family Support Program builds on family strengths. It draws on our other services and our extensive networks with neighborhood and city resources.

1) Mentor/Tutors: Provide-one-on-one weekly academic support for young people in this program. Volunteer needs to enjoy teens and pre-teens, be open, caring, patient, and respectful. Previous experience in tutoring or mentoring is a plus. Activities include offering homework help during a tutoring session, or sharing an activity. Volunteers will be trained and supervised by Family Support Staff. Volunteer may also coordinate/supervise weekly group tutoring program, as needed.

Community Life Program

English-as-a Second-Language classes, Spanish Literacy classes, art classes for children, parenting and support groups are just a few of our CL programs. The Community Life Program helps participants meet each other, share experiences, improve their chances of finding work, and monitor their children’s performance in school. Special activities include summer outings and trips and events for children and adults, holiday toy distribution and parties. The Little Sisters Sharing Place, a thrift store, offers inexpensive high-quality used clothes and household goods.

1) Holiday Coordinator: Assist Community Life Director with collecting, storing, and distributing donations for Christmas. Arranging for storage and working with staff in their party planning is included. This person needs to be detail oriented, likes to plan, to be creative, but organized. The hours are any time between 9 and 5 during the weekdays during the holiday season-as early as mid-to late September until January 6 and then a few hours in late January to process the season. As many hours as possible during November and December is ideal. This person would be trained and supervised by the Community Life Director.

2) Summer Trips Assistant: Main responsibilities would involve calling potential outing sites and arranging for tickets, passes for trips for families during the summer months. Also would communicate with staff to distribute tickets/vouchers to clients. Volunteer needs to be detail-oriented and like to plan. Accompany families and staff on day trips which mostly take place in summer. Duties would include planning prior to the trip, lunch and other material preparation (i.e. play equipment, car seats) either same day or day before. On the day of the trip, this person would assist families with supervising children during the trip, socializing with families and carrying supplies. Hours would be from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the day of the trip and 2 hours to prepare (day before), Overall supervision is provided by Director of Community Life. Person needs to be friendly, enjoy working with families and lending a willing hand.

3) English Conversation Partner: Practice English one-to-one with someone who is learning the language. Sessions would last for one hour a week for about 10-12 weeks. Training would be provided and initial appointment would be made with client. Volunteer and client would arrange subsequent appointments. Volunteer needs to be mature, patient, and committed. Reports to ESL Head Teacher.

4) Computer Teacher Assistant: Help facilitate computer class for students who are beginner learners in computer skills. Must have basic facility with computers (pcs), but expert computer knowledge not necessary. Good communication skills important. Must be bilingual (Spanish/English speaking). Days – Monday through Fridays, 11 – 2 pm (flexible schedule/days).

5) ESL Assistant Teacher: Work with a small group of Spanish-speaking women in Beginners’ English. Review with the students lessons prepared by the head teacher, sometimes teaching new concept and offering examples to strengthen the grammar and conversation. Must be friendly, open, patient, and interested in helping new immigrants learn English. Volunteers needed for one or two mornings a week, from 9-12. Supervision provided by head ESL teacher

6) Spanish Literacy Assistant Teacher: Help teach basic reading and writing skills to native Spanish speakers. The students in the class are immigrants who never fully learned to read and write in their native language (Spanish). The goal of this class is to help them learn to read and write in Spanish, so that they then can begin to learn to read and write in English. The class meets on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 12 - 2 pm, at our Center. As an Assistant Teacher you will work with a small group (2-3 students) within the class. Skills needed: fluency in Spanish; patience, and a caring heart! Class runs until the end of June, and begins again in September. One one one tutoring with indidivual students who need extra assistance also available.

8) Math and Reading Tutors: Tutors for math and reading to help East Harlem students ages 7-14 achieve academic success. Requires competency in math and/or reading, ability to communicate, patience, caring, ability to commit to one hour a week with the child at our center. Tutoring occurs after school (flexible days). Tutors supervised by the Educational Counselor.

9) Volunteer Program Assistant: Assist Volunteer Program Director with all aspects of managing volunteer program – tracking volunteers, maintain volunteer data base, assist with volunteer recruitment, correspondence, help plan volunteer recognition events. Hours: 1- 3 days a week, flexible schedule. Supervision provided by Volunteer Director.

Sharing Place

A unique spot with its own boutique setting for purchasing high quality, low cost goods for adults and children in the local community. Clothing, furniture, books, sundry items, housewares and other items are available.

1) Thrift Store Assistant: Work at the "Sharing Place" thrift store which is open Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday. (Tuesday is set-up day.) Sort and tag clothes, deal with customer requests, and work a cash register. Pick-up of donations - driving or accompanying driver.

Hours: Monday through Saturday 9:00 to 5:30. It is preferable that if you are coming for a few hours, it be consistent from week to week. You would report to and be trained by either the Assistant Manager or Manager. Volunteers need to be patient, able to handle busy, active atmosphere and be able to deal cheerfully with customers. Bilingual (Spanish/English) a real plus.

2) Store Promotion Assistant: Assist Store Manager in all aspects of promoting the Sharing Place. Volunteer would make connections with retailers, other groups for new sources of donations. Make flyers, promote the store via advertising venues. Help coordinate clothing drives. Write thank you letters to donors. Hours: at least two hours a day, 5 days a week.

3) Childcare Assistant (for Sharing Place Thrift Store): Provide activities and a watchful eye for parents who are shopping in the Sharing Place during store hours. This person would report to the Sharing Place Manager. This person must be responsible, alert, and able to keep an eye on young children in the store, while also providing appropriate activities for children in the store. Bilingual skills helpful, but not necessary.

Home Health Nursing Program

This program offers direct nursing care to those of all ages: premature babies and newborns, infants and children failing to thrive, children with asthma, disable children and adults, pregnant, and postpartum teen and adults, HIV-infected children and parents, psychiatric patients and their families, and the elderly. A multi disciplinary team of nurses, physical therapists, medical social workers, and home health aides work together to offer the care, education, and support that help families become better able to care for themselves and avoid unnecessary hospital stays.

1) Data Entry Assistant: Help with Maternity Outreach Program in cleaning up, entering and analyzing 10 years of data. Graduate student may be needed. Hours: 10 hours a week or whatever is possible. Volunteer must be computer literate, able to enter and clean up data. The main responsibility is data entry. This person will be supervised and report to Director of Patient Services. No training is offered but orientation to the work will be provided.

2) Bilingual Nurse: (full or part-time) NYS Licensed RN who is willing to do community health nursing, including prenatal, post-partum health visits, and asthma health visits. Needs to meet New York State Health Department requirements for Home Health Agency. This person reports to Director of Patient Services. Supervision and training provided by Nursing Supervisor.

3) Pastoral Caregiver: Provide spiritual and emotional support to patients and families through home visits to the sick and homebound. Ability to minister to patients/families from diverse cultures and beliefs in their own homes and work as member of an interdisciplinary team. Must be bilingual. Hours: by patient appointment. Qualifications: CPE Training and Certification, or a Pastoral Counseling degree or equivalent and experience working with the sick and elderly. Spanish speaking preferred, but not necessary.

4) Asthma Children’s Group Assistant: Assist group leader in facilitating children’s after school group. Group meets twice a week, from 3 – 5 pm, on Mondays and Wednesdays. Activities include arts and crafts, and physical recreation activities. Must enjoy working with kids, ages 6 – 11, able to interact well with children, be caring, responsible.

5) Environmental Worker (Bilingual) (full or part-time): This person would be working with outreach worker on Asthma Project. Volunteer needs to be bilingual, be able to work with community people, and make home visits. Duties are to make environmental assessment, teach families, and do interventions. Person to be trained and supervised by Asthma Project Coordinator.

6) Bilingual Registered Nurse: NYS Licensed RN needed to make telephone calls to patients who are discharged from the Asthma Program re: how many months they have gone without asthma attacks, their use of medication, use of ER/hospital, etc. Hours: 4-6 hours per week, weekdays 9-5. Supervised by Asthma Project Coordinator or Nursing Supervisor. Orientation to program also provided by Nursing Supervisor.

7) Translator: Bilingual (English/Spanish) This person would translate for RNs only and accompany RN’s on home visits, as needed. This person must be able to translate accurately. Hours: as needed during weekdays, maybe 1-5 hours a week. Supervision provided by RN’s and Nursing Supervisor. Training would include orientation to our Center and to the services RN’s are providing.

Advocacy and Emergency Services Program

Through this program of networking with other organizations, we help participants apply for and gain access to food stamps, Medicaid, and housing, employment and immigration services. We also bring East Harlem families’ needs to the attention of elected officials and the general public. The program operates the Emergency Food Pantry, which services mainly families with very young children - for whom good nutrition is essential to physical and mental development.

1) Advocate: Volunteers attend to clients one at a time by appointment, conducting intakes, assessing the client’s needs, distributing food from the food pantry and making referrals for necessary services. The volunteer Advocate’s job will include: preparing food packages and stocking and maintaining the food pantry; educating clients regarding government benefits and entitlements; representing clients and advocating for their need at the city welfare center or at state fair hearings; making referrals for child care; counseling, legal assistance, job training, help with housing or immigrations; making referrals to other LSA programs, as needed. Candidates should be intelligent, savvy, patient, committed to alleviating poverty, and possessing excellent interpersonal skills. One year minimum volunteer commitment required. Training will be on the job. Supervision will be provided by Director of Advocacy. Volunteer must be fluent in Spanish.

Miscellaneous

1) Technical Trainer: If you have any special computer/graphic art skills, our programs can really use help for specific project as they occur. One big need is to tutor our staff on Windows, Word and Excel.

2) Assistant to Facilities Manager: Our Facilities Manager needs able-bodied people to help carry things, put up shelves, help with general errands and manual labor one or two afternoons a week. Ability to carry 30+ pounds and follow directions and common sense are necessary. Flexible schedule. Supervision and training provided by Facilities Manager.