Helpline Volunteer Opportunities

The agency provides volunteer opportunities for individuals who are at least 16 years of age and living in Los Angeles County. Services include fundraising volunteer opportunities and helpline volunteer opportunities. There are no geographic restrictions.

Fundraising volunteer opportunities are only available one time during the year. Fund raising volunteers assist the agency with event planning, staffing and coordination. Volunteers may also deliver agency directories. Volunteers should contact the agency form more information about the agency's fund raising opportunities and calendar.

Helpline volunteers provide telephone support, listening, and information and referral to callers who are having difficulty coping with the stresses and crises which arise in daily living, or who are concerned about particular personal or interpersonal problems.

Volunteers receive calls about marital difficulty, divorce, bereavement, parent and child conflict, family communication, loneliness, substance abuse, suicidal feelings, and problems involving parenting. Helpline volunteers assist callers in clarifying issues, explore alternatives, and offer support; volunteers do not offer advice.

Volunteers must be 16 years of age and a sophomore in high school. Additionally, volunteers must complete 45 hours of agency training. Training includes role playing and professional speakers, and material about listening techniques and crisis intervention. Training is provided by mental health professional and experienced volunteers. Although there are no tests, the agency does evaluate volunteers during and after training. Volunteers are asked to donate $50 for the cost of the trainer and training materials. In special occasions, the agency provides training scholarships. Once training is complete, an intern must commit to work three, three hour shifts a week for nine months, or work four, three hour shifts a week for twelve months. Volunteers must commit to work one, three hour shift a week for twelve months, or work two, three hour shifts a week for six months. Volunteers are not required to speak languages other than English and the agency does complete adult background checks. Some volunteers earn work experience or school credit by working with the program.