Volunteer Opportunities
Training
Benefits
How you can get involved with
OAR?
OAR Volunteer Opportunities:
- One to One Mentors meet weekly with inmates to set goals and explore solutions to problems. In weekly sessions, they help inmates set realistic goals, foster exploration of possible solutions to problems, and encourage inmates’ efforts to become productive, contributing members of the community. Minimum age: 21. Time Commitment: one hour per week.
- Lobby Outreach volunteers staff an information desk during visiting hours in the Fairfax County jail lobby to answer questions about jail rules and procedures, provide information about OAR and other resources, and be an empathetic listener for family members and friends of the incarcerated. Minimum age: 18. Time Commitment: minimum 2 hours per month
- Teachers/Facilitators provide leadership for inmate support groups and classes sponsored by OAR. OAR classes include Life Skills, Employability Skills, Grief & Loss, Parenting, Keyboarding, Computer Skills, Work Place Skills, Conflict Resolution, Fatherhood, and Financial Planning. Each session runs for six weeks for 1½ hours per class. These volunteers provide crucial training to help clients develop coping mechanisms to improve their life skills. Instructors also teach classes in the Loudoun County Work Release Center. Classes run on Monday evenings only in Loudoun County. Minimum age: 21. Time commitment: 1½ hours per week for six weeks. Teachers have the option to team teach or co-facilitate.
- Volunteer Interviewers screen inmates for OAR’s mentoring program. These Volunteer Interviewers are experienced OAR one-to-one mentors who are interested in assisting OAR to determine if an inmate is appropriate for the mentoring program. Time commitment: on call as needed – usually two hours per month.
- Board Members may serve on the OAR Board of Directors or as a non-board member of one of the board committees; which include Programs, Resource Development, Marketing/Public Relations, and Board Development. Board members meet on a bi-monthly basis. Time commitment: minimum two hours every other month.
- Administrative Volunteer assist staff members in such areas as organizing files, typing and computer entry, photocopying and collating, as well as special projects such as mailings, calling other volunteers and public relations. Time commitment: on call as needed
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Is Training provided?
It is important to note that no special skills are required to become involved with OAR. An initial training program is designed to educate volunteers to become fully functioning members of the OAR team. After a personal interview with the Volunteer Department, volunteers must attend 16 hours of intensive orientation that includes detailed information about:
- Court Procedures
- Probation & Parole
- Communication Skills
- Conflict Management
- Substance Abuse
- Dealing with Offenders
Click here to see what volunteers have said about OAR's training
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What are the benefits of volunteering?
- Personal satisfaction in helping to break the cycle of crime
- Opportunities for training and skill development
- Community involvement
- Quarterly newsletter
- References and experience for a resume
- Annual recognition events and certificates
- A rewarding life experience
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What is the next step?
OAR offers Volunteer Training in the Spring and Fall. To sign up for an interview, or for more information about OAR, please call the Volunteer Department at (703) 246-3033.
You can also reach us by e-mail at volunteer@oarfairfax.org
To fill out a Volunteer Application, click here |
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