Family Services Volunteer Program
Volunteers and donors are vital to our continued success.
Catholic Charities Family Services consists of more than 30 programs across central and western Maryland, serving several thousand families a year. This division provides a continuum of care and treatment that includes adoption services, out-patient mental health clinics, home and community based behavioral health services, special education schools, treatment foster care and residential programs. Numerous group and individual volunteer opportunities are available in many of our programs.
Download or view our latest brochure.
Our goal is to match public involvement (volunteerism and in-kind donation) with Family Services’ strategic initiatives in order to advance program outcomes and foster a trauma-informed community.
- Individuals with intellectual disabilities (Gallagher Services)
- Children and families with emotional disabilities and behavioral difficulty (St. Vincent’s Villa, Villa Maria School, Villa Maria Community Resources)
Match – We incorporate motivated community volunteers into our programs, forming partnerships that enhance services to clients, on an ongoing basis or through special events. We also steward in-kind donations.
Screen – Ongoing volunteers and interns are interviewed to identify their skills and motivations and formally screened (e.g. background checks, references, etc.) before serving. Volunteers serving children require more rigorous background screening.
Train – All volunteers receive appropriate training before starting their service. Those who volunteer in our behavioral health programs attend a three-hour Pre-Service Training, where we introduce Agency mission and values, Divisional programs, the child welfare system, mental health diagnoses, and sound service philosophies like trauma-informed care, confidentiality, boundaries, family-provider partnership. Additional clinical training is also made available.
Evaluate – Volunteers report their service hours to us online, and feedback mechanisms allow us to follow up on concerns, support positive service experiences, and improve our strategies.
Family volunteer activities, donation drives, or indirect volunteer service are perfect ways for younger volunteers to get involved when accompanied by an adult guardian.
- Volunteers as young as 14 can work with the Individuals at Gallagher Services.
- Volunteers 16+ can work with the clients of our behavioral health programs.
- Therapeutic Mentors must be at least 21 years old.
Cherishing the Divine Within All—Clients, Volunteers, Donors and Staff
Meet our team
Contact us to discuss opportunities.
Volunteer Coordinator—Volunteer placements for children’s programs, screening and applications, volunteer groups | mbusko@cc-md.org | 667-600-3006
Volunteer Services Manager—Program development, marketing, internships, and partnerships | mkristia@cc-md.org | 667-600-3039
Spiritual Development Coordinator—Volunteer support and integration for Gallagher Services, weekend and weekday worship services at Gallagher Services | jleuschner@cc-md.org | 667-600-2544
Mentor Program Coordinator—Therapeutic Mentor Program, screening, training, matching, case management, program development, grant compliance | lporter@cc-md.org | 667-600-3054
Community Outreach Coordinator – Donor connections, community engagement, donated item management | sfredia@cc-md.org | 667-600-3111
Ways to get involved
We strive to cultivate long-term volunteers serving in regular, relational roles with clients. In a consistent relationship, be it monthly, bi-weekly or weekly, volunteers have an extraordinary impact. Other ongoing volunteers contribute by working behind the scenes without direct client contact. We match all ongoing volunteers with professional staff to provide support and direction. Check out opportunities at Gallagher Services and in the behavioral health programs.
Groups, clubs, companies, and families may enjoy working together to lead or support a special event or seasonal project. One-time or infrequent involvement such as this does not require significant screening or training.
The Therapeutic Mentoring Program offers structured, one-to-one, strength-based relationships for emotionally challenged youth, ages 9 to 17. For at least one year, mentors and mentees meet once a week, learn new things and have fun!
Graduate and Undergraduate field placements provide excellent systems-exposure and real-life training, not to mention great career opportunities! We partner with various schools to provide undergraduate students at least one semester and graduate students at least one year of field training in social work, counseling, psychology, family studies, marketing and more.
Donations of certain new items can be extremely helpful to the clients and clinicians in our program. Please visit our wish lists for more guidelines and to arrange your delivery in advance.
Family Services Volunteer Program in the News, Stories & Testimonials
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