Welcome to the 2019 Spring issue of The Volunteer Post Newsletter, a newsletter for Volunteer & Partner Services Program (VPS) volunteers and partners.
If you have thought about volunteering, whether at a dog shelter or your favorite organization, then you’re already on your way to helping a good cause. After traveling to Colombia years ago to volunteer with Open Arms Foundation, our Americorps Vista Morgan Cochran realized just how much our world needs more volunteers. She recently created a list of four reasons why everyone should volunteer in their lifetime.
1. Volunteering establishes strong relationships.
Working with other volunteers or staff who share your passion and commitment to a cause is a great way to develop strong relationships. Depending on where you decide to focus your volunteering efforts, you can also grow relationships with people who are served by the organization.
2. Volunteering is good for your career.
Volunteering helps you learn about people and cultures, which can lead to your personal and professional growth. Volunteering in your current career industry or an area where you’d like to transition is an especially effective way to create social connections and learn new skills.
3. Volunteering is good for society.
Many businesses and most mission-driven organizations count on a strong volunteer community. Places like museums, social service organizations and faith-based organizations rely on volunteers to operate. Volunteers also allow non-profit organizations to devote more of their funds directly to serving others.
4. Volunteering gives you a sense of purpose.
For many people, the satisfaction of making a difference in other’s lives gives them a reason to get up in the morning. Find an organization you are passionate about and volunteer. Volunteering your time is a donation to making positive change.
So get out there and find something you are passionate about; always remember you are needed and your contribution is priceless.
The Northern Virginia Ethical Society is a humanist religious organization that meets every Sunday morning at Green Hedges School in Vienna. The program encourages children to think about the needs of others, to look at what they can do to help their community and to promote positive attitudes in the world. When they learned about the Fairfax County Department of Family Services Baby Box Project they knew it would be a perfect project for the Sunday School children. This was an opportunity for the children to help those who are less fortunate by providing fabulous boxes full of baby items. The group put together 22 boxes for families of newborn kids who needed these supplies.
One particular little girl was turning eleven years old, a big day not only for her, but for her very involved father watching his little girl grow-up too fast. She wanted to have a big slumber party with cake, presents, a pink limo, and to bring all her friends together to give back to their community. Her father quickly did some research and learned about the Fairfax County Department of Family Services Baby Box Project. He was excited to work with his daughter, her friends and their families to make an impact in their community and help make a difference in a new mother’s life. She had a birthday she will never forget, and together she and her friends filled and decorated 13 beautiful baby baskets.
A big thank you goes out to many of our contributors including the Jide Gamu family, Kratos RT Logic, WINK, James and Terri Ashbury, Judy Park, United Korean Methodist Church, Friends of Millie, St. Raguel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church Sunday School, and the Pediatric Outpatient Behavioral Health Department at Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital. The abundance of baby boxes has helped so many new mommies across Fairfax County. Boxes have been filled with diapers, wipes, bottles, onesies and tons of other fabulous items. These boxes have really become essential to our families and we are so thankful to have so many wonderful donors. Because of the overwhelming support we provided these boxes to over 100 new mothers.
As a child, Elise Ennis wanted to be a school teacher. Her eventual career path took her in a different direction and Ennis enjoyed a long, successful career with the federal government. After graduating from Towson University in Maryland, with a major in Business Administration, Ennis spent several years working for the Department of Defense in various security-related positions. She worked for 19 years at the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Energy. She held positions of increasing responsibility within its Office of Inspections, which culminated with her being appointed the assistant inspector general for inspections. Most recently, she was the associate inspector general for management and administration with the Office of Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. She recently retired with 32 years of service.
Now, with more time and renewed energy, she is pursuing her passion for education and teaching as a tutor in the Study Buddy program. Ennis is excited to share knowledge with young people as a tutor. Ennis is currently matched with two young brothers, one in the 2nd grade and the other in the 4th grade. She has been working with them for five months now and has developed a close bond with both of them.
In a recent Service Planning Meeting, the teachers shared that the boys boast about having a tutor and thoroughly enjoy working with “Ms. Elise.” Their teachers have seen a tremendous amount of progress in math as Ennis has been working with them to memorize their multiplication tables. One brother has been working on regulating his emotions and developed strategies for when he gets frustrated. The other brother has a lot more confidence and looks forward to his time with Ms. Elise at their tutoring sessions.
Ennis has expressed enthusiasm and joy in working with these two boys, she especially values the academic progression she has seen in both of them. This story captures the essence of the Study Buddy Tutoring Program. The Study Buddy Program is proud and grateful to have heavily involved, dedicated and compassionate volunteer tutors like Ennis. In her spare time, Ennis enjoys reading, gardening and sports. She is married and has two adult sons.
If you’re interested in making a difference in a child’s life and helping them achieve academic success, we are seeking volunteer tutors in the fall. Contact Francesca Watson.
The Potomac Field Hockey Club’s Winter 2019 service project focused on giving back to youth in foster care. They believe - field hockey is a sport for life and aim “to promote, teach, and grow the sport of field hockey by offering programs for youth and adult players, quality coaching for youth players, and avenues for players to play club, college, and beyond!”
Each year the field hockey club completes a community service project. This year, the club focused on a service project that would impact kids in the same age range as their athletes. The volunteer youth were provided information about what happens when a child goes into foster care - the realities and the hardships. Athletes were encouraged to watch the critically-acclaimed film "Removed" that shows a young girl being removed from her home carrying all of her belongings in a trash bag.
The Potomac Field Hockey club of 150+ exceptional young athletes from the metropolitan D.C. area collected brand new items a child or adolescent in foster care could use and find comfort in. These included fuzzy blankets, socks, toiletries, toiletry bags, coloring books, art supplies, ear buds, sanitary items and stuffed animals. The club members worked together, on Sunday, Jan. 27, stuffing dozens of brand new, full-size duffle bags, labeling each one with an age range and “boy” or “girl.” A new ID tag was attached to each bag so the recipient can make it their own, forever.
Every January during National Mentoring Month, the MENTOR organization hosts the Annual Mentoring Summit in Washington, D.C. Professionals in the mentoring field gather to discuss mentoring in all forms and the local impact on our communities. During Summit 2019, attendees from 11 countries shared ideas, concepts and program information.
Attending the Mentoring Summit is a great opportunity for any mentoring professional to expand their knowledge and continue to grow throughout the year. There are infinite opportunities for personal and professional improvement and networking within the field. A variety of classes are offered that can have a direct impact on a person’s approach to their day to day work. During this year’s summit, Be-Friend-A-Child Manager Lindsey Henderson was fortunate to be a chosen presenter for: “Screening Potential Mentors: Emphasizing Safety, Commitment and Quality.”
Being a presenter added an extra level of excitement and enthusiasm. Summit attendees learned modern and exciting ways to interact, teach and engage mentors, mentees and sponsors. For the workshop, Henderson was able to advise and interact with many coordinators growing their mentoring programs. Befriend-A-Child shared the complete process we use to screen mentors including initial contact through training. By examining and interacting with other mentoring coordinators, the BeFriend Program is able to inspire others and break down some of the mystery surrounding program success. Mentoring makes the difference in many of our lives and the Mentor Summit is a great way to keep the spirit of mentoring thriving!
NOVA Soccer Academy is a Fairfax County organization that was established in 2013. They provide training, camps and private instruction throughout the year based on the core values of respect, dedication and passion. They focus on developing players' confidence, agility, physical fitness and characteristics to help them both on and off the field. At any age, at any level, soccer is a physically demanding sport. By focusing on the individual needs of each player, NOVA Soccer Academy believes they can give children the tools to be more successful soccer athletes. However, these personal skills also help the players off the field in everyday life.
They run a 12-week program that meets on Sundays, Mar. 10-May 19 from 8-10 a.m. at Franklin-Sherman Elementary School in Mclean. This year NOVA Soccer Academy offered to send 30 kids from Fairfax County between the ages of 2-13 to attend this fabulous camp on a scholarship. In addition to attending the camp, that would normally cost between $300-$400, NOVA Soccer has partnered with Soccer Post D.C. to provide each child with a team uniform, new Nike or Adidas cleats, shin guards, soccer socks and a soccer ball of their own.
NOVA Soccer Academy strongly believes that soccer provides opportunities for personal growth and development. They reach out to the community to provide soccer opportunities to children who may not have been able to participate. They imagine a world where it could be a part of every child's life and are well on their way.
This is the news release Nike posted: https://www.ussportscamps.com/news/soccer/2019-dates-nike-nova-soccer-academy
On Mar. 22, 2019, a ceremony and celebration was held to honor the Body Safety program in the Fairfax County Government Center Board Room. This year, Body Safety was chosen to receive the Social Work Community Partner Award from Fairfax County Public Schools, Office of Social Work Services.
The recipient of this award is chosen by a committee of principals from various Fairfax County Public Schools for their impact in the community. It was clear that they appreciated the Body Safety Program’s collaboration with Fairfax County Public Schools over the past three years. By delivering the Speak Up, Be Safe curriculum in Fairfax County Schools, Volunteer & Partner Services is able to make a tangible effect on the probability that children will learn the five safety rules and put them into practice to keep themselves safe.
The Body Safety program now in its fourth year of existence is very proud to be considered a partner in the community. We have served over 4,000 children and we anticipate by the end of the school year to have served close to 6,000 children in total. We look forward to many more years of collaboration and partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools as we educate and empower our children on Body Safety! Thank you for honoring us with this award.
During the month of March, Body Safety coordinator Cecilia Tatis had the opportunity to attend a symposium in Washington D.C. on the rise of child of harmful sexual behaviors in children.
The symposium provided such abundant information on this growing crisis that the article can only share a fraction of what was covered. The symposium emphasized that this is a complex problem affecting children in our society from a very young age.
Here are some of the surprising facts:
- Pornography was identified as the main catalyst for problematic sexual behaviors in youth as young as 5 years of age.
- 1/3 of ALL internet traffic is pornography related.
- 1 in 10 visitors of porn sites are 10 and under and 22% are 18 and under.
- 50% of parents underestimate how much porn their teens had seen.
- The average age for receiving a “sext” is 15 years of age.
- 90-95% of sexual assault victims do not have any injuries after an assault.
- 1/3 of sexual abuse is committed by other youth.
- There is a correlation between youth who have experience trauma and youth who commit sexual acts.
During the symposium, it became apparent that conversations regarding pornography need to take place as soon as children have access to an electronic device with internet access. It is important that we prepare our youth to process those incidents and questions prior to exposure. All parents can help their child by being available for questions and open with their children.
At BeFriend-A-Child we emphasize how important it is to care for yourself especially in times of stress. So we spent some time relaxing and discovering what helps us to feel refreshed. During the Befriend February event with mentors and mentees, community sponsors helped everyone to uncover what self-care can be for them. We woke up our senses and practiced mindfulness with a yoga class by Ms. Dawn Curtis and Ms. Ashley Stride at the East Meets West Yoga studio in McLean. Afterward, Inca Social in Vienna hosted us to have a nutritious lunch and talk about etiquette. Being mindful about consuming nutritious foods and taking time to savor the food we eat can be a great method of self-care.
Finally, mentors and mentees enjoyed a drawing lesson hosted by Young Rembrandts. Drawing is an outlet of self-care for many children in BeFriend-A-Child. Being guided during their drawing helped all participants to immerse themselves in the activity and really focus on the meditative aspects of drawing and shading their masterpiece. At the end of the day, the children received a hygiene kit and personal care checklist to complete with their mentor. Befriend-A-Child could not be happier with the sponsor involvement and the turn out for the first annual self-care day! We look forward to making this an annual event for the mentors and mentees.
A circle of support, also called a circle of friends or a community, is a group of people who come together to support individuals, to become connected in the community, make friendships and form relationships. These groups can develop due to common interests, goals or proximity. As individuals and families become more isolated due to significant life events such as immigration, major loss or illness, it is in these circumstances that a circle of support needs to be developed.
Evidence shows that social support plays an important role in mental health or substance use issues. According to a Harvard study done nearly 80 years ago, relationships are the number one predictor of our emotional and physical well-being, more so than money and/or fame. Robert Waldinger, director of the study, a psychiatrist and a professor at Harvard Medical School states that. “Taking care of your body is important but tending to your relationships is a form of self-care too.” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-right-balance/201708/how-can-we-build-and-nurture-our-circle-support
Here are five ideas that can help you strengthen your support network:
- Be bold about reaching out.
- Make the time for connections in your life.
- Seek out people with common interests.
- Reach out when you need help.
- Continue to make time for old friends and acquaintances, renew those connections if needed.
Our volunteers and partners are the invaluable backbone of Volunteer & Partner Services Program (VPS). This newsletter is published three times a year and shares about events, volunteer data, volunteer opportunities or other general information. We hope this newsletter will keep us all connected!
Whether you’re a seasoned or new volunteer, partner or sponsor, knowing the history of the organization you’re supporting is very important. VPS was developed in September 2013 with the purpose of recruiting top-level volunteers to provide direct or indirect services to prevent child abuse and neglect. VPS is part of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Services within the Department of Family Services Children, Youth and Families division. VPS manages several volunteer programs such as the Administrative Assistant Program, BeFriend-A-Child Mentoring Program and Body Safety Program - Speak Up Be Safe, On-Call volunteers and the Study Buddy Tutoring Program along with recruiting volunteers for the Father Engagement Program and Parenting Education Programs. In addition to our volunteer programs we also work with many partners, sponsors and donors to help with efforts such as the Adopt-A-Family Program, Baby box initiative and back-to-school backpacks. Each program has individual needs and functions that require volunteers with an array of skill sets. Volunteers continue to apply to help with hopes of making a difference in the community. VPS is honored to recruit, train and provide opportunities to those interested in the prevention of child abuse and neglect. We continue to provide top-level volunteers for the community as we fight to prevent and end child abuse and neglect.
Browse through past newsletters in the archive.