-
From Fitness to Book Clubs, Virtual Volunteers Provide New Programs at AHRC NYC
It took a pandemic for many nonprofit organizations to break out of their comfort zones when it came to technology, as in-person programs pivoted to virtual programs. Coupled with an eager and growing number of volunteers, AHRC New York City developed a successful model for the many people with...
-
Volunteer Engagement: Considerations for Organizational Success
Health and social service agencies, and the nonprofit sector generally, rely on volunteers to advance their missions and to ensure their continuing viability. As nonprofit organizations (NPOs) must compete for resources necessary to sustain their operations, the availability of an engaged workforce...
-
Help Stand for Science Within the Autism Community: Showcasing the Externship of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment
Did you know that the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) is primarily a volunteer-based organization? The important work that the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) does to promote science-based treatment for individuals with autism, create accessible and free...
-
Behavioral Health Volunteering in Times of Crisis
When a call for support goes out at the onset of a disaster, we commonly recognize the basic needs: shelter, food, water, clothing. Behavioral health needs – mental, emotional, and spiritual care – have been an afterthought, if included in the response plan at all. This is beginning to shift....
-
The Many Benefits of Volunteer Programming
Like many nonprofit organizations, The Bridge welcomes volunteers who are willing to donate their time and expertise to further our mission and enrich the lives of our clients. Founded in 1954 as a self-help organization for adults diagnosed with a serious mental illness, The Bridge has since...
-
How Volunteering Benefits the Mental Health of 124 “Foster Grandparents”
Florence, a senior citizen who volunteers in the Federation of Organizations’ Foster Grandparent Program (FGP), donned a wide-brimmed hat to teach a second-grade class about the history of the Kentucky Derby. Florence read “Seabiscuit, The Wonder Horse,” which discusses the history of the...
-
From Seeding to Eating: A Program Grows With Volunteerism
In her own words, Kathy Hagendorf, a two-decade volunteer leader with The Guidance Center of Westchester (TGCW), shares how her passion for gardening has helped participants in the Personalized Recovery-Oriented (PROS) program learn, work, and thrive. One of the true joys of summer for me is...
-
Burnout and Why You Should Volunteer Your Time
“Honestly this might be the most rewarding work I’ve done in Psychiatry yet,” one of my co-residents Alex told me recently after completing an evaluation at SUNY Downstate Asylum Clinic. The clinic, completely run by medical students and resident and physician volunteers provides free medical...
-
Volunteers: A Critical Support for Families Involved in the Child Welfare System
Volunteers at The Mental Health Association of Westchester play a critical role in improving the lives of children and families served by the child welfare system. Through two unique programs that rely on trained, supervised community volunteers, we advocate for the well-being of youth in family...
-
The Important Role Volunteers Play in OMH’s Mission to Help Vulnerable New Yorkers
Volunteers are extraordinary people who play a critical role in behavioral healthcare. This was never more evident than during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic when the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) reached out to mental health care professionals and asked that they...
