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Volunteering Overview
Submit a Volunteer Application Form
Volunteer Job Descriptions
Volunteering Overview
Volunteers play a significant role in the Alzheimer's Association, National Capital Area. Volunteers help advance our mission of supporting people with Alzheimer's disease and related memory disorders, their families, and those professionals who care for them. We are the primary support network and information resource for families and caregivers in Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland and the District of Columbia.
We especially are interested in volunteers who are willing to serve in Prince George's County, Maryland and the District of Columbia, as we expand services to better meet the needs in these areas. Bilingual volunteers, in any language, are greatly needed to help us better serve the diverse population of the Washington metro area. Specifically, Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese bilingual volunteers would enable us to reach segments of these underserved populations.
You will find a wide range of opportunities that will enable you to offer your caring, time and skills to help others. Our Volunteer Coordinator will help you determine what positions will give you the most satisfaction. We thank you for your interest in volunteering with us.
To volunteer, call 703-359-4440 or toll-free 1-800-272-3900 or print out the Volunteer Application Form and complete and return it via mail, e-mail, or fax to the Chapter. The fax number is 703-359-4441. If e-mailing, please use the submit button on the bottom of the on-line form.
A required orientation session for Helpline, health fair and Speakers Bureau volunteers and support group leaders acquaints those volunteers with the mission of the Chapter, the staff members with whom they will work and some facts about Alzheimer's disease. On-going support and training are provided.
Register for the Next Volunteer Orientation & Training
Volunteer Orientation & Training is held for support group leaders, Helpline, health fair, speakers bureau and clerical volunteers. Highlights of the training include; Chapter history, programs and services, overview of Alzheimer's disease, tips on presentation skills, setting up exhibits, how to facilitate a support group and understanding group dynamics.
Training is free of charge. Space is limited to the first 40 registrants per session and only persons who will volunteer for the Alzheimer's Association, National Capital Area Chapter are eligible to participate in this event.
Volunteer Job Descriptions
Program Department
Volunteers Reporting to the Helpline Manager
Helpline Volunteer
Role:
Helpline volunteers have the opportunity to assist in the following areas:
- Provides non-judgmental listening and information on Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, caregiving concerns, Chapter programs, and community resources to callers at the office in Fairfax.
- Administrative assistance to support the Helpline program as needed.
Training:
Orientation required. Training provided individually by Helpline Manager.
Time Required:
Minimum two-year commitment, and a shift of 3-4 hours on a weekly basis.
Helpline Resource Volunteer
Role:
Assist Helpline staff in updating community resource information such as: listings of home care agencies, adult day care centers, residential care facilities, Alzheimer's research trials and other professionals that provide services to persons with Alzheimer's disease and their families.
Most of work is done over the telephone; computer skills helpful.
Training:
Orientation required. Training provided by Helpline Manager.
Time Required:
Time commitment can be arranged with the Helpline Manager.
Volunteers Reporting to the Support Group Manager
Support Group Leader
Peer to peer groups are offered throughout the Chapter territory and are led by trained Chapter volunteers.
Role:
Support Group Leaders have the opportunity to assist in the following areas:
- Facilitates Chapter-affiliated support group, providing community resource information, emotional support and coping skills to caregivers while encouraging peer-to-peer problem solving.
Training:
Training is offered several times each year.
Time Required:
At least one support group session per month at a designated site.
Preparation and planning time includes answering calls from
prospective members, potentially recruiting members and planning
special programs for the group when needed.
Safe Return Volunteer
Safe Return is a safety program designed to help memory-impaired adults who may become lost.
Role:
Safe Return volunteers have the opportunity to assist in the following areas:
- Assists staff with planning promotional activities for the Safe Return Program.
- Assists staff with administrative activities.
- Assists in the Safe Return training of law enforcement and emergency first responders.
- Assists with Safe Return awareness / educational presentations to the community and public at large.
- Assists with enrolling families into the Safe Return Program.
Training:
Orientation required. Training provided individually by Safe Return Manager.
Skills:
Experience in adult education or public speaking is desirable.
Time Required:
Time commitment varies and can be arranged. Daytime, evening and weekend activities.
Education and Training Positions
Volunteers Reporting to Program Director, Program Manager, or the Training Coordinator
Education/Training: Conferences, Community Education Programs, training programs and other educational programs are conducted throughout the year across the Chapter service territory. Education/Training volunteers assist in the following areas:
- Speakers Bureau Volunteer: Educates and informs the community about Alzheimer's disease and the Chapter's services, by speaking to lay and professional groups.
Training:
Orientation and Basic training required
Time Required:
Time commitment can be arranged. Daytime, evening and weekend engagements.
- Community Education Work Groups: Meet on periodic basis to plan (topics, speakers, sites) next series of forums
- Conference Committee: Plan and implement conference programs
- Training Committee: Review and help develop training curricula for professionals and family caregivers and assist in development of Chapter's training strategies.
Skills:
Knowledge about dementia care practices (from familial and/or
professional perspective) and about issues surrounding dementia care.
Time Required:
Committees meet on a periodic basis (approx. 3 times a
year), approximately two hours per meeting.
- Audio/visual Assistance: On-site videotaping of selected forums and conference sessions (with camcorder provided by Chapter)
Skills:
Experience in camcorder operation
Time Required:
Varies depending on dates/time of scheduled programs
(Most programs are approx. two hours in duration.)
- Library Assistance and Office Support: Assist with maintaining library collection (cataloging books, journals, videos, annotating resources, update book and video listings, etc). Help prepare (photocopy, stuff packets) materials for distribution at forums, conferences and training programs.
Skills:
Excellent organizational skills, detail oriented, typing proficiency and computer skills.
Time Required:
Varies depending on dates/time of scheduled programs
3-4 hours/week
Outreach Positions
Volunteers reporting to the Volunteer Coordinator
Health Fair Volunteers
Role:
Health Fair volunteers have the opportunity to assist in the following areas:
- Educates and informs the community about Alzheimer's disease and the Chapter's services, by staffing a booth or table at locations throughout the community.
- Coordinates pick up and drop off of materials.
Training:
Orientation and training required.
Time Required:
Time commitment can be arranged. Daytime, evening and weekend engagements
Outreach Team Leader
Role:
Outreach Team Leaders have the opportunity to assist in the following areas:
- Keeps a current list of volunteers available to fill health fair requests.
- Assists with scheduling volunteers for health fairs.
- Identifies potential speaking and health fair opportunities.
- Oversees Outreach Team Members.
Training:
Orientation and Speakers Bureau/Health Fair training required.
Time
Required:
Time commitment can be arranged. Work can be done from the volunteer's home.
Outreach Team Member
Role:
Outreach Team Members have the opportunity to assist in the following areas:
- Makes supplies available to volunteers who provide presentations and staff health fairs in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties and the District of Columbia.
- Collects materials and give-a-ways from the corporate office and delivers them to the suburban Maryland office.
- On occasion, may have to deliver supplies directly to a health fair site and provide pick up at the close of the event.
Training:
Orientation required.
Time Required:
One pick up and delivery a month to each site. Hours can be arranged.
Public Policy
Volunteers Reporting to the Director of Public Policy
Government Advocacy Volunteer
Role:
Volunteers have the opportunity to participate in our government advocacy campaigns in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and on Capitol Hill. We work to protect the financial, legal and long-term health care security of people with Alzheimer's disease and their families.
Volunteers encourage government officials to support the Alzheimer's Association's public policy goals by joining our e-mail Alzheimer's Advocacy Action Alert Network.
Training:
Minimal orientation required.
Time Required:
Time commitment is based on individual interest.
Special Events/Fundraising
Volunteers Reporting to Financial Development Professionals
Through the year the Chapter conducts events to raise funds for programs, services and research.
Special Events Office Assistance
Before and after our Special Events there is data entry, letter writing, and filing assistance needed.
Special Events Planning Volunteers
Role:
Special Events/ Fundraising volunteers have an opportunity to assist in the following areas:
- Assists with the event planning and implementation as a member of the planning committees.
- Assists with contacting a portion of the community soliciting sponsorships, in-kind donations, walkers and teams.
- Assists with event preparation, day-of logistics incl. set-up, hospitality, greeting, etc.
Training:
Orientation is sometimes required, depending on event.
Time Required:
Time commitment varies per event.
Special events include the Memory Walks, Tour de Canalsm Bike Challenge, the Marine Corps Marathon, our Golf Classic & other golf tournaments, the Washington Monuments Luncheon, and the Gala event. As well as many partnership events held throughout the year.
Public Relations Volunteer
Volunteers Reporting to the Director of Development and Communications.
Role:
Public Relations volunteers have the opportunity to assist in the following areas:
- Assists staff and/or fellow volunteers in setting goals and action plans that promote public understanding, community support and participation in Alzheimer's Association activities.
- Assists in planning promotional activities for National Alzheimer's Disease Month in November, in addition to other Chapter activities.
- Provides editorial and/or graphic design support for the Chapter print materials and publications.
Training:
Orientation required.
Skills:
Experience with the media, public relations and special events.
Time Required:
Time commitment can be arranged.
Administrative and Operations Support
Volunteers Reporting to the Director of Finance and Operations
Role:
Administrative and Operations volunteers have the opportunity to assist in the following areas:
- Assists with telephone answering, copying, filing, assembling and collating documents
- Bulk Mailing - Helps with labeling, collating, stapling, bundling and sorting the Chapter's mailings of 200 or more pieces.
- Data Entry - Assists with maintenance of Chapter's databases.
- Word Processing - Assists with various projects including major mail merge/letter writing campaigns. Knowledge of Microsoft Word required.
Training:
Orientation required.
Time Required:
Number of times the volunteer needs to report will be determined by the work.
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