Please Welcome Our New Hotline Volunteers

A fresh group of hotline volunteers has recently completed our September training, and will begin to answer calls in mid-October. The group participated in 30 hours of instruction with Family Paths' staff over two full weekends.

The curriculum focuses on listening/attending skills, practice with role-plays and preparation on what to expect during a call. Volunteers learn about the unique challenges that face foster parents and foster youth, in addition to alternative families. They are also trained in the importance of multi-cultural competency in the hotline setting. This season's volunteer preparation was a great success. Everyone was interested and enthusiastic, and enjoyed getting to know each other as they prepared to use their new skills to benefit families in Alameda County.

One new volunteer said of the training, "Role-playing was extremely helpful and a great learning experience. I will take what I've learned and apply it to the hotline calls." Another comment after a full Saturday of training was, "It was a great emotional and self-realizing day. I learned a lot." Congratulations to our newest group of volunteers. You are at the heart of what we do.