Hotline Counseling Intern Project

Family Paths has partnered with the Safe Start Initiative as a consultant to the Promising Approaches Initiative, which seeks to increase the capacity of Oakland's family hotline services. Family Paths' 24 Hour Parent Support and Resource Line has been chosen as the Alameda County hotline number to be distributed to families needing assistance due to the affects of domestic violence.

In order to fulfill the goals of the Promising Approaches Initiative, Family Paths has developed the Hotline Counseling Intern Project. Our three interns answer calls, work on special projects and attend agency and community trainings. Interns assist the staff by increasing the number of callers who are immediately responded to and by providing additional ongoing case management for clients. They assist in writing training materials for volunteers and staff and gathering statistics, as well as with additional projects.

Meet Kareen McCabe, one of our Hotline Counseling Interns!

Kareen, what brought you to Family Paths? I'm currently in school at Holy Names University, finishing up my second master's degree in Forensic Psychology. I was happy to find what we call "counted hours" on a hotline. I'm definitely still working on fulfilling the program's 3,000 hour requirement!

Tell us something about your experience before coming to Family Paths. I grew up here in Oakland, and graduated with my master's degree in Counseling Psychology in May 2009. That involved working in a traineeship, during which I counseled kids and families at Patton Academy for three semesters.

In the November spirit, tell us something you are thankful for! Really, I'm thankful that I'm able to work in a position that's meaningful. That is so important to me.

The goal of the Safe Start Initiative is to broaden the knowledge of and promote community investment in evidence-based strategies for reducing the impact of children's exposure to violence. Visit Safe Start Center for more information on Safe Start's mission and goals.

Family Paths' Support Line Providing Counseling and Support to Victims of Domestic Violence in Alameda County

History about the Safe Start Grant and the Three Domestic Violence Hotline Interns:

In Alameda County the Safe Passages Program submits request for proposals to funding sources, and oversees and monitors funded agencies. One such proposal they applied for was a federally funded grant. Nationwide 15 grant proposals were funded for a 4 year time period to increase services to families affected by domestic violence. Safe Start Promising Approaches is the Oakland based project funded to meet the needs of these families. Family Paths is one of the partner agencies in the grant funded to increase services to families.

Family Paths is identified as a consultant to the Safe Start Promising Approaches grant. Family Paths’ family hotline, the Family Support and Resource line, was chosen as the Alameda County hotline number to be distributed to families needing assistance due to the affects of domestic violence. “The proposed scope of services constitutes the following: 1) Increase the capacity of the hotline services for families in Oakland, 2) Refer Oakland families with children birth to five who have been exposed to violence to the Safe Start Promising Approaches Intake Coordinator who does a complete assessment of the families needs and then refers them to all appropriate agencies, 3) Collect appropriate data and complete agreed upon paperwork, and then 4) to participate in grantee meetings”.

Within Family Paths the Family Support Program developed the Hotline Counseling Intern Project. The interns are hourly employees who work 12-14 hours per week. They each cover two hotline shifts per week, work on special projects, attend agency and community trainings, and attend weekly group supervision. The interns have assisted the staff with increasing the number of callers who are immediately responded to by the hotline, and by increasing the capacity to provide more on-going case management. They are assisting in writing training materials for volunteers and staff, gathering statistics, developing materials for the domestic violence awareness e-mails, and with other projects. Thank you interns for all the in depth counseling you do with callers!

My wish is that this information about the interns and the role of Family Support in the Safe Start Promising Approaches grant confirms for you once again Family Paths’ commitment to ending violence within families.

Peace,

Vincenza Baldino
Family Support Program Manager
Family Paths, Inc.