Starting A Volunteer Connections Program

(VCP)

Presented by Wendy J. Gould and Amy R. Mosher,Workforce Central Career Center (WCCC)

&Jeff Turgeon, Central MA Workforce Investment Board

(CMWIB)

By Michael A. Fletcher, Published: June 17, 2013

“Volunteering increases your odds of finding work by 27 %” **

**Source: Corporation for National and Community Service

 

Be a part of Workforce Central’sVolunteer Connections Program

(VCP)Interested in developing your network while

gaining experience through community-based volunteer opportunities?

Sign up for our next monthly workshopContact Wendy Gould at 508-373-7640

Volunteering Lifts Job Prospects of the Jobless

Webinar Agenda:

• Introduction – Who we are• Program Background & data• Program Development Process• Legal Issues• Program Benefits, Guidelines and Expectations• Program Structure• Sample VC Workshop & Exchange Agenda• Outcomes and Testimonials• Discussion• Adjourn

Question: What would you love to gain from today’s webinar?

Starting a Volunteer Connections Program

Central MA Workforce Investment Board

• The Central MA WIA Region contains 38 communities and a workforce of 300,000+.

• There are three American Job Centers in our region (Workforce Central)

Program BackgroundCMWIB and WCCC looking to address long-term unemployment crisis;

Career Center job seekers in need of: recent, relevant work experience; chance to learn new skills/work tools; networking opportunities getting back into “the swing” of workplace culture

Increase work-readiness for this population Additional programming developed;

Stress Reduction workshops Entrepreneurship program TV show

$0 (nada, zip) additional funding available

Average Weeks UnemployedDecember 2007-March 2013

6

Dec-0

7

Mar

-08

Jun-

08

Sep-

08

Dec-0

8

Mar

-09

Jun-

09

Sep-

09

Dec-0

9

Mar

-10

Jun-

10

Sep-

10

Dec-1

0

Mar

-11

Jun-

11

Sep-

11

Dec-1

1

Mar

-12

Jun-

12

Sep-

12

Dec-1

2

Mar

-13

14

18

22

26

30

34

38

42

Percent Distribution of Unemployment by Duration December 2007-December 2012

72007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

45.0

50.0

Less than 5 weeks

5 to 14 weeks

15 to 26 weeks

27 weeks and over

Civilian Labor Force Participation RateDecember 2007-March 2013

8

Dec-0

7

Mar-0

8

Jun-

08

Sep-

08

Dec-0

8

Mar-0

9

Jun-

09

Sep-

09

Dec-0

9

Mar-1

0

Jun-

10

Sep-

10

Dec-1

0

Mar-1

1

Jun-

11

Sep-

11

Dec-1

1

Mar-1

2

Jun-

12

Sep-

12

Dec-1

2

Mar-1

363

63.5

64

64.5

65

65.5

66

66.5

VC Program Development

Joint CMWIB/Workforce Central Career Center Career Readiness Work-Group formed;

Meetings over 6 months regarding three tracks: Track 1: Expand internships/WBL for local training

programs, including WCCC funded programs; Track 2: Design the Volunteer Connection Program; Track 3: Increasing volunteer opportunities at the

CMWIB/WCCC.

Work Readiness

VC Program DevelopmentTrack 2: Volunteer Connections Program

Design Program scope:

Researched eligibility guidance with state and federal workforce officials; Internship vs. volunteership For-profit vs. non-profit/public employer Unemployment Insurance recipient guidelines

Program Process & Participant Flow Staffing Support Documentation Outreach efforts

Legal IssuesInternship vs. Volunteership;

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) defines the employment very broadly -- to "suffer or permit to work."

Covered and non-exempt individuals must be compensated for the services they perform for an employer.

Internships in the "for-profit" private sector will most often be viewed as employment, unless the 6-point test below is met;

1. The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment;2. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern;3. The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff;4. The employer…derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded;5. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and6. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.

www.wagehour.dol.gov

Legal Issues

Volunteer Guidelines: In general, people are NOT permitted to volunteer with

for- profit companies, but can volunteer for non-profits & public institutions:

“Individuals who volunteer or donate their services, usually on a part-time basis, for public service religious or humanitarian objectives…without contemplation of pay, are not considered employees of the religious, charitable or similar non-profit organizations that receive their service.”1

[note: non-profit staff not allowed to volunteer for their own organization for the same type of work they are paid to do]

Unemployment Insurance recipient guidelines; volunteering does not waive job search requirement;

Volunteering limited to 19 hours per week.

1. http://www.dol.gov/elaws/esa/flsa/docs/volunteers.asp

Volunteer Connections Program (VCP)

VCP is a 2-part program:

1. Volunteer Connections workshops (monthly)

2. Volunteer Exchange events (quarterly)(Both are listed on our Career Center calendar.)

Question: What skills or experiences do you feel

jobseekers could obtain through volunteering?

What are the Benefits of the VCP?

Jobseekers Connect to people and opportunities to build their

confidence and resumes Gain recent, relevant work experience aligned with

career goals

Non-Profit Organizations Connect with volunteer candidates Network with other non-profit leaders

Both Brings people together in a largely impersonal job

market

Suggested Volunteership Guidelines

• Volunteer opportunity related to career goals

o Offer skills enhancement and/or practice for

jobseeker

o Offer supervision/mentoring and allow for

networking

• Placements typically shorter-term (1 – 3 months)

• Placements under 20-hours per week (5-15

hours/ week recommended, and offer some

flexibility)

Participant Expectations

• View this process and volunteership as professional development (practice success skills)• Attendance and punctuality• Timely follow through• Communication

• Committed to self-directed effort, including career assessment and self-reflection regarding desired skill gains

Photo from: modernservantleader.com

Host Site Expectations

• Provide opportunity to practice career related skills

• Understand and support jobseeker’s goal of returning

to work• Offer flexibility with scheduling (allow for continued

job search activities & wind-down if/ when job found)• Provide open and honest performance feedback -

informal mentoring

• Offer letter of support/reference if asked

VCP Design Flow

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

VCP staff person

provides brief

overview; registers

candidate for workshop

VCP staff provides link to

questionnaire

VCP staff facilitates

VC workshop; provides

contact list and UW

website link

VCP staff sends

follow-up email;enters

attendee info in

database

VCP staff contacts

attendees as needed;

tracks outcomes

VCP staff facilitate Volunteer Exchange

event

Step 6

Candidate contacts VCP

staff for information;

Registers for VC Workshop

Completes a VCP

research questionnair

e

Attends VC Workshop;• Reviews

org contact

list• Registers

on local United Way

website

Attends Volunteer Exchange

Event(Optional)

Contacts host site & completes

their volunteer

application process

Completes volunteer

assignment

VCP Staffing: Wendy Gould speaks individually with clients prior to VC

workshop, facilitates monthly VC workshops, and helps lead quarterly Volunteer Exchange events

Amy Mosher coordinates and facilitates quarterly Volunteer Exchanges

Support Documentation: Use of VCP participant questionnaire to identify

strategic career learning objectives VC workshop & Exchange attendees tracked in MA

One-Stop Employment System (MOSES) database

Outreach efforts: Outreach conducted through Workforce Central

staff (word of mouth), website, and career center orientation.

External press coverage being sought Volunteer organizations identified through personal

networking and local United Way database

VCP Structure

Volunteer Connections workshop February, 2013 with

Wendy Gould

Sample Agenda for VC workshop

1. Introductions

2. VCP Overview

3. Video (http://www.workforcecentralma.org/additional-programs/volunteer-connections)

4. Questionnaire

5. Why Volunteer?

6. Paired Share/ Group Discussion

7. United Way website (www.unitedwaycm.org)

8. Volunteer Exchange- list of openings

9. “Action Plan” (identifies Priority, Action, By When)

10. Thank You and Evaluations

VC Participant Questionnaire

Volunteer Exchange March, 2013

Sample Agenda for Volunteer Exchange

1. Welcome and Overview of Volunteer Connections Program

2. Jobseeker/ Volunteer 30-second introductions (name, industry background, volunteer goals)

3. Nonprofit organizations provide 2 minute mini-presentation (organization’s mission and target audience, with more focus on the specific, current volunteer openings)

4. Group Q&A and Discussion

5. Speed Networking session! Goal: speak with your top 3 people and exchange contact info with at least 2 people

6. United Way website (www.unitedwaycm.org) for both volunteers and nonprofits

7. Discussion and Next Steps, including your Action Plan

8. Networking and Wrap Up

Outcomes and TestimonialsParticipant Testimonials:I really learned a lot as a volunteer assisting in classes to first-time English learners.  As a result of my positive experiences, I was hired to do some per diem work.  I will be taking tutor training with a goal to be able to expand my business being either a paid tutor or teacher in Spring 2014….Robin M. Volunteering as an assistant to an Activities Director has given me the opportunity to not only use my own skills but to learn other aspects of being an Activities Director in a Nursing Facility….Bruce B. Host Site Testimonials:“It is such a pleasure and great use of my time to attend the Volunteer Exchanges at Workforce Central because I have met some of my most enthusiastic volunteers there! I’ll be back!” --Emma, Volunteer Coordinator, Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester

“I am always so impressed with the quality and willingness of the volunteers I meet through this program.” --Ray, Program Coordinator, Red Cross of Central MA

Number of workshop & exchange attendees since program launch in Feb. , 2013 -- 217

Estimated percent of volunteer placements – 35%

Question

How might some of these concepts be integrated into your region?

Discussion Points

Program is self-directed Career Center’s role as a connector, not

the ultimate decision maker or placement agent

Value for participant is strategic career experience and networking

Program is efficient and financially sustainable

Q&A

Feel Free to Contact Us

Wendy J. GouldProgram Specialist , Workforce Central Career Center

wgould@detma.org 508-373-7640

Amy R. MosherStrategy and Innovation Leader, Workforce Central

Career Center

moshera@workforcecentralma.org 508-373-7641

Jeff TurgeonExecutive Director, CMWIB

turgeonj@worcesterma.gov 508-799-1509