Volunteer Application

CONTACT Lifeline Pre-Application Questions:

Your answers to the following questions will help to assess your readiness to volunteer on CONTACT Lifeline. The volunteer experience with CONTACT Lifeline is different from many others. This is a direct service opportunity, an opportunity to assist people in crisis that will make a real difference in their lives. It is important work and requires volunteers who are both highly skilled and responsible. It is also challenging work and requires poise, maturity, and the ability to be self-reflective as the calls and issues we receive at our center can often be of a difficult nature. In consideration of these factors, we would like you to think carefully about your answers to the following questions to help you consider your readiness to become a volunteer at our center.

 

Before completing the application please take a look at the upcoming training dates by clicking here.

CONTACT Lifeline Pre-Application Questions:

Reason for Volunteering and Interpersonal Skills:

  • Why do you want to volunteer at CONTACT Lifeline?
  • Have you ever volunteered anywhere else? If so, where? Comment on your experience.
  • If your close friends/family were to describe you, what 3 words would they use?
  • Do other people consider you to be a good listener? How do you know?
  • Do you find people interesting to observe or listen to? Explain your answer.
  • How do you feel about talking to people who are in emotional distress?
  • When you hear the word "suicide", what do you think/feel?
  • If a caller was verbally abusive to you, how do you think you would react?
  • I can pick up quickly if someone says one thing but means another.
  • I am quick to spot when someone in a group is feeling awkward or uncomfortable.
  • Friends usually talk to me about their problems as they say that I am very understanding.
  • I tend to get emotionally involved with a friend's problems.
  • I can usually appreciate the other person's viewpoint, even if I don't agree with it.

Technology:

  • Do you use the computer in your everyday life? If so, then how?
  • How do you communicate with others in your everyday life? (i.e. e-mail, telephone, instant message/chat, face-to-face?)
  • Do you consider yourself to be a good multi-tasker? When using the computer do you regularly open several browser windows, talk on the phone, chat or text friends, or email? If not, how would you feel about managing several technology sources at the same time (ie talking on the phone, searching a database and using electronic chat to communicate with a co-worker)?

Workplace Style and Experience:

  • Which of the following workplace qualities best describes you:
     I am good at following directions and I don't ask too many questions.
     I prefer to think creatively and am usually successful with charting my own course.
     I both follow directions and chart my own course.
  • If you have a question at work, what do you do?
     Directly ask for help from those around me.
     Try to find the answer and then ask for help or clarification
     Find the answer on my own
     Answer by utilizing the information I have available at the time.
  • Think of the last time that a friend/supervisor/family member gave you feedback on your performance or behavior. How did you feel about receiving this feedback? Explain.

Commitment and Responsibility:

  • Are you able to complete a training program that entails 30-50 hours of classroom training as well as complete homework after each session? Please explain any difficulties you may have with this.
  • Are you at a place/time in your life where you are able to make a commitment of 5 hours a week to a volunteer program?
     Yes    No  
  • If you were not able to keep your commitment to the program, what would you anticipate the reasons would be?
  • Would you be able to do at least one weekend shift a month in the first 9 months of service (a shift is 4-5 hours)?
     Yes    No  
  • Based on your answers to all these questions please rate how ready you think you are to become a volunteer:

Please fill out the following application to provide us with your basic information:

  • Name:
  • Cell Number:
  • Home Number:
  • Work Number:
  • Which is the best number to contact you at?
     Cell Number
     Home Number
     Work Number
  • E-mail:
  • Address:
  • Occupation:

Please let us know what volunteer training class you will be joining:

  • Based on your review of the training schedules we sent you, what volunteer training class will you be joining? If you have not received the training schedule yet please click here or contact Cheryl Welch at 518-694-0470.

Please give us two people that we may contact for a reference:

First Reference
  • Name:
  • Phone Number:
  • E-mail:
  • How you know this person:
Second Reference
  • Name:
  • Phone Number:
  • E-mail:
  • How you know this person:

Agreements:

  • Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
     Yes    No  
  • I agree that I will keep any information confidential that is disclosed to me concerning client contacts during training and during my time at the call center.
     I Agree    I DO NOT Agree  
  • I agree that, if accepted as a CONTACT Lifeline Volunteer, I will allow a criminal history record check.
     I Agree    I DO NOT Agree  
  • I understand that there is a $30 non-refundable volunteer training fee that will be assessed at the first training session.
     I Agree    I DO NOT Agree  
How did you hear about us?
  • If it was on the Internet please specify site; e.g. Craigslist, VolunteerMatch, etc.


Thank you for completing the CONTACT Lifeline Volunteer Application. We will be in touch with you shortly! If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to contact Cheryl Welch at 518-694-0470.



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