Children’s Home & Aid’s Southern Region impacts over 10,000 families throughout the Metro East and Southern Illinois each year. We are an organization that values volunteers and welcomes those from our diverse communities to contribute time and talents—to give children help, hope, and opportunity!
Volunteers of various ages and backgrounds may partner with us through projects and special events hosted throughout the year. Helping with these events is generally a minimal, short-term commitment. We also have several ongoing volunteer opportunities that volunteers 21 years of age or older are welcome to apply for. Ongoing volunteer opportunities are selective and require the volunteer to complete a screening process which includes an interview, a fingerprinting background check, proof of vaccination, and an agency orientation. Additional training may be available depending on your role.
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
- Mentor: Our foster children and teens at-risk of entering the juvenile justice system are in need of positive, consistent adult relationships. In particular, there is often a need for adult male role models for our pre-teen and teenage boys. Keep in mind that mentorships can take different forms and that mentors can teach various life skills. We will explore with you how you can best support our youth.
- Office Assistant: Help staff with administrative duties or partner with our Stronger Beginnings for Families program by cleaning the developmental toy kits they use for family visits. Assisting in this area frees staff to spend more time out of the office and serving families!
- Development Assistant: Partner with our Regional Volunteer Coordinator on organizing, preparing for, and executing our region’s special events.
Episodic Volunteer Opportunities
- Special Events: Assist with our annual events, such as our School Supply Drive for Teens and Help for the Holidays.
- Makeover a visitation room: The families we serve often meet for visits at a designated space in our offices. You can work to help make one of these spaces more inviting and efficient for families to enjoy.
- Partner with a program as an office helper for the day: Often times, programs simply need a helper for a day to catch up on needed tasks. If you enjoy organizing, cleaning, etc., then you may be just the helper they need.
Group volunteer opportunities are very limited, but groups are always welcome to reach out if interested in partnering with us on one of our annual drives.
To learn more about our Southern Region volunteer opportunities, please contact Beth Hunter at (618) 452-8900 ext. 136 or ehunter@childrenshomeandaid.org.
Other Ways to get Involved
Become a foster parent! Foster parents come from a wide range of backgrounds. They can be married or single and with or without children of their own. To find out more about the process of becoming a foster parent, the type of children who need homes and system of fostering in Illinois, please call 618-235-5335 and ask to sign up for a Foster Care Information Meeting.