Volunteer Self Assessment

CARE Advocate volunteers are asked to commit to 35 hours of initial pre-service training and 12 hours of on-going training throughout the year. Once accepted and trained, our volunteers are appointed to a case and required to have some flexibility during daytime hours to make bi-monthly visits and phone calls (10-15 hours per month). CARE Advocate Volunteers are asked to make every effort to advocate on their case until its closure or commit to a minimum of 2 years (24 months) of volunteer service.

Our cases require CARE Advocate Advocates to travel to a variety of neighborhoods throughout Bristol County. There are four juvenile courts in Bristol County including Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton and Attleboro. You don’t need to have a vehicle, as long as you are comfortable using other methods of transportation such as public transit. Our children, youth and young adults can move placements during their time with an advocate appointed to a case so you will also need to be flexible in location.

We are looking for volunteers who possess certain skills/characteristics. Having these skills/characteristics will make for a more successful and rewarding volunteer experience for you as an advocate and for children and families.

Volunteering as a CARE Advocate means you will work with people of different ages, socioeconomic, cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, and educational backgrounds. You may also be traveling to a variety of neighborhoods in the New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton or Attleboro Metro Area.

We value the unique skills and experience of each of our volunteers. As a CARE Advocate volunteer, you will be encouraged to bring your skills and experience to your position. However, there are also policies and practices in place to guide you and to ensure that we are providing quality services to children and families. Sometimes, your personal beliefs may differ from the standards you are expected to follow. In these cases: