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Questions to ask community-based agencies
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Choosing the right agency for your community service work is a critical step in making your experience worthwhile and meaningful. Learning about the agency’s goals, expectations, history, philosophy, and staff can help you select one that best matches your interests, skills, and needs.
(Source: Northwestern University Student Community Service Center)
About the Agency
- What are the mission and goals of the organization?
- How long has the agency been operating?
- Who does the agency serve?
- How many volunteers serve the organization?
- Have any Washington University students volunteered here before?
- What is the structure of the agency?
- How is the agency funded?
- How does the agency interact with its surrounding community?
About Volunteering
- What expectations does the organization have of its volunteers?
- What type of service does the agency need (e.g., direct work with clients, administrative work…)?
- Are there specific skills or qualities the agency is looking for in its volunteers?
- What type of orientations and ongoing training do volunteers receive?
- Who supervises the volunteers?
- Are there opportunities for regular interaction with the supervisor?
- What kind of feedback or evaluation do volunteers receive?
About Your Involvement
- Must volunteers agree to a minimum time commitment?
- How many hours per week are needed?
- Are the work times flexible or fixed?
- Is public transportation available to the site? Is there parking?
- Is there additional assistance required at certain times of the year (e.g., holidays)?
- What skills or qualities can volunteers develop as a result of working with the agency?
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