Volunteers Sought for Youth Services

Interface Children and Family Services is seeking volunteers for its Youth Crisis Program and Youth Mediation Services.

Volunteers for both programs will participate in a 40-hour training session. Training for the youth crisis volunteers begins Oct. 28, and Nov. 1 for youth mediation volunteers. Classes will be held Tuesday evenings and Saturdays and run through Nov. 22.

Youth crisis volunteers will work with a senior counselor to provide community outreach counseling to troubled youth ages 10 to 17 and their families.

“They will help the family to clarify problems, open communication, evaluate alternatives and identify resources,” said Maureen Miller, coordinator of volunteer services. “We basically provide immediate in-home counseling to families experiencing crisis.”

Youth mediation volunteers will also work with a senior counselor to mediate resolutions between youthful offenders and their victims and in parent-child conflicts.

Volunteers assist youth in reaching an agreement about future behavior with their parents when there has been a conflict, as well as work on restitution and reconciliation when the youth is a first-time offender.

Prior to their training, volunteers need to be interviewed, screened and willing to commit six to 18 hours per month.

For more information, call 485-6114, Ext. 612.