Volunteer Assignments

Some of our partners have hosted volunteers for many years, using them primarily as helpers to photocopy or assist during special events. How can we help these partners understand that our volunteers need to provide direct services to students?

Simply put, Jeri says, "tell them. There is a certain amount of preparation and paperwork in hosting members. I have found that if you're up front about program requirements, sites are more than happy to help meet program goals." Tools that can help schools and other host sites properly use volunteers should accompany those clear, consistent messages. "Design a handbook or mini-orientation for site supervisors," Jeri suggests. "Also, be specific about the time members should devote to direct service (give them a percentage or set number of hours). Design timesheets that designate time for direct service, preparation and paperwork, training, and community service. Keep track of the hours, and when they've used all of their paperwork hours, you can tell sites that the member can no longer do that type of activity." (Editors: And consider including clearly written job descriptions or the volunteer letters of commitment up front.)

Using a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the teacher—not just the school—is another way MCC has helped partners with the direct service dilemma. Nora has found that "it covers all the do's and don'ts of how tutors spend their time, acting as a contract between the program and teacher. It also spells out roles, responsibilities, appropriate uses of a tutor, and other information." Team leaders at MCC school sites meet individually with teachers to review the MOU. "Instead of mailing it out (do they really read it?), team leaders go over all the information-enrolling them in the program. By laying the groundwork in the beginning, we avoid the problem of tutors doing inappropriate work. And if a problem does come up, we can refer to the MOU."