Hornell Area Concern for Youth Volunteer Opportunities

Qualification & Characteristics 


Qualification for Volunteers 


  1. Willing to be with children and to spend time with them
  2. Wanting to be a role model to them; be someone they can look up to 


Characteristics of a Successful Volunteer

An important ingredient for a volunteer is to be friendly and caring. You should be able to express your friendliness to the children. Be enthusiastic!


In the first three minutes in a new setting, people make decisions on whether the environment is safe for them. It is important to greet children with a smile and their names- even if you are still setting up and getting used to everyone. 


Your own leadership skills are important in creating an atmosphere of safety and mutual respect where trust and sharing can take place. 


Respect the children and their capabilities. 


Role Model


As a volunteer, it is important to be role modeling healthy ways of interacting and communicating with the youth center participants.

Why is it that some people who grow up in terrible family situations lead productive adult lives and others don’t? The deciding factor is that as children, there was some adult who showed them a different way to view the world. A grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, scout leader, etc. 


Children are in and out of the youth center. You can’t “fix” them. You might plants seeds that will blossom many years later. You are responsible for being a good role model. 


Concentrate on these: 

  1. Being on time the days you come to volunteer at the youth center. If you cannot be there, call during the day or let a staff member know beforehand. 
  2. Be encouraging and accepting of the youth who come into the youth center. 


Qualification & Characteristics Continued 


When you are dealing with youth, remember your role as an adult supervisor and helping person rather than a parent or best friend. Remember it is going to be most helpful for these youth to experience a positive relationship with an adult who is in the position of authority. Some key ideas to doing this is helping them to treat you and others with respect and to learn to take responsibility for their actions and cope appropriately to any consequences their own actions may cause them. Being able to listen to youth’s concerns helps too, just don’t feel that by listening you have to solve the problem. Again, that is up to the youth.If you feel a desire to be helpful, you can do so by exploring the possible choices available to youth. 



Encouragement: Building a child’s confidence and feelings of worth


An important skill to understand when working with children is how to be encouraging. Encouragement is the process whereby you focus on the assets and strengths of the child to build their self-confidence and self-esteem. Encouragement helps children believe in themselves and their abilities. We encourage children to help them to accept and learn from their mistakes. We help children develop the courage to be imperfect.

Let us influence youth by encouragement!

Helping children build their feelings of self-esteem may require you to change your usual communication and behavior patterns. Instead of focusing on the child’;s mistakes, point out what they do that you like or appreciate. 


Points to remember:

  1. Encouragement is the process of focusing on the child’s assets and strengths in order to build their self-confidence and feelings of worth. 
  2. Focus on what is good about the child or the situation. See the positive. 
  3. Accept the children as they are. 
  4. Have faith in the children so they can come to believe in themselves. 
  5. Let the children know their worth. Recognize improvement and effort, not just accomplishment.


Volunteer Opportunities


Hornell Area Concern for Youth is a non-profit youth prevention agency that currently has volunteer internship and practicum opportunities in several fields including Human Services, Education, Psychology, Sociology, Social Science, Criminal Justice, Communication, Business, and Computer Technology. Below is a list of some of the different volunteer opportunities and a brief description of what it may entail. If you are interested in completing your practicum here at Concern and are in a major not listed or have a different idea, talk to us and share your idea. We are willing to work with you. 


Activity Volunteer - Assists the agency in planning and organizing youth based activities including arts and crafts, food crafts, as well as pool tournaments and games.

Assistant in Youth Development Groups - Assists the agency staff with youth groups such as the youth board and life club which teach youth-specific skills toward their overall development. 


Business/ Communications Volunteer - Assists the agency in developing and maintaining a youth-oriented web page and assists in the publication of a newsletter and various fliers for advertising. 


Public Safety Volunteer - Assists the agency in maintaining a secure and peaceful environment and surroundings at its youth center. 


Psyc/ Counseling Volunteers - Works directly with staff to increase the social skills of individuals. 


Public Relationship Volunteers - Connects Concern with other agencies to help publicize and gather further information or resources. 


Social Sciences/ Statistical Analysis Volunteers - Uses our database to come up with new research for grants. 


Accounting/Finance Volunteers - Teach youth about money management. Can show individuals how to balance checkbooks, explain credit cards, etc.


Nursing Volunteers - Can teach students basic first aid, CPR, personal hygiene, and nutrition


Criminal Justice Volunteers - Can have ongoing discussions about the dangers of illegal activities such as drugs, gangs, and domestic violence. 


Education Volunteers - Can teach kids a research-based program and put together packets of the current demands of schools.