Stay Connected
– S.L., TALK Line volunteerFor some clients, the TALK Line is one of the only places that they can share thoughts without feeling like they are being judged.
Volunteer
The San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center offers a variety of opportunities for volunteers who are interested in helping children and families in need. Please consider volunteering for one or more of the positions described below.
TALK Line
Volunteer telephone counselors provide immediate support to parents and caregivers as well as long-term follow-up, with the ultimate aim of reducing the incidence of child abuse or neglect. Volunteers have a unique opportunity to build relationships with and provide ongoing support to parents in all of their life struggles, successes and challenges. Volunteers go through a screening and interview process and complete a 51-hour training in crisis intervention, basic counseling skills, child development and family dynamics. You do not need any previous experience, but you must be emotionally mature and demonstrate a high degree of empathy for others. Volunteers make a one-year commitment to a weekly four-hour shift at the Center as well as weekly time for supervision and one overnight shift per month, with calls forwarded to the volunteer’s home.
Child Safety Awareness
Trainers visit San Francisco, K-5 classrooms, to provide safety information and teach children skills in dealing with dangerous and abusive situations. The age-appropriate curriculum consists of four half-hour lessons. Trainers go through a screening and interview process and commit to at least one school, with multiple classrooms.
Children’s Playroom
Child care assistants in the Playroom work alongside our staff. Volunteers have the opportunity to care for and play with really great kids. Volunteers provide more individual attention and support to the children. The only skills required are a caring heart and a playful spirit. Playroom Assistants must be at least eighteen years of age, go through a screening and interview process, and commit to one 2-3 hour shift per week (preferably the same day each week), for six months. Some teenage volunteers also accepted.
Special Events Assistance
The Family Support Center hosts weekly dinners for families, holiday parties, an annual fundraising luncheon, and other events throughout the year that would benefit from volunteer assistance. Your commitment can be for a single event or you can sign up to help out on a regular basis.
Pro-Bono Services
Donate your professional services in accounting, building maintenance, information technology, law, writing and other related services. When the Center receives these services for free, we can allocate more funds to our critical direct service programs.
Sign up to Volunteer!
Become a Clinical Intern
The Center offers a multi-disciplinary training program that accepts interns in Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy (pre- and post-graduates), and Psychology (2nd and 3rd year practicum students and pre-doctoral interns). Some stipends are available. Learn more about the Clinical Training Program. For more information, please contact Malcolm Gaines, Clinical Director at 415-387-3684 ext. 418.
