Friendly Visitor Program InternAt — Council on Aging-Orange County

The Council on Aging-Southern California is a private, nonprofit corporation, serving older adults in Orange County since 1973. The Council mission is to promote the independence, health, and dignity of older adults through compassion, education, and advocacy.

The Caring Connections Friendly Visitor Program recruits and trains volunteers to participate in a countywide program that benefits older adults and persons with disabilities. The goal of this program is to address the loneliness and isolation often experienced by individuals who have no family members or support system to assist them in securing access to necessary health care and other social service resources.

Position Description:
The internship program is an opportunity available to College and University students participating in Service Learning/Community Service activities, or who want to gain relevant professional experience. The curriculum has a multidisciplinary approach that, through a rotation system, integrates all components of the Caring Connections program. This structure provides first-hand knowledge of all the significant elements involved in the operations of a nonprofit program.

Major Responsibilities:
- Direct Client Service: Provide older adult or disabled individual with weekly telephone calls for half hour.
- Outreach and Volunteer Recruitment: Network and promote Caring Connections within the local community. Participate in volunteer fairs, special events, volunteer recruitment exhibitions and trainings.
- Administrative Support: Perform general clerical duties such as database management, scheduling, and telephone assistance.

Qualifications and Requirements:
- Knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and Internet research
- Excellent communication and customer service skills
- Self-motivated and self–starter
- Sensitivity toward older adults and persons with disabilities
- Have access to transportation and a telephone
- Complete training and attend in-service meetings
- Be fingerprinted through the Department of Justice (free of charges)
- Minimum 60 hours of volunteer commitment
- Professional demeanor

Schedule and Supervision:
The opportunity offers a flexible schedule during the week. The intern will report to and be supervised by Christine Tran-Le, the Community Engagement Supervisor and Sarah Frain-Batawala, the Friendly Visitor Program Specialist, and receive a certificate upon completion.

For more information, please visit our web site www.coasc.org or contact
Christine Tran-Le at (714) 352-8836 or ctranle@coasc.org

Tasks:

• Direct Client Service: Provide telephone visitations to isolated older adults on weekly basis. Under supervised conditions make referrals to community resources to meet client’s needs. Provide home visitation to a lonely senior.
• Outreach and Volunteer Recruitment: Network and promote the agency within the local community. Participate in volunteer fairs, special events, and trainings.
• Administrative Support: Perform general clerical duties such as scheduling, database management, and telephone assistance.

Training:

Training includes a 1-hour orientation and 2.5 hours of formal training provided by the Friendly Visitor staff. In addition to ongoing training and supervision by the staff.

Learning Outcomes:

• Gain experience working directly with vulnerable isolated adults in the Orange County Community through phone calls.
• Gain experience providing correct documentation in clients files.
• Develop professional skills supporting Friendly Visitor staff with office work and community outreach.
• Learn to conduct evidence-based tools such as the PHQ-9 and Who-5.
• Provide home visitation with Supervisor.
• Learn to identify the needs of the clients and provide appropriate resources.