Volunteer Opportunities

At Advocates, we love the support of our community and welcome their commitment as volunteers whenever possible. We are constantly in need of volunteers for many of our programs. See where your talents would be best served by exploring our volunteering opportunities below.

PLEASE NOTE: Court-ordered or mandated community service is not a current option at Advocates for Children.

Due to HIPAA Laws and our confidentiality policy, all volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.

*Programs marked with “Special Requirements” require a background check, fingerprint screening, and drug screening.

We are always looking for volunteers! Advocates for Children offers different volunteer opportunities for those interested in making a positive impact in the lives of children, youth, and families.

If you want to become a tutor, mentor, or a CASA volunteer, please read below and follow the instructions to sign up.

Important Note:
By becoming a volunteer with a child-serving organization, it is required by law that one must report suspected child abuse.

EVENTS

Event Volunteers support the organization by providing the additional hands and heart that is often needed to successfully execute our events. From our Duck Dash 5K and Fun Run, our annual luncheon, to our Spring Benefit—each event allows Advocates work to be promoted and, through the generous support of our community, to connect with supporters – both old and new.

Physical Demands: This position may involve walking or standing for extended periods of time, and lifting items weighing up to 40 lbs.

FLOWERING BRANCH CHILDREN'S SHELTER

Host a Meal

Provide a meal to our kids at Flowering Branch by dropping off a meal or providing the funds for a special meal out on the town. Check our calendar for available dates and sign up by choosing a day and a meal!

Sign Up to Provide a Meal

Host a Donation Drive

We are in constant need of paper products, hygiene kits, cleaning supplies, and more for our children’s shelter. This is a great way for neighborhood groups, corporate teams, and individuals to make a difference. Visit our wishlist page for a list of shelter needs.

Advocates Community Clothes Closet

The Clothing Closet Volunteer is responsible for intaking and sorting new clothing inventory for the shelter. The volunteer should have a good understanding of current and vintage clothing styles, possess excellent organizational skills to oversee and organize inventory, coordinate donation drop-offs and pick-ups, and have a strong gift for customer service.

Become a Mentor

*Special Requirements

Mentors serve as positive role models to our residents. We require our mentors to commit to serving one hour per week with their mentee. A good mentor is not just a friend—they are a person who provides their mentee with the tools, support, guidance, and advice to thrive.

Become a Tutor

*Special Requirements

Lending an academic hand to our residents at Flowering Branch is a great way to get involved with our organization. To become a tutor, you will need to attend a training session, complete a background screening, and commit to one 2-hour tutor session each week.

OUTDOOR BEAUTIFICATION

Building & Grounds Volunteers spend time caring for our different facility grounds. Though most lawn and bed services are under contract of a landscaping service, various areas need occasional weeding, flowers planted, or leaves raked periodically, depending on the time of year. If you are enthusiastic about helping us to maintain a beautiful environment for the children of the Flower Branch Children’s Shelter and our Child Advocacy Center, we encourage and welcome your volunteer service.

COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA)

*Special Requirements

A CASA volunteer provides much-needed support to children in the court system by gathering information about the child’s situation. This includes assessing the child’s background, interviewing family, friends, and acquaintances, and attending court proceedings with the child. The CASA then makes a recommendation to the judge to help the court make a sound decision about the fate of the child’s future.

To become a CASA, please fill out a volunteer application or contact Emily Ciavarro at emilycasa@advochild.org.

JOIN CASA TODAY!

FIRST STEPS

*Special Requirements
**Hospital Clearance

First Steps volunteers are one of the first lines of defense against child abuse and neglect. Their role as volunteers is to support, educate, and provide referrals to new mothers. Volunteers make an initial visit to new mothers at Cartersville Medical Center, where they provide resources any new parent needs. Volunteers should then maintain contact with the new parent for at least the next three months.

SKORE

Become a Mentor

Mentors serve as positive role models to our clients. We require our mentors to commit to serving one hour per week with their mentee. To become a mentor, you must attend an interview with the SKORE coordinator, complete a training class, obtain a background check, and complete a fingerprint screening. Contact SKORE@advochild.org for more details.

RAINBOWS

Led by adult volunteers, Rainbows Grief Support is a free program and is available for children enrolled in grades K-12 in almost all schools in both Bartow County and Cartersville City school systems. The program is a weekly peer support group with caring adults who act as guides.

Fill out the application to become a Rainbows volunteer or email Gail Wilkins at gail@advochild.org to inquire about starting a Rainbows group in your local school.

ADVOCATES ADMIN TEAM

*Special Requirements

The Administrative and Human Resources volunteers will report directly to the Director of Operations and the Human Resources Representative in the organization’s day-to-day functions that include general office administration, HR, and involvement in some long-range strategic planning. This volunteer opportunity is perfect for those with experience or interested in learning about business administration, policy, communications, or human services.

CASA Volunteers

If you are looking to sign up as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, fill out the CASA Application Form. CASA volunteers must be at least 21 years of age and are required to complete 40 hours of training, background checks, drug testing, fingerprinting, and signing of our confidentiality agreement.

General Volunteers

If you are looking to become a tutor or mentor with any of our programs, please fill out the General Volunteer Application Form. Volunteer positions at our children’s shelter require background checks, drug testing, fingerprinting, and signing of our confidentiality agreement. Some other positions do not.

If you can’t find a volunteer opportunity that fits your skills and would like to talk to an Advocates staff member about joining us in a different volunteer capacity, you can reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, at alicia@advochild.org or call 770-387-1143, ext. 238. We will set up a phone call appointment to discuss further how you can contribute to our cause!