Volunteer Peer Support Group Facilitator

Willow Center Group Facilitators are not required to have any prior education or group experience before joining the Willow Center. We provide all necessary training, and will partner all new volunteers with experienced, talented co-facilitators to ensure they feel confident and prepared.

Our grief peer support groups are run for ages 3-18, as well as for their adult caregivers, so having volunteers with different talents, skill levels, interests, and who come from all walks of life is key!

Facilitator Job Description

Following completion of the Willow Center volunteer training, facilitators will:

• • Demonstrate a working knowledge of the Willow Center’s Volunteer Facilitator Skills Manual.
  • Understand and implement the Willow Center model of peer support.
  • Be able and willing to share a loss story in a group of children, teens, or adults.
  • Commit to volunteering in a peer support group for at least one year (two groups per month).
  • Agree to be at the Center for 3 hours on the given night of the support group meetings twice a month. This includes a 1-hour pre-meeting, 1.15-hour long peer support group with children, teens, or adults, and a 45-minute-long post meeting. Facilitators will actively participate as a member of the volunteer team in pre & post meetings.
  • Contact the Program Specialist/Case Manager and fellow group facilitators if they are going to miss a meeting or be late.
  • Respect the confidentiality of all participants, except in cases of suicidal or homicidal ideation, child abuse as defined by state statute, chemical dependency on the part of any group participant, or when a parent or legal guardian has signed a “release of information” form.
  • Respect that their relationship with participants is a helping relationship. Volunteers are not to establish personal/intimate relationships with participants during or after program services. Volunteers are not to initiate or continue any contact with any child, teen, or adult participant outside The Center by phone, e-mail, or any other form.
  • Help with set-up of group/playrooms and the clean-up/reorganizing of rooms when group is finished.
  • Ensure the safety of group participants by following and reminding participants of the safety guidelines.

For more information, email contact@willow-center.org, or call/text (208)791-7192.