Opportunities From: United Way of Northwest Vermont

VKAP is recruiting volunteers to serve on two important work groups: Conference and Sustainability.  The Conference Committee plans, organizes and carries out the VKAP Annual Conference.  The Sustainability Committee plans events to help ensure VKAP has the resources it needs to continue its programs to support kinship caregivers. 

We need people with time, ideas and energy who are thoughtful, good at planning and organizing events, and will make time for monthly meetings. (For those living at a distance from Williston, participation in meetings by conference call will be an option.) Life experience as a foster parent, kin caregiver, or having been raised in a foster or kin care family is helpful, but not required.

Serving on these two groups is a great way to meet people, develop your skills and be part of a dedicated and motivated team.  This commitment is ongoing & could lead to opportunities to get involved in a leadership role at VKAP.

A patient person who likes talking on the phone & can enter simple data in a spreadsheet is needed to help us update VKAP’s mailing and stakeholder contact list.  We need to look up phone numbers & call people to obtain their email addresses, so that we can reach more kinship caregivers and providers with electronic communications (such as email newsletters). 

Good typing skills, access to a home computer and phone with unlimited minutes will be helpful. (Could also be done from VKAP’s office in Williston.)  We expect this project will take several weeks of part-time effort.  Training and support from VKAP staff will be provided.

VKAP is always looking for compelling personal stories of kinship caregivers and children who have been raised in kin care.  We need someone who is not shy about asking others to tell their stories, listens well, and can write them up for a variety of purposes, including stories for our newsletter and to share with legislators and journalists. The ability to respect the confidentiality of family members, skills in interviewing others, and strong writing skills are essential.