You Can Make A Difference
We believe in a community where justice is accessible, prevention is possible, families are resilient, and children can heal. Our services are only as good as the people on our team who meet the child victim and their families where they are and provide them with the support and resources to begin their healing journey.
If you are interested in volunteering, please review our Volunteer Opportunities and complete the Volunteer Application below. Let us know if you want to volunteer as an individual or a group.
Volunteer Positions
Up Keep Volunteers:
We love our old homes; however, maintaining them can be challenging. We want to be proud of our facilities and offer a safe and pleasant environment for our staff and the families we serve. Volunteers can make that happen for us by weeding flower beds, trimming bushes, and picking up trash or limbs in the yard. General maintenance skills can be called upon to change light bulbs and air filters, hang pictures, and other small needs around the CAC.
Commitment: Availability for monthly upkeep and/or on-call as needs arise.
Community Engagement Assistants:
The CAC seeks to build strong awareness relationships with civic and service organizations, faith-based institutions, and youth service organizations across our service area. Community engagement assistants help source, establish, and maintain those connections through research, communication, and securing speaking and training opportunities for CAC staff.
Commitment: Subject to passing a background check. Flexible and based upon the preferred level of volunteer involvement.
Special Assignment/photographer:
As the CAC adds new staff and board members, we need semi-professional photographs to be taken to add them to our website and other marketing materials.
Commitment: Flexible as needed.
Blanket Making:
Here at the CAC; our wrap-around care promise is that every child can leave our center feeling a sense of comfort and safety no matter what their past may have held. Every child that walks through our doors gets to take home their very own blanket and stuffed animal. With your help, we are able to stock our shelves with more blankets to give to our little ones! We can provide the fleece fabric, scissors, and instructions if you would like to pick up supplies and take them home to make them on your own time and return them at your convenience, or we can talk about arranging a time after hours or on a weekend to host a group at the CAC for a blanket making event.
Commitment: One time or ongoing.
Advocate Assistants:
This position places volunteers in direct contact with the children and teens served at the CAC. During a scheduled appointment at the CAC, child engagement assistants help CAC child and family advocates maintain a safe and supportive environment. Advocate assistants help keep children and teens engaged and occupied during the waiting periods of their time at the CAC. This can include playing games, outdoor supervision, and other activities that allow the caregiver and CAC advocate to meet away from the child.
Commitment: APPLICATION START DATE, SUMMER 2024. Minimum of 80 hours. Subject to passing a background check. Shifts are scheduled for half days or full days. Volunteers who can make a weekly commitment are given priority in shift selection.
Internships:
Fall Session Aug-Dec, open to any discipline, Accepting applications May 1- July 15. Psychology, child and family development, social work, criminology, sociology majors are given priority
Spring Session January-May, Master’s Social Work only, Accepting applications July 1-Sept 1
Summer Session May-August, open to any discipline, Accepting Applications March 15-May 31
Send an email that includes a letter of interest to cvonallmen@childadvocacycenter.org
Commitment: Subject to each internship
Special Events
Volunteers help us with special events and fundraisers held throughout the year in both Springfield and West Plains.
If you are interested in volunteering at a Child Advocacy Center event, please contact Development at (417) 831-2327 or development@childadvocacycenter.org.
Volunteer Interest Form
Volunteer Interest Form
Other Ways To Help
If volunteering onsite or assisting with special events isn’t a good match for you, here are other ways you can help support the Child Advocacy Center’s mission.
- Donate Items On Our Wish List. We accept donations of specific items to include in the Care Bags we provide for the children we serve, as well as supplies to keep our centers in Springfield and West Plains well stocked. Current Items On Our Wish List.
- Host A Supply Drive. Download our toolkit to help you host a supply drive for the CAC. Supply Drive Toolkit
- Host A “Make A Blanket” Day. Gather a group of your friends and make some no-sew fleece blankets for the CAC! Blankets are a big part of our Comfort Item Policy where every child and sibling that visits the CAC leaves with their very own blanket. Check out our No-Sew Fleece Blanket Instructions to learn how to make them. You can drop blankets off at our Administrative Offices building at 1041 E. Walnut St. anytime between 8-5 pm, Monday through Friday.
- Host A “Dress Down For The CAC” Day At Your Workplace
- CAC Lunch And Learn. Host a “lunch and learn” event to raise awareness about the CAC within your organization or among your friends.
- Sponsor A CAC Event.
- Take A Tour. Come take a tour of our center to learn more about our work protecting area children from abuse and neglect.
- Stewards of Children Training. Darkness to Light’s flagship, evidence-informed prevention training helps adults prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The training is two hours in length and features survivor stories, experts in the field, and other concerned individuals, all providing practical guidance to prevent child sexual abuse. Learn more about Stewards of Children®.
- Join our mailing list or update your information Here. Stay connected and up-to-date on all of our events and opportunities!
Questions? Contact our Development Team, at development@childadvocacycenter.org or 417-831-2327.