The success of YWCA Clark County rests in the strength and energy of its dedicated volunteers who contribute both time and talent to the organization. YWCA volunteers engage in all types of activities. Program volunteers work with homeless children, youth aging out of foster care, female inmates, and victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse and neglect. Other volunteers support administrative needs, special events, communications, and fundraising.

If you are interested in volunteering for the YWCA, please read through this page for an overview of all the volunteer opportunities that exist. Please note that all direct service (program) volunteers must complete required training. To view the training schedules for new YWCA program volunteers, go to our Training Schedules page. For information on in-service trainings for all our volunteers, go to the Volunteer In-Services page.

Current Opportunities

Click on each link to jump down the page for more information about each program.

• Court Appointed Special Advocates
• Independent Living Skills Program
• SafeChoice Domestic Violence Program
• Sexual Assault Program
• Women Offenders Rehabilitation through Training and Help
• Y's Care Children's Program



• Adminstrative and Clerical
• Board of Directors and Board Committees
• Development, Communications and Special Events



• AmeriCorps LINKS

Direct Service (Program) Volunteers

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteers

Hundreds of abused, neglected and abandoned children are the subjects of legal proceedings each year in Clark County. The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a trained volunteer who represents the best interests of a child in foster care, insuring that the child's voice is heard. The CASA follows the child's progress throughout the court intervention, raises concerns, and discusses issues to advocate for the child's best interest.

Volunteers must have:

• An interest in children, their rights, and special needs.
• Approximately 8 hours per month to devote to training sessions, investigations, court appearances, and follow-up for the assigned case. Daytime hours may be needed.
• Basic human relation skills to work with children, family members, and professionals.

Volunteers must be 21+ years old, have no serious criminal history, and complete initial training (offered quarterly) as well as ongoing, in-service training. Professional staff offer support for CASA volunteers. Currently, there is a special need for bi-lingual, bi-cultural, and/or male volunteers.

Independent Living Skills Volunteers

ILS volunteers promote growth and self-sufficiency for youth (15-17) who are preparing to age out of foster care, and young adults (18-21) as they transition into independent living. Volunteers can provide group support by assisting with the independent living skills curriculum (i.e., life and time management, home management, positive relationships, and community involvement, etc.) or one-on-one support by serving as mentors. Mentors promote problem-solving capabilities, encourage self-esteem, and cultivate healthy relationships to allow young people to transition successfully from state-supported care to self-sufficiency and independence. Mentors are asked to commit at least one year to insure a stable adult in the youths' lives.

SafeChoice Domestic Violence Program Volunteers

SafeChoice provides support services and shelter to women, children and men who are victims of domestic violence. SafeChoice offers a 24-hour domestic violence hotline, advocacy-based counseling, legal advocacy, shelter, information and referral, and a variety of support groups and classes. Throughout the initial volunteer training, SafeChoice volunteers learn about domestic violence from many perspectives, including: advocacy based counseling, legal advocacy and how domestic violence affects marginalized communities. Volunteers are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education per year.

Volunteers are needed in the following areas:

Advocacy
Volunteer advocates at the Community Office assist with one-on-one advocacy based counseling and facilitate or co-facilitate support groups and classes. Domestic violence support groups have the following topics: general domestic violence (2 groups), domestic violence with focus of verbal/emotional abuse (1 group), Spanish-speaking domestic violence support group (1 group), domestic violence support group for queer survivors (2 groups).

Shelter
The shelter provides a safe, supportive environment for women and children in crisis. While at the shelter, women have access to information and referrals to community resources, advocacy based counseling, legal advocacy, and support groups. Volunteers may answer the hotline, provide advocacy to shelter residents, and assist with donations or clerical work around the office.

Children's Advocacy
The Child Advocacy Program (CAP) focuses on early intervention for children of all ages at the shelter. Staff assess the emotional status of each child, offer individual and group counseling, and provide resources and referrals to mothers. Children's Advocacy volunteers co-facilitate group activities and provide positive adult interaction.

Community Education
Volunteers provide community education about domestic violence to many different groups in the community, including high schools and colleges. Training and resource materials are available for presentations.

Legal Advocacy
Volunteer advocates provide information and assistance in completing dissolutions, protection orders, and parenting plans. They also provide court escorts and community referrals to victims of abuse.

Sexual Assault Program Volunteers

The mission of the Sexual Assault Program is to lessen the trauma of sexual assault for victims and their families. Volunteer advocates offer non-judgmental support, information and referrals for victim/survivors who have experienced sexual assault recently or in the past. Volunteers provide advocacy for all ages during medical exams, law enforcement interviews, and throughout the criminal justice process. They support the victim/survivor's emotional healing process by maintaining regular contact, relaying information, and listening compassionately. Volunteer opportunities include direct victim services, co-facilitating support groups, community prevention education, and office support. No experience is necessary. Excellent training is provided.

Advocates must be 20 years or older to provide direct services to victim/survivors. Advocates between 18-20 years of age are encouraged to do outreach/prevention work.

WORTH Program Volunteers

WORTH (Women Offenders Rehabilitation, Training and Help) aims to prepare incarcerated women for a smooth transition back into the community and to reduce recidivism by making sure they have the resources they need before leaving jail. WORTH offers living-skills education, referrals to community services, clothing, sewing workshops, and non-judgmental, caring support.

All WORTH volunteers must pass a jail security clearance and are asked to commit a minimum of one year. Jail visitations are Tuesday afternoons between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

Y's Care Program Volunteers

The Y's Care Program provides pre-school services to children and families in homeless, transitional, or low-income circumstances. Volunteer opportunities include working in the classroom guiding the children, facilitating specific projects with the children, accompanying the children on field trips, or providing clerical support to the director. A three-month commitment is requested. Y's Care volunteers are required to pass a TB test and a Department of Early Learning criminal history background check.

Administrative and Clerical Volunteers

Clerical staff provide support to YWCA programs, committees, and the Board of Directors. Staff offer a supportive atmosphere to volunteers who wish to utilize their clerical expertise.

Clerical volunteers help with typing, word processing, bulk mailings (folding, stapling, labeling), running the copier, collating, and other clerical needs. Typing skills are required. Clerical staff explain all work and is available for additional instruction. Clerical volunteers work during normal office hours. A minimum time commitment of four hours per week is preferred.

Board of Directors and Board Committee Volunteers

Board members, who are all volunteers, set policies for YWCA Clark County, help raise funds to support our programs and manage YWCA assets.

The Board delegates many responsibilities to committees, which include Finance, Development, Personnel, and Public Policy.

The Board has a set process for nominating members and filling committee assignments. If you are interested in joining the Board or one of its committees, please contact Kathy Kniep, Executive Director of YWCA Clark County, at 360-906-9104.

Development, Communications, and Special Event Volunteers

The YWCA Clark County Development and Communications Department, which includes special events, donor relations and communications, is a great choice for volunteers who might not have the time for sustained and regular training and volunteering. Volunteers can join steering committees for YWCA events, which meet once a month beginning several months before the event. Volunteers are also needed on the day of most events to help decorate, deliver and pick up items, assemble centerpieces, prepare the tables, and more. Development and Communication staff are happy to work with volunteers throughout the year to discuss interests and availability. If you are interested in volunteering with Development and Communications, please call Krista Liles, Special Events Coordinator, at 360-906-4301.

Annual Benefit Luncheon: October 9, 2008
The Benefit Luncheon is one of the YWCA's major fundraising events. Each year the YWCA hosts a notable speaker on topics related to our work. This year’s speaker is Victoria Rowell, foster care alumni, advocate and author of the memoir The Women who Raised Me. The Benefit Luncheon steering committee solicits corporate and business sponsorships, recruits volunteers to be table captains, and plans the program, decorations and other aspects of the luncheon.

Women of Achievement/Young Woman of Achievement
March 2009 will mark 25 years of honoring women in our community!
This awards ceremony recognizes women and young women who have made significant contributions in our community. The Young Woman of Achievement award honors local high school seniors for outstanding leadership and community service. In 2008, three young women were awarded with $1,500 scholarships for continuing education and five young women were recognized for their community service.
This year several committee opportunities will be available for the special 25th Annual celebration. Respective committees will begin planning in June and meet monthly until the events in March. There are also separate selection committees for each award. In November, they meet once to determine the eight women honorees and then again to interview finalists for the Young Woman of Achievement scholarships.

Classic Wines Auction: March 1, 2008
The Classic Wines Auction benefits five local charities, including YWCA Clark County. In 2008, the auction raised $3 million. For more information about how to support this event, please contact Kathy Deschner, Director of Development at (360) 906-9123.

AmeriCorps LINKS

YWCA Clark County is a partner with LINKS, an AmeriCorps program that provides opportunities for individuals to address critical community needs through results-driven service.

Anyone who is age 17 and up can become a LINKS member! Dedicating an average of at least 25 hours per month, LINKS members can earn an education award of $1,000-$4,725 for their service.

Please visit the AmeriCorps LINKS website for more information about how to apply to become a LINKS member for YWCA Clark County.

There are no Americorps positions currently available. Thanks for your interest, and please check back later.

Go Back to Volunteer Page