UAB Office for Service Learning liaises with community partners to promote meaningful volunteer opportunities for UAB students that meet identified community needs. The relationship between student and community partner is designed to be mutually beneficial and collaborative.
Partners are divided by service area:
Aging
Animals
Arts and Culture
Children and Youth
Commuity Development
Counseling
Constitutional Reform
Education
Environmental
Food Security and Nutrition
Health Care
Hispanic/Latino Issues
Homelessness
Human Rights/Social Justice
Law-Related Services
Poverty
Women's Assistance
If you have any interest in volunteering with one these partners, please contact the organization directly. There is no guarantee that a Highlighted Community Partner will be able to accommodate you as a volunteer. It is important to communicate with the contact person at the organization and to find an opportunity that works for both community partner and student. Be sure to discuss why you would like to the particular volunteer work, the name of the course and instructor if you are volunteering as part of a for credit course, the specific tasks you will perform as a volunteer, dates and times you will volunteer, start date and end date. Complete the Service Learning Agreement before you commence volunteering and have it signed by you, your Community Partner Supervisor and your UAB faculty instructor. If you need assistance or have any questions, you may contact the Director of Office for Service-Learning at nmisakow@uab.edu
AGING
Jefferson County Ombudsman Program (no website) Evelyn Shaw evelyn.shaw@adss.alabama.gov 205-327-8282
- Jefferson County Ombudsmen serve as advocates for residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities in order to ensure good quality care and residents' rights
- The Ombudsman Program is committed to the task of challenging present strategies and systems to allow for the resident-centered, life affirming relationship building that truly transcends the past and liberates the residents of the future, and that will advocate for residents and transform nursing home culture as we know it today.
- Attend a training session (usually a Saturday from 9-3) at Office of Senior Citizens Services 2601 Highland Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35205
- Be a friendly visitor to residents in a nursing homes convenient to each student in the Birmingham Area
- Assist the certified ombudsman to do mail-outs and present in-services and community programs
- Students are asked to visit nursing home residents at least twice a month
- Students can visit any day they choose during regular visiting hours in the nursing home
- Students will be accompanied by the certified Ombudsman staff on 3 monitored visits to nursing homes
- Certified Ombudsmen are available for questions and concerns from the students as needed
- Students will gain an understanding of issues and concerns in improving the quality of care in nursing homes and learn valuable listening and communication skills
- Students gain an understanding of aging individuals and are encouraged to continue exploring how to improve their well-being
Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging - Carolyn Fortner, Executive Director
- M4A has a variety of student volunteer opportunities from office support/administrative assistance to home repair projects, pen pal programs and friendly visits for our clients.
- In addition, M4A has developed programs for social worker interns and graduate students from the University of Montevallo and the University of Alabama.
Positive Maturity - Consult website for program directors and contact info
- Positive Maturity has 6 programs: Aging Workers Are Reliable Employees (AWARE), a job skills program; Foster Grandparents, in which seniors mentor youth; Senior Companions, a program for seniors assisting other seniors; RSVP, which facilitates community volunteering for seniors; Shepherd Center East, a Senior Center offering activities, educational opportunities and health screenings along with a lunch program and meals on wheels; and CAMP, an Adult Day Care center located in Ensley.
- In addition to the 6 programs mentioned, Positive Maturity also has a social worker on site for participants of our program and the community. Service Learning students will shadow the geriatric social worker in addition to the Senior Companion Director and Foster Grandparent Director.
Positive Maturity is open M-F 8:00 a.m. -4:30 p.m. hours are flexible to meet students needs and orientation and on-the-job training are provided.
UAB Center for Aging - George Mickwee
- Serve senior adults or people with advanced illness
- Act as phone pals to senior adults
- Assist with office administration relating to scheduling appointments and taking messages
ANIMALS
Greater Birmingham Humane Society- Angie Scott, Volunteer Coordinator
- Animal Socializing and handling
- Animal Caretaking
- Dog Walking
- Web Photography
- Adoption Counseling
Alabama Wildlife Center - Lee McDonald, Outreach Coordinator
- Help care for injured or orphaned wildlife native to the state of Alabama
- Answer Hotline calls
- Give tours to visitors
- Provide building maintenance
- Assist the office manager
Birmingham Zoo - Brian Kutsch, Volunteer Manager
- Education
- Animal Husbandry
- Animal Handlers
- Interpretation/guide
- Special Events - Boo at the Zoo, ZooLight Safari, and Party for the Planet
- Docent - (requires 50 hour training course)
- Operations - gift shop, birthday parties, greeters
ARTS AND CULTURE
The Educational Arts Corporation - Jana Harris, Program Director
- Facilitating film and theatre teaching units for school children
CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Adolescent Mentoring Program - Khadidr A. Jones jonesk@jccal.org
205-264-8161
- The Jefferson County Family Court Adolescent Mentoring Program (AMP) provides a one-on-one relationship between moderate to high risk youth (11-18) and caring adults in order to reduce the youth’s further involvement in the court system, enhance family functioning and increase commitment to education/employment. Youth ages 11-18 years, residing in Jefferson County, are referred to AMP by their Probation Officers. Services are provided at no-cost to youth.
- Mission of the Adolescent Mentoring Program is to reduce juvenile delinquency by facilitating the creation of one-on-one relationships between high-risk youth and caring adults that are consistent and lasting allowing the youth to make positive life choices that enable them to maximize their personal potential.
- Mentors act as role models for the youth, providing them with support, encouragement, advice, and opportunities to gain new skills and experiences.
- Mentors are trained and are asked to spend at least 2-3 hours (phone calls, text, emails, etc…) a week with their mentee, including at least one face-to-face contact and complete a 6 month commitment. Additionally, all mentors will receive a $50.00 monthly stipend per mentee (up to two).
- Minimum age for mentors is 21 and background check is required. However there is also the opportunity for volunteers to tutor youth at Family Court and this does not have a minimum age or background check requirement.
Beginning Bridge - Vanessa Hunter-Beavers
- Students have a wide range of areas to choose-mentoring clients, group leaders, committee members with various committee special project tasks, office assistance, assist with job preparation online or placement opportunities, literacy tutoring, work with youth sessions, etc.
- Students are welcome to participate in the evenings Monday-Friday, and training will be provided in the specific area of interest.
Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs - Andi Gillen, Assistant Program Director agillen@thebellcenter.org 205-870-0081
- Dedicated to maximizing the potential of children from birth to three years of age who are at risk for developemental delay
- Students volunteer in The Bell Center's All About Me program once a week for two hours. Students work one-to-one with toddlers ensuring their participation in classroom activities inlcuding circle time, snack time, movement and music activities, art activities and play time is therapeutic and successful. The classroom activities are lead by an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, Occupational Therapist, Speech and Language Pathologist and Physical Therapist
- This is an opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child that is at risk for delay or who has special needs.
- Students will also gain experience in being a part of a team and see how a team of professioanls works together to best meet the needs of individual children
- Tuesday through Friday 12:00-2:00
Tuesday and Thursday 8:15-10:05
- One hour volunteer training session conducted at The Bell Center
- The Bell Center is located in Homewood, about ten minutes drive from the UAB Campus
Bethel Community Learning Center - Erica Eatmon, Tawanna Wright
The center's mission and vision is to equip and prepare students and their families for success and to instill and inspire all participants with courage, confidence, and character. Our common unity is investing in the future of children and families today, to develop prosperous and productive citizens and families of tomorrow which will ultimately benefit the total community.
Students are welcome Monday-Friday from 3-6 pm to be responsible for enrichment instruction and assisting students with homework.
Community Enterprise Institute -Karen Starks, Ph.D.
Students will work with the teens in the TE 3.0 Program during their weekly meetings to operate the 'Tweens and Teens Entertainment Company, help educate youth at local high schools about entrepreneurship and CEI, help design instruments and collect data for community research projects on entrepreneurship.
The days and times are flexible - the after school program is from 4 - 6:30 p.m. once a week; the high school program operates between the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; there may be opportunities for Saturday hours if the 'Tweens and Teens Entertainment Company has an event.
Girls Incorporated - Angela Eakins, Director of Program Operations
After-School Programming for underserved girls
Mission: Girls, Inc. empoweres Central Alabama girls to reach their full potential and inspires them to be strong, smart, and bold.
Student Volunteer Opportunities:
Monday through Thursday 4:00-6:00p.m.
- Assist with teaching hands on participatory after-school classes fro girls aged 6-18 focusing on creative writing, economic literacy, SMART (Science, Math, and Relevant Technology), website design, graphics, art, cooking, organic gardening, and economic literacy.
- One-on-one tutoring and mentoring of girls aged 6-18.
Background check is required for all volunteers (takes up to 2 weeks).
P.E.E.R., Inc. and East Lake UMC Step-Up After-School Program - Cheryl Hinnen cheryl.eastlakeumc@gmail.com 205-532-0494
All after-school activities take place at East Lake United Methodist Church (7753 1st Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35206).
- Children rotate through stations and will be in small groups as they work on homework, reading, computers, and other enrichment activities
To volunteer or learn more, contact Cheryl Hinnen
Opportunities include:
- Serve as a homework tutor
- Serve as one-on one reading buddy
- Facilitate "hands on" computer time
- Plan and organize a nutritious cooking class
- Plan and organize an art project
- As a musician, perform for students and educate them about your instrument and passion for music
- Volunteers needed every Monday and Wednesday afternoon, from 3:15-5:30 p.m.
T.R. McCoy TUTORING RECREATION MENTORING CONCENTRATING ON YOUTH (no website) Armon Matthews Armonmatthews@gmail.com 205-434-5100
T.R.McCOY is a non-profit organization that runs community centers for the Birmingham Housing Authority, the communities we are currently serving are Southtown, Collegeville, and North Birmingham We have programs addressing the need for things such as after school care, nutrition classes, health classes, ged classes for the adults, sports, after school tutoring, mentoring, and job interview classes. T.R.McCOY stands for TUTORING RECREATION MENTORING CONCENTRATING ON YOUTH.
- Mentor, tutor, and supervise children and young adults during learning sessions
- Training covers safety, community, and peer counseling to achieve some understanding of dynamics and issues in the community concerned
- Our centers are open from September to May from 11am to 8pm, Monday thru Friday. From June through August from 9am to 8pm.
- Our locations are the communities of Southtown (5 minutes from UAB), Collegeville, and North Birmingham
YouthServe - Tiffany Brown
Students can participate YouthServe's, Inc.'s Service Education. Volunteers take on the role of a facilitator, and teach a service learning curriculum to elementary, middle, and high school classes. Students will conduct service education workshops at area elementary, middle and high schools. Serving as adult volunteer/supervisor at youth work days.
Students are expected to comment, Tuesday - Thursday at different time slots (1 to 1.5 hour) between 8:00am - 3:30m. In addition, students are expected to attend one Saturday youth work day each month.
Exceptional Foundation - Eugene Rogers, Volunteer Coordinator
COMMUNITY HEALTH, EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Be willing to be a friend to participants (varying ages) and an assistant in any chosen activities such as various sports, board games, arts, crafts, music, scouts, greenhouse gardening
- Wear casual, comfortable clothes such as tennis shoes
- Training is about 30 minutes (usually first and third Mondays at 4 p.m.)
- Volunteering Times: Monday through Thursday between 8 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
P.E.E.R., Inc. Rev. Sally Alloca, Executive Director smcallocca@aol.com
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Work within within the East Lake Community in Birmingham to inform residents of available resources and attract resources in the areas of health, education, and economic development in an effort to empower and stabilize the community
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Volunteer at weekly farmers market June to October Saturday mornings 5:30 a.m. - noon
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Assist with after-school enrichment program for elementary students Mon. and Wed. 3:00 - 5:30 p.m.
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Care forcommunity garden
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Organize and participate in Spring Annual Health Fair
Birmingham Metropolitan YMCA- Velma Williams
The YMCA provides health education, physical exercise and childcare.
The students will learn to implement corporate policies, strategic planning, statistical analysis and quality assessments.
Depending on the type of volunteer activities involved, one may need to be trained on program implementation, child care or administative roles lasting from an hour to several sessions over several days.
COUNSELING
Alethia House Substance Abuse Treament Facility- Keisha Kennedy Dennis (Women's and Children's Facility); Nicole Walden (Men's Facility) (205) 324 6502
Empowering low income poeple with the skills and values they need to be responsible for their own well-being. Alethia House is a residential facility that provides individual and group counseling, employment readiness classes, child day care, job seeking assistance, transitional housing and other forms of support to clients recovering from substance abuse.
Crisis Center - Mike Latham, Crisis and Suicide Line Coordinator
Providing an immediate helping response to human needs in time of stress
Rape victim counseling, advocacy, intervention
- Senior talk line
- Child hotline
- Suicide Intervention
IMPACT Family Counseling - Amanda Phillips
Students will work one-on-one with a child ages 4-16. The student will take the child out into the community or onto UAB campus and provide fun and/or educational activities for the child and student. The student will serve as a mentor and friend to the child while the child's parent is incarcerated.
Constitutional Reform
Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform Foundation - Amy Sedlis (Foundation Coordinator)
Educating Alabamians about how our current Constitution impacts their daily lives and what they can do to change it.
- Ongoing research on Constitutional Reform related issues
- Coordinate community meetings
- Assist in development of handouts and informational pieces
- Assist in organizing and conducting speaking engagements
- Recruit and train new volunteer advocates
- Assist with daily organizational
Greater Birmingham Ministries Constitutional Reform Education Campaign - Lauren Banks
Work on new campaign database and assess its value with regard to organization of Campaign
- Facilitate College Council, contact faculty and students re starting campaign group on campus
- Use Face Book and other online tools to bolster the campaign
- Contact Executive Directors of Alabama non-profit organizations to see if interested in being part of a coalition to support the campaign
EDUCATION
Alabama Center for Law & Civic Education - Kerri Williamson, Programs Director
Participate in various programs including
- Teaching Play By The Rules - Alabama Laws for Youth Program, a juvenile law text and curriculum for middle school citizenship classes; ground building for a Fall 2007 National Conference on PBR; designing website and assessment instruments for PBR
- Assisting students with research and refinement of presentations for mock congressional hearings as part of We the People . . . The Citizens and the Constitution, a statewide constitutional law program and competition for elementary, middle school, and high school youth.
- Assist students with putting together a portfolio researching, addressing, and making recommendations on public policy issues as part of Project Citizen, a program teaching students to grapple with local public policy and real community problems.
Better Basics - Andrea Brown Hubbert
Reading Intervention - one-on-one tutoring with elementary age child during school hours using Better Basics
- Reading Buddy - Read to 2nd grade students and encourage their reading to become a habit of pleasure.
- Classroom Rewarder - Encourage 4th grade students to read and reward them with incentives for their accomplishments.
- Reading Intervention - Tutor a 1-5th grade student who is strugggling with reading skills.
Center For Outreach And Community Development (CORD) - Shirley Sanders Ginwright
- Collaborates with Birmingham City Schools in developing and implementing inquiry-based science education programs for teachers and students.
- CORD and McWane Science Center partner to provide laboratory-intensive, inquiry-based science experiences for students, teachers, and families.
Glen Iris Elementary Dr. Michael Wilson (Principal) Miss Ruth Burleson (Librarian) (opposite UAB)
- One-on-one reading with elementary school students to help them improve reading skills on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday:
9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.: Fourth Graders
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.: Kindergarteners (read to children)
11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.: First Graders
12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.: Second Graders
1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.: Third Graders
- Assist with math and reading in self-contained fourth grade class (Mrs. Joni Harris - times flexible during school hours)
Fairfield Highlands United Methodist Church Deborah Gibson Epley
- Tutoring Glen Oaks Elementary School Students Grades K-5
- Mon. & Wed. 6:00- 7:30 p.m., 842 Glen Oaks Drive, Fairfield, Alabama 35064
- Contact: Deborah Gibson Epley (205)786-2163. debepley@yahoo.com
Junior Achievement of Greater Birmingham- Laura Maxwell, Program Coordinator,
- Volunteers will work in elementary school classrooms to teach financial literacy, entrepreneurship and workforce readiness skills using Junior Achievement materials and lesson plans (Sometimes possible for students to volunteer with Junior Achievement at Glen Iris Elementary and Epic Elementary nearby)
- UAB students are required to complete 8 classroom visits (including pre-visit preparation and to communicate with the teach over their assignmed classroom regarding schedule and activities
- JA Staff provides orientation, training and ongoing support for UAB volunteer students
Labs for Kids - Frank Hamby
Dedicated to improving early childhood education, science education and critical thinking development, service learners and mentors at Labs for Kids work primarily with children K-5 using hands on laboratory and field science curriculum combined with committed partnerships between students, teachers, parents, city schools, and universities. We support, encourage, and are developing PALS (Peer Assisted Learning Strategies). Teach what you learn, learn from teaching.
Students will serve as mentors for K-5 grade students in science and math using hands on field and lab curriculum. Opportunities are available M-F, 8:30-2:30.
· Assisting students with after-school homework
· Assisting with outside fitness, leadership and character ed
· Tutoring students in technology, reading, math
Mcwane Science Center- Kathy Fournier
- Working on online educational projects
- Building and understanding scientific exhibits
- Explaining exhibits to school children
Alabama Hands On Science Activities Program (ALAHASP)
Beverly Radford and Joan Dawson, UAB Education Department
- Assist with hands on learning in elementary school science classrooms
Pre-School Partners - Lella Carl
This program serves at-risk and under-served three and four year olds and their families to provide a quality pre-school experience and prepare children with the skills they need.
Students may tutor four year old children on skills such as letter, number, color and shape recognition, assist the classroom teacher during learning centers and art, or accompany children during playground and phys.ed time. Opportunities are available Tuesday-Thursday, 9:45am-noon.
RUSH Initiative - Susan Swartz
RUSH is dedicated to helping impoverished children succeed in school. RUSH created FirstTeachers@home, a parent centered education program that teaches parents of kids 2-7 how to teach their children the skills they need to do well in school.
Students will Help teach classes of parents our curriculum at various sites in Jefferson and Walker counties
Initial training of about 2-3 hours and then monthly for 1-3 hours. We are very flexible in arranging this.
SpeakFirst - Impact Alabama - Houston Shaner, Coordinator, hshaner@impactalabama.org; Callie Corley, Coordinator ccorley@impactalabama.org
- Organize programs to aid college admissions, secure scholarships, and provide cultural enrichment
- Assist with enriching the academic experience of gifted students from Birmingham's public high schools through their participation in an "all star" debate team.
- Help address needs created by a deficit of opportunities, including one-on-one turoring and mentoring
Reach Out and Read - Alabama - Polly McClure, RPh
Our Mission: Making literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary care, so that children grow up with books and a love of reading. Our Vision: Alabama's children will be better prepared to learn when they start to school because pediatric health care providers incorporated pre-literacy counseling with families into their well-child visits and provided new books at each of those visits.
Volunteers may assist with:
- program logistics (identifying and communicating with parents, partner vendors, physicians, and community members)
- funding (including researching funding sources, assisting with grant writing, and planning fundraisers)
- marketing (press releases, social marketing, and enewsletter), and
- program evaluation (developing quality assurance measures)
as well as direct-service as a reading volunteer
Vulcan Park and Museum, Birmingham - Sheila Cook scook@visitvulcan.com 205-933-1409 x.29
Service Learning opportunities are available in the following departments:
• Education
• PR/ Marketing
• Development
• Operations
Service Learning students participate in the day-to-day activities of each department and can complete longer-term self-directed projects. Below is a list of typical Service Learning opportunties, by department:
Education
• Archives – Recording new acquisitions and maintaining records of current acquisitions;
• Curriculum – Educational surveys, curriculum guides, docent training, teaching, and other activities that advance the teaching mission of the Education Department;
• Visitor research – Visitor surveys and testing – testing of exhibition mockups and text for visitor response, survey of visitor interest in and attitudes toward proposed topics;
• Grant and budget compliance – Documentation through contracts, letters, video of educational programs;
• Technology assistance – Installation and maintenance of interactive exhibits, sound systems and other technical aspects of the museum; audio and video production;
• Curatorial – Digital exhibits – project management of online and other digital exhibitions, image sourcing and document research, writing and editing of exhibition text;
• Content creation – Production of documentary video and audio content for temporary exhibits and educational programming;
• Teaching and docenting – Leading students in on-site and classroom activities that advance the Alabama Course of Study in social studies, science, fine arts (theatre, dance, music, film) and language arts;
• Performing arts – Performing original historical theatre pieces for students and other audiences;
• Outreach – Grass roots marketing support, project management and support for in-school programs.
PR/Marketing
• Photography/Media – Managing the input and continued organization of online photo files; assisting with photography/video at events;
• Administrative – Organizing/filing newspaper clippings; creating and managing online catalog; basic admin support such as printing, cutting, metering, etc;
• Marketing – Support on grass root efforts; assistance with surveys and inputting results; assistance with brochure distribution or other relevant tasks
• Events – Assisting with VPM events – includes organization, managing vendors, event design layout, etc.
• Internet Research – Continued market research for appropriate target markets
Development
• Sponsorship development – Conducting research via internet and phone;
• Systems management – Maintaining file systems including Raiser’s Edge software database management;
• Fundraising – Mailings preparation and tracking.
Operations
• Events – Sales and customer service interaction through phone and one-on-one communication assist coordinator in working event and event set up;
• Visitor Services/Merchandising/Sales – Selling the park’s features to guests thus increasing ticket sales, interacting with guests at the tower and lobby enhancing the visitor experience, correcting merchandise inventory counts, stocking/ordering merchandise, and sales training.
Vulcan Park and Museum administrative hours are M-F 8 am - 6 pm. Opportunities for self-directed projects completed after hours and/or off site also may be available.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Alabama Environmental Council - Michael Churchman
Environmental advocacy and education relating to preserving and protecting the environment
- Assist with Watchdog Campaign
- Conduct research for environmental reports
Birmingham Botanical Gardens - Mary Bestor-Tickle, Volunteer Coordinator mtickle@bbgardens.org 205.414.3962
- Special Events- Spring & Fall Plant Sales, Earth Day at The Gardens, Antiques at The Gardens and HollyDay Magic
- Greenhouse & Garden Assistant
- School Programs – Volunteer as an education docent and lead one of our Discovery Field Trips for elementary age school children
- Library Assistant
- Horticultural Therapy - Assist the instructor, guiding clients through propagating and maintaining their plants as a means of reaching social, emotional, cognitive or physical therapy goals
- Office Assistant
Cahaba River Society - Kim Adams, Office Manager
CLEAN - assist with introduction of school groups to Cahaba River
- Assisting with scientific research
- Assist with research regarding local ordinances relating to flooding, land use and construction standards
FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION
Jones Valley Urban Farm - Edwin Marty/Rachel Reinhart
- Help transform vacant land into production organic farms
- Create and maintain functional community gardens
- Promotes sustainable agriculture and alternative land-use
- Participate in Seed 2 Plate Program for school children
Magic City Harvest - Paulette Van Matre
- Distribute excess prepared food and perishables from food industry to social service agencies
- Alleviate food insecurity
- Support initiative to raise awareness regarding food insecurity
Society of St. Andrew - Alabama Gleaning Network - Rachel Radeline Gonia, Director
- Pick or glean produce from fields
- Collect produce from warehouses or farmers markets for redistribution
- Pack and deliver boxes of produce to East Lake residents in low-income housing for the elderly
HEALTH CARE
American Diabetes Association - Annah Grace Morgan
Service learners may participate in media relations, marketing, promotions, sales, business development, design/production, event planning, fundraising, project management,and volunteer recruitment and management
Bell Center - Andi Gillen, Assistant Program Director agillen@thebellcenter.org
Cahaba Valley Health Care- Edwina Taylor, Executive Director
Provide accesss to health services to the underserved, primarily Hispanic Community, of Jefferson and Shelby County.
Family Comfort Hospice - Lance Lee Chaplain/Volunteer Coordinator lee@fchospice.com
- Provide socialization and emotional support to patients and families in their homes, nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Greater Birmingham area
- Own transportation required
Impact Alabama - FocusFirst - Allison Schuver, Coordinator aschuver@impactalabama.org
- Assist with vision screenings for children in Head Starts and daycare programs
M-POWER Ministries - Bethany Rushing
M-POWER is a faith-based social services ministry providing a broad range of year-round and seasonal programs including after-school and summer programs, adult literacy, free acute care medical/dental clinic, Christian Women's and Men's Job Corps@.
Literacy: attend 13 hour training and teach an adult to read. Office work. Flexible days and times with 6 month committment. Clinic: Receptionist, T/TH 3-7pm. Data entry, flexible days and times. After school tutoring: work with an elementory age one on one, T/TH 3-5pm, Sept-April.
UAB Center for AIDS Research and 1917 Clinic - Kelly Ross-Davis
- Assisting with support services within clinic, including waiting room social services greeting patients, doing mailings, office tasks
- Assisting with recognizing and identifying who is infected with HIV
- Participating in Patient Advisory Board
- Participate in S.H.A.P.E. - Sexual Health Awareness Through Peer Education - provide sexual health workshops and outreach for youth and young adults
UAB Minority Health & Research Group - Mona Fouad, Joanice Thompson
- Blackbelt Patient Navigation Project: Assist with helping patients find out information and develop informational brochures for patients
- Community Health Advisors - Participate in training session for community health advisors
- Building Healthy Communities - Participate in program to promote physical activities, good nutrition and prevention and early detection of diseases that disproportionately affect minorities
UAB Hospital Volunteer Services - Carolyn Childers, UAB Volunteer Coordinator
- Healing Words - reading to patients
- Highlands Walking Program - walking with patients to increase their movement
- Physical Therapy Program - work with physical therapy patients to keep them entertained and engaged. This includes playing games, watching movies, video games, etc.
- Highlands ACE Program - Acute Care for the elderly - assisting elderly patients at Highlands
- Many other opportunities: Blood Donor room, Emergency Room, Patient Escort, Gift Shop, Administrative Duties...or we can find something that best fits your interests.
- Contact us at volunteerservices@uabmc.edu or 205.934.4270
HISPANIC/LATINO ISSUES
Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (¡HICA!) - Isabel Rubio, Director
- Provide support to to improve quality of life for Latinos in Alabama
- Particularly suitable for a student with some proficiency in Spanish
- Teaching English as per ESL curriculum (Center also has computerized language lab)
- Act as receptionist answering telephone and welcoming members of the community
- Act as referral resource to other community organizations
- Accompany Court Advocate in domestic violence matters
- Provide support systems for Hispanic community
HOMELESSNESS
Greater Birmingham Ministries - Lauren Banks
- Organizing food drive
- State Constitutional Reform
- Working on public transportation
- World of Opportunity
- Women As Strength Program (WASP)
- Alabama Faith Council
- Research and writing on affordable housing, predatory lending, homelessness
- Participating in Just Neighbors class
Highlands United Methodist Church, Five Points - Reggie D. Holder, Director of Ministries
- Assist with Hospitality Hour for Homeless Persons (Mon. through Sat. 9-10 a.m.)
- Project ID - Assist homeless persons referred by social service agencies to obtain birth certificates and state-issued identification (Tues. Thurs. 11:00 a.m. - Noon)
Metropolitan Birmingham Services for the Homeless - Michelle Farley, Executive Director
Students interested in policy matters could assist with research using the HMIS data or assist with directly surveying homeless people.
Students interested in social services could work with our SOAR case manager. SOAR is a national best practices program that assists the homeless population is quickly and accurately applying for social security and disability benefits.
Students could learn more about homelessness and our community of service providers by learning the available resources and assisting people who call MBSH for services referrals.
Students interested in public administration could directly assist with production of the CoC grant application.
Pathways- Natalie Nations, Development and Volunteer Coordinator
"Ending homelessnes for women and children through hospitality, housing, and hope."
HUMAN RIGHTS/SOCIAL JUSTICE
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute - Priscilla Cooper
Projects related to:
- Archives
- Outreach to community; programming for upcoming quarter; research for upcoming programs and special events
- Drawing a connection between Birmingham/Southern civil rights and International Human Rights
- Preparing for exhibits, interpretative research; development of website and keeping abreast of changing technology
LAW-RELATED SERVICES
Family Court of Jefferson County - Beverly Alldredge, Volunteer and Intern Coordinator, alldredgeb@jccal.org 205 264 8127 (O) 205 337 9661 (Nextel)
Family Court deals with children under the age of 18 in Dependent, Delinquent and Children in Need of Supervision cases
- Student works with an assigned Probation or Intake Officer completing background investigations, interacting with clients and families, observing court proceedings, reviewing potential course of action and making recommendations
- Student is assigned a specific supervisor and receives orientation to Family Court and specific training depending on placement
- Times for volunteering are between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays
Adolescent Mentoring Program - Khadidr A. Jones jonesk@jccal.org
205-264-8161
- The Jefferson County Family Court Adolescent Mentoring Program (AMP) provides a one-on-one relationship between moderate to high risk youth (11-18) and caring adults in order to reduce the youth’s further involvement in the court system, enhance family functioning and increase commitment to education/employment. Youth ages 11-18 years, residing in Jefferson County, are referred to AMP by their Probation Officers. Services are provided at no-cost to youth.
- Mission of the Adolescent Mentoring Program is to reduce juvenile delinquency by facilitating the creation of one-on-one relationships between high-risk youth and caring adults that are consistent and lasting allowing the youth to make positive life choices that enable them to maximize their personal potential.
- Mentors act as role models for the youth, providing them with support, encouragement, advice, and opportunities to gain new skills and experiences.
- Mentors are trained and are asked to spend at least 2-3 hours (phone calls, text, emails, etc…) a week with their mentee, including at least one face-to-face contact and complete a 6 month commitment. Additionally, all mentors will receive a $50.00 monthly stipend per mentee (up to two).
- Minimum age for mentors is 21 and background check is required
Legal Services Alabama - Glory McLaughlin, Statewide Volunteer Coordinator; Carl Salle, Director of Resource Development
- Assist with intake of indigent clients
- Research and investigation of legal and factual issues
- Discussion of cases with staff and attorneys
- Developing action plans for clients
UAB Police Department - Chief Anthony Purcell
- Criminal background checks
- Criminal investigation
- Accompanying officers on vehicle patrol
- Hospital Patrol
- Communications and dispatch
LITERATURE IN HEALING
Healing Words - Linda Luck
- Promote use of literature in the healing process
- Read aloud to adult, pediatric and elderly patients and their families
as a way to encourage their intellectual stimulation and emotional well-being
Program active at Children's Hospital, Chidren's Harbor, The Balm of Gilead at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital, UAB Hospital and local nursing homes through Ruth and Naomi Senior Outreach
POVERTY
SaveFirst - Impact Alabama - Sarah Louise Smith, Coordinator slsmith8@aalan.ua.edu
- Students are trained in the spring semester to provide free tax preparation services for savings and economic improvement to low-income working families and provide such service at local venues
United Way - Ellyn Grady, Sr. Vice President Resource Development
Participate in activities of United Way departments including
- Planning and Initiatives: work on programs addressing major needs such as education, issues relating to children, early childhood education, crime and drugs: Success by Six Program (work with 4 year olds in context of understanding day care/preschool - day care plus); Assets for Independents (participate in new program to work with working poor and help them with own companies and get federal government to match funds); Walker County Community Foundation (assist at health clinic developed out of need)
- Agency Impact: analyze and evaluate information from agencies and do outcome assessments
- Communications: write for newsletter, address issue such as branding and brand values, and conduct market research
- Fundraising: attend training to see how executives trained to raise money; work on committee to organize special events; create fundraising approach for a non profit organization
- Financing: address issues relating to non-profit finance, budgeting, accounting, transparency/ reporting
- United Way Agencies: Examine systems of which various agencies are part, determining how needs, agencies, and services are linked, e.g. follow the agencies that interact with a disabled person at different stages such as preschool, elementary school, high school, post high school, transitional housing, and independent living; understanding failing educational systems and how government, community, and corporations intervene
WOMEN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
First Light - Shannon Horsely
- Art Therapy Program
- Create and teach innovative programs for homeless women and children
- Serve as overnight volunteer
Pathways - Amanda Rypel, Volunteer Coordinator
The Women's Fund of Greater Birmingham - Virginia Sweet, Holly Hilton
- Working for systemic change in fields of domestic violence, women's economic self sufficiency; girls and teens
- Research on how to link law enforcement and family law/ domestic violence court systems in different municipalities
- Research on updating statistics relating to women
- Participate in agency evaluation including onsite interviews with agency representatives
The YWCA of Central Alabama - Eliminating Racism Empowering Women - Suzanne Durham
- Child Care (Dot Allbritton): Participate in programs to help homeless and at risk children gain direction to grow into productive, strong adults so they have any chance of overcoming their seemingly hopeless situations
WOMEN IN TRANSITION
The Lovelady Center - 205 833 1064 infor@loveladycenter.org Amy Sepeda asepeda@loveladycenter.org
- Teach and tutor women and children - available times 9 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. in residential facility for women transitioning from prison or recovering from addiction and their children
- Mentor women in transition
- Room Makeover - sruce up rooms (weekday or weekend)
- Assisting with care of infant and pre-school children
- Assisting in Lovelady Library
- Assist in Medical Clinic (hours vary depending on doctor's schedule)
- Volunteer Opportunities at The Lovelady Center