City Description
Situated on rolling hills on the banks of the Ohio River, Cincinnati offers big-city attractions with the small-town flavor of street fairs, festivals, and open markets. You’ll find lots to do in the city’s extensive park system, award-winning museums, top-rated public library system, world-class arts attractions as well as professional and college sports venues. The volunteer community lives in a 3-story brick home with a front porch balcony in the Norwood neighborhood, within walking distance of one of the service sites and Xavier University.
Housing: house
Transportation: 2 cars
Number of Volunteers: 4
Service Site Descriptions
Bon Secours Mercy Health
Mission: To extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved.
With 6 hospitals and more than 80 network locations throughout Cincinnati, Bon Secours Mercy Health has been serving the community for more than 160 years. Embracing its mission to serve those at the margins, Bon Secours Mercy Health is the largest provider of Medicaid services in Ohio. A volunteer is needed as a spiritual care assistant for Bon Secours Mercy Health Hospital Anderson. The volunteer will assist with spiritual care assessments and referrals, triage phone calls from ambulatory patients, and maintain patient charts. A second volunteer is needed as an advance care planning support specialist. The volunteer will manage the electronic referral system, conduct follow up phone calls to patients who express interest in advance care planning, and maintain patient charts. Thorough orientation and training will be provided for both positions.
Casa de Paz
Mission: To provide a personalized transformational program to empower and lift up Latina women who have been victims of domestic violence.
Casa de Paz offers a safe environment for women and children, who are survivors of domestic abuse, to grow and develop through educational and psychological programs tailored to the needs of each individual. With safe housing and through a 6-month program, women are supported in achieving a more positive self-esteem, economic independence and the confidence needed to face the world on their own. Through age-appropriate educational and counseling support, as well as recreational and enrichment activities, children transition to a life free from violence and abuse. The volunteer will orient new families and foster a welcoming and orderly home environment; provide childcare; facilitate the implementation of trauma-informed interventions, groups and activities based on the family plans; and coordinate volunteers. Fluency in spoken Spanish is required.
Website: casadepazcinci.org
Skills: Social Work, Counseling, Hospitality, Spanish
Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center
Mission: To educate and advocate for peace, challenge unjust local, national and global systems, and promote the creation of a non-violent society.
IJPC is an education and advocacy nonprofit that focuses on three core issues – abolition of the death penalty, education around human trafficking, comprehensive immigration reform – through a framework of peace and nonviolence. The center initiates dialogues, speaker panels and committee meetings as well as provides education and advocacy opportunities to local school groups, churches, and community members. The volunteer will be a Louise Akers Fellow. The volunteer will advance their expertise in peace and non-violence practices through training as well as lead a certificate in peace promotion for the residents of Greater Cincinnati. They will also research and design educational materials on the core issues; plan events, programs, rallies, and prayer services; and interface with various collaborating groups.
Website: ijpccincinnati.org
Skills: Education, Advocacy, Event Organizer, Research, Team-Oriented
Lydia’s House
Mission: To provide safe, stable, and supportive housing for women and children in crisis.
Lydia’s House offers support to single mothers (ages 18-30) experiencing housing instability to connect them to housing; pertinent documents and government services; meaningful educational or employment opportunities; and a supportive community of women to help them walk through difficult times. Accompaniment is the heart of this site. The volunteer will serve as an advocate by engaging in homemaking, community building, and advocating for women and children experiencing housing crisis. The volunteer will welcome and orient new guests, maintain the household by assisting with cleaning and cooking, accompany guests to various appointments, and provide child enrichment activities.
Website: stlydiashouse.org
Skills: Social Services, Hospitality, Relationship Builder, Advocacy
St. Boniface School
Mission: To bring our students closer to Christ and to develop in our students personal growth in academic excellence.
St. Boniface School is a Roman Catholic elementary school and belongs to the urban school structure of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The school serves 230 students from various ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds, with 95% of the families at or below the national poverty level. A volunteer is needed as an intermediate team classroom aide (grades 3-5) and afterschool program monitor. The volunteer will support the teachers’ needs in the classroom with preparation of lessons and materials; engage in one-on-one and small group instruction; provide supervision on the playground and at lunch; and oversee student participation in afterschool clubs.
Website: stbonifaceschool.net
Skills: Elementary Education, Support Services, Activities Coordinator
REFLECTIONS FROM VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVED IN CINCINNATI
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