Four Reasons To Become A Child Advocacy Volunteer
Becoming a juvenile court public affair volunteer is a relatively large commitment. You will have to invest your time in your initial training period, and once you are assigned a case, you will be expected to stick with it until its conclusion. While being an advocate for a child can be difficult at times, it can also be immensely rewarding. Below are some of the benefits you may experience while you volunteer.
You Will Help Children In Need
Advocates are assigned to children with particularly difficult court cases. For example, children who have experience sexual, physical, or emotional abuse will likely be assigned an advocate. These children, often in foster care, are at the greatest risk of negative social outcomes. Unfortunately, resources in many areas are stretched so thin that social workers and lawyers are unable to provide the one-on-one attention that these high-risk children need. As a volunteer, you have the potential to make a significant positive difference in someone's life.
You Will Gain Skills and Training
Besides formal training, you will gain many skills as you work on cases. For example, you may improve your written and spoken communication skills when you conduct interviews. You may develop child care skills that will help you as a teacher, caregiver, or youth development worker. You will become familiar with court processes that can help you on your journey to becoming a paralegal or lawyer.
While you shouldn't become a child advocate simply to pad your resume, the skills you gain as a volunteer can open career opportunities for you and help you better understand what you want to do with your professional time.
You Can Develop Fulfilling Bonds
Child advocates are often assigned to a case for over a year. During that time, you can develop a meaningful bond with the child you are advocating for. This is not only good for the child, but can be fulfilling for you as well.
You Can Have Fun
Although advocating for a high-risk child may not sound fun, there will be many opportunities for fun throughout the case. Your role is to make the child feel safe and secure and get them to express themselves. Bonding activities can be a great way to do this, and you may find that you spend a significant portion of your volunteer time simply playing with a child who wants the undivided attention of an adult who will listen to them.
