The following list of job placements are available for the 2011-2012 service year. A unique advantage of the CCSC involves the ability to develop new placements based on the specific talents, interests, and needs of the volunteers. Accepted applicants are asked to remain somewhat flexible, keeping an open mind and heart to serve where they are most needed. However, the CCSC makes every effort to work with each applicant, taking their wishes into account in order to create a positive work experience.
We will be updating the list for the 2012-2013 service year after March 20, 2012. Please check back then for the most updated list of placement opportunities.
* Catholic Charities Victim Services:
Intake Worker and Domestic Violence Hotline Counselor
Victim Services is provided throughout the 8 counties of Western New York with the central location in Kenmore. Victim Services collaborates with other victim service providers, community partners, police and judiciary to increase victim safety and offender accountability.
CCSC volunteer will be responsible to handle all domestic violence intake and hotline calls. CCSC member will complete tracking and intake forms, perform initial safety plan, triage cases, provide case management, assess crisis response and make appropriate referrals. If interested, volunteer would co-facilitate survivor groups and /or mother/child Resiliency Groups and be a part of the Erie County Coalition against Family Violence. Bi-lingual volunteers will be provided these services in the Kenmore area with linkage and
assistance to our Hispanic domestic violence clients at other offices.
CCSC volunteer will also be responsible to help provide emergency financial assistance and give referrals for pantries and other basic needs to clients who are not domestic violence victims. CCSC volunteer will also perform triage cases for these clients.
Some general knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence with some experience preferred. Ability to speak Spanish is a plus but not a requirement. General working hours are 8:45am to 4:45pm Monday through Friday with some flexibility to work evenings to co-facilitate groups.
* Harvest House: New Hope Education Center Education Liaison
The CCSC member will be the face and voice of Harvest House at New Hope Education Center. Member will interact with volunteers, students, potential students, and teachers. Member will be available to help students solve problems that may be a stumbling block to their continuing their education such as transportation or childcare issues. Member will be available to tutor students struggling to keep up in their studies (usually math and English). Member may have to fill in for volunteer receptionist on occasion. There will be student follow up and some compilation of statistical information. As New Hope is located in same space as Good Neighbors Health Care, a free health center, there will be minimal interaction with staff and patients.
At the Baby and Children's Ministry member will assist the director in stocking and organizing store and work with clients in securing items needed for their children. Member will also work with and assist volunteers working in the store.
As Harvest House is in the beginning stages of expanding the school there is sure to be other duties associated with the education center that are not anticipated as yet.
CCSC member should be pleasant and have good people and communication skills and be able to make decisions on their own. Being a self-starter and comfortable with social networking (Facebook) and computer skills are desirable. Member must be comfortable being in charge and working with and supervising volunteers. Member will be working in two very different environments and must be able to adjust to different work settings. Member must be comfortable praying with and for students and clients. There will be a lot of student, teacher and client interaction. Some public speaking, promoting New Hope Education Center, may be involved.
Working hours will be M, Tu, Th, F 8:00 – 4:00, Saturday 9 am-12 noon with the possibility of sometimes working later hours according to the needs of our programs and clients. Hours are flexible and may be adjusted to fit the schedule of New Hope Education Center including some evening work.
*Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS): Legal Assistant and Outreach Worker
NLS is a private not-for-profit agency. Since 1976, NLS has provided civil legal services to low-income residents of Erie County. NLS believes that access to civil legal services is in no way optional. It is often the difference between having a home and homelessness, between living safely at home and being the victim of an abusive spouse, between overcoming a disability and being institutionalized.
Neighborhood Legal Services has been providing services to homeless clients through the Homeless Task Force since 1993. The Homeless Task Force is staffed by full and part-time attorneys who supervises a team of volunteer and paid law students from the University at Buffalo School of Law as well as one full-time Diocesan Volunteer. The advocates conduct legal intake at the local shelters and dining facilities, including the Buffalo City Mission, Salvation Army, Haven House, Cornerstone Manor, Compass House, Loaves & Fishes and the Friends of the Night People.
Neighborhood Legal Services' Homeless Task Force provides on-site legal services at area shelters. By providing on-site services at shelters, the Homeless Task Force will be able to overcome many of the obstacles homeless people face when attempting to attain economic self-sufficiency. The Homeless Task Force program is the only organization in Erie County that will provide on-site legal accessibility to public benefits for the homeless population.
The CCSC Member will have the invaluable experience of working within the Homeless Task Force program, the only organization in Erie County that provides on-site legal accessibility to public benefits for the homeless population. Duties will include assessing legal issues, developing interview skills and resolving legal problems through advocacy and representation. The CCSC member will learn the substantive areas of law that are relevant to the homeless community including family, housing, social security, and public benefits law. They will be responsible for a caseload, conduct intake at various homeless shelters in Buffalo, staff a desk at the Department of Social Services at least one day per week, attend policy meetings, accompany clients to appointments at the Department of Social Services, and submit articles related to homelessness to the agency's newsletter.
* Catholic Charities Parish Outreach Program: General Assistant A
The General Assistant (CCSC volunteer) will work within Parish Outreach pantries and offices that serve low income populations with basic needs such as food, clothing and personal care items.
The tasks and responsibilities vary with each location and include, but are not limited to: familiarizing oneself with local resources, stock shelves, pack bags of food, arrange clothing/store, interview clients for initial intake sessions, interact with clients coming for food and clothing, pick up donations, make necessary referrals to various agencies/services, assist clients in filling out various forms for other agencies, assist in keeping office areas in order, any record keeping or filing that is necessary at each location. Other responsibilities as determined by each of the on-site program supervisors.
General working hours are 8:00-4:00 Monday through Friday, however, working in the pantries requires adjusted hours, sometimes starting as early as 7:30 am or sometimes working later hours according to the needs of our programs and clients. In addition, physical demands require the volunteer to be able to lift 10-25 pounds and utilize stairs. Ability to speak Spanish is a plus but not a requirement. Valid driver’s license required.
* Catholic Charities Parish Outreach Program: General Assistant B
General Assistant (CCSC volunteer) will work within Parish Outreach pantries and offices that serve low income populations with basic services, such as food, clothing and personal care items.
The tasks and responsibilities vary with each location and include, but are not limited
to: familiarizing oneself with local resources, stock shelves, pack bags of food, arrange
clothing/store, interview clients for initial intake sessions, interact with clients
coming for food and clothing, pick up donations, make necessary referrals to various
agencies/services, assist clients in filling out various forms for other agencies,
assist in keeping office areas in order, any record keeping or filing that is necessary
to each location and working with/directing volunteers.
In addition to the above responsibilities, the CCSC volunteer will assist with various
programs at outreach and pantry sites. Some of the programs are as follows, new programs may be added: After school activity programs for children age 8-12, plan and direct 2 to 3 week summer programs for children age 7-12, plan and teach children’s Art Classes at outreach and pantry locations on a weekly basis. Other responsibilities as determined by each of the on-site program supervisors.
General working hours are 8:00-4:00 Monday through Friday however, working in the
pantries requires adjusted hours, sometimes starting as early as 7:30 am or sometimes
working later hours according to the needs of our programs and clients. In addition,
physical demands require the volunteer to be able to lift 10-25 pounds and utilize
stairs. Ability to speak Spanish is a plus but not a requirement. Valid driver’s license
required.
* Western New York Law Center: Intake Specialist / Case Handler
WNYLC is a not-for-profit corporation formed in 1996 after Congress restricted the types of cases that Legal Services Corporation (LSC) grantees could handle. WNYLC represents low-income Western New Yorkers in civil matters, emphasizing those areas restricted by LSC. WNYLC also serves as a statewide technology resource center and support program for legal services programs in New York State. Our vision and mission with respect to our technology work is to help legal services offices statewide use technology in a cost effective manner to better serve their clients in this time of diminishing resources. Our target populations are legal services managers, attorneys, paralegals, clients and support staff. Our vision and mission with respect to our legal work is to assure that low-income people receive the full range of civil legal services including "non-traditional" legal assistance like policy advocacy and legal education.
WNYLC has a project which analyzes foreclosure filings in Erie County. Attorneys from WNYLC also represent low to moderate income homeowners in court who are facing foreclosure and do community presentations on foreclosure defenses. We use the foreclosure study to direct our legal work so that we can concentrate on neighborhoods with the most foreclosures when we do presentations. We also let people in foreclosure know of our free legal services. The CCSC volunteer would be involved with presentations and with our intake system for homeowners facing foreclosure.
The CCSC volunteer also will advocate on behalf of homeowners at risk of foreclosure by assisting homeowners with loan modification applications and other loss mitigation efforts. In addition, the volunteer will provide some litigation support and assist with community education and outreach. Applicants should demonstrate a strong commitment to public service. Excellent writing, communication, and organizational skills are essential. Ability to speak Spanish and skills in Microsoft Excel highly desirable.
* Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled, or Disadvantaged of Western New York, Inc
It is the mission of Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled, or Disadvantaged of Western New York to improve the quality of life for elderly, disabled or disadvantaged persons in Western New York. We do so by providing free civil legal services, guardian and trustee services to economically and socially disadvantaged and low income persons, as funding permits. Our primary goal is to use the legal system to assure that our clients may live independently and with dignity. We assist about 1,500 new clients each year in the areas of health care, housing, elder abuse, public benefits and family law.
Currently, Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled, or Disadvantaged of Western New York contract to provide direct services with the Departments of Senior Services in the following counties: Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Genesee, Chautauqua, Allegany, and the Seneca Nations of Indians.
The CCSC member will work on the Elder Abuse Prevention Project. The job involves helping the agency move along the community needs assessment and strategic plan to prevent elder abuse, advocacy work assisting the team providing services to elder abuse victims, compiling data from community partners and developing policies and protocols for sharing information and collaboration. The CCSC volunteer must have a commitment to public service and an interest in post-placement career in domestic violence prevention, geriatric social work, or legal services advocacy.
Working hours are generally 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
* VOICE-Buffalo: Community Organizer
VOICE-Buffalo strives to work collaboratively bringing together community leaders from across racial, economic and geographic divides. The goal is to build a regional structure to secure and extend the quality of life throughout the communities of Western New York. The organization exists because in the Buffalo region, there are currently no other interracial, urban-suburban coalitions of congregations and other faith-based organizations that train leadership to act powerfully as a cohesive organization, on local and regional issues of justice and equity. VOICE-Buffalo is the Social Justice arm of many Western New York organizations and congregations including Catholic Charities.
As a Community Organizer, the CCSC member will build relationships with four organizations not currently involved with VOICE, conduct actions throughout the year and run a campaign he/she is passionate about. In addition, the CCSC volunteer will be trained to do a Power Analysis of economic, social, and political structures in Western New York and New York State as well as how to train potential organizers to do the same.
The CCSC member should have good interpersonal skills, basic communication and administration skills, a good sense of humor, constantly want to learn, and a persistent spirit of reflection. He/she should be a courageous self starter, who has some independence, guts and passion.
General working hours are 10am – 4pm with night meetings from 6:30-8:30PM
* Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement: Immigration Specialist Aide
The Immigration and Refugee Assistance Program builds upon this mission statement by offering a wide variety of services to refugees legally admitted to the U.S. who, have been forced to leave their native homeland and have come to the Buffalo area to rebuild their lives. Services include housing assistance, translation/interpretation, English as a second language instruction, case management, job development, employment placement, acculturation, and assistance with immigration and citizenship applications.
The CCSC Member will assist the immigration specialists in coordinating services to individuals and families in the refugee resettlement program who need assistance with immigration matters. He or she will provide services directly or link clients with other service providers. The member will interview clients and help them complete the paperwork to become a permanent resident. The member will also help clients complete citizenship applications and help them prepare for the citizenship test. The member will also help clients complete applications to bring family members to the U.S.
The CCSC Volunteer must be very detail orientated and have the ability to handle multiple cases at the same time. Microsoft Word and Excel skills are required. The member must be able to function as part of a team working with employment counselors, case managers, English as a Second Language (ESL) instructors and interpreters/translators. He or she must possess excellent people skills, be very detail-oriented, highly motivated, comfortable working in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural setting. The CCSC Member must also be able to read and understand government rules and regulations.
* Closing the Gap: The Academy @ 44 Grades 7 -12
The Academy Program services all students recommended for an alternative learning center grades 7-12 within the Buffalo Public Schools. Students range in learning levels and some have behavioral issues. Most students are in need of one-on-one attention.
Closing the Gap Expectation: Providers will work both individually and with groups of students to enchance their academics and help augment to their personal and interpersonal behavior. The Provider will work with students, administrators, and teachers developing action plans for the students they are assigned to. Providers will work as mentors to assigned students, build relationships and be a peaceful and postive presence and example to them.
* Compass House: Street Outreach and Safe Place Counselor
Compass House provides runaway and homeless youth with safe shelter and services through a voluntary and mutually agreed upon process, in an environment which supports dignity and self-reliance.
The Compass House Emergency Shelter is a 13 bed shelter for youth 12-17 years old. The shelter also operates a Safe Place Program where youth can go to any Safe Place Site in the community, say they need help and will be directed to a counselor at Compass House.
The Compass House Resource Center is a non-residential case management program for youth 14-24 years old who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Youth come in when they want to meet with their Case Managers and sometimes to participate in groups, eat, do laundry, or work with the independent living instructor.
The Street Outreach and Safe Place Counselor works as a member of the Street Outreach Team building relationships with runaway, homeless, and street youth and community members. In addition the CCSC volunteer will work at the emergency shelter one to two shifts a week to become familiar with the RHY population and services and to provide support to staff.