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Volunteer Application

Do you want to help children, but don't know how to get started? Become a Volunteer! 

Providing love, support, and assistance to children in transition can be a rewarding experience. Volunteers in the programs listed below contribute their talent and energy toward creating comfort, joy, and a sense of stability to children in need as they face transition and temporary placement.

Volunteer Orientation Meetings

To learn more about becoming a volunteer in one of the Social Services Agency programs, you are invited to attend an orientation meeting where the specific requirements and details of volunteer opportunities with the Social Services Agency will be explained. Applications will be provided by presenters at the orientation meeting.

Volunteer Orientation meetings are from 6-7 p.m. the last Tuesday of the month (except December).

Click here for the Zoom Meeting.

Zoom instructions:

1.         Open the Zoom application.

2.         Select “Join a Meeting” to join without signing in or sign in to Zoom then click “Join”.

3.         Enter the meeting ID number and display your name.

4.         Select if you would like to connect audio and/or video then click “Join”.

If you would like to dial in:

  • Dial: +1 669 900 6833
  • Meeting ID: 827 6385 1898
  • Passcode: 232055

Volunteer Services Header

Orangewood Children and Family Center

Orangewood Children and Family Center is a temporary home to children between the ages of 2 days to 18 years. Volunteers may decide which age group best complements their interest and talents. As an OCFC volunteer you will be helping to individualize the services provided by our professional staff and enrich our programs with your specific interest and skills.

Volunteers have the opportunity to:

  • Assist with individual and group activities
  • Assist in on-site school classrooms or field trips
  • Interact with children in the cottages where they reside
  • Assist in recreation and craft activity
  • Assist with Living Programs which teach children life skills. Children’s ages range from 11 to 18 year old boys and girls.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

Become a child's voice in court

  • CASA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the rights of children who have been removed from their homes because of severe or chronic child abuse.
  • CASA needs mature, responsible adult volunteers. The ability to relate to children in stressful situations and willingness to commit their time is a must. Speaking up for the child in court will help ensure that an abused or neglected child is placed in a safe, permanent, nurturing home.
  • CASA volunteers maintain a weekly one-to-one relationship with a child throughout the time that this child is a dependent of the court.
  • CASA volunteers provide information and objective recommendations to the court to facilitate placement or family reunification.

    Please note: More than 50% of CASA children are boys. These volunteer programs encourage participation by men, all ethnicities, and seniors who can share their grandparenting skills.

Picture of elderly's hand holding a child's hand

 

Foster And Adoptive Parenting

Foster parents provide a caring temporary home environment for children who are unable to live with their birth families. In most cases foster parents work with Social Services Agency staff to reunite the child with their birth parents. Families may choose from a variety of specialized programs that care for:

  • Drug-exposed infants and toddlers
  • Brothers and sisters who need to stay together
  • Children with special medical needs
  • Children with special developmental, emotional and educational needs
  • Teen mothers with babies
  • Children of all ethnic and racial backgrounds

Adoptive parents take a child who is no longer able to live with his/her birth family into their home as a permanent family member. Families may choose from two adoptive programs:

  • Concurrent Planning Families have the goal of adoption but are also licensed to provide foster care. These families have the opportunity to be the only foster placement for a child whom they may eventually be able to adopt.
  • Traditional Adoption families are approved to adopt those children who are legally freed and waiting for an adoptive family.

Who can become a foster or adoptive parent? Foster parents are adults from all segments of society and a variety of ethnic backgrounds. You can be married or single, work in or out of the home, and rent or own your own home or apartment in the County of Orange that has adequate space, privacy and safety for all family members.

The Foster and Adoptive Family Development Team is responsible for developing and sustaining prospective placement options for the dependent children of Orange County. Orientation sessions are provided monthly. For information on becoming a foster or adoptive parent or to register for an orientation, call (888) 871-KIDS.

Operation Santa Claus/Senior Santa And Friends

Volunteers can be of assistance from July through December. OPERATION SANTA CLAUS volunteers can help and join in on projects listed below:

  • Create, distribute and mail promotional materials
  • Assist in fund-raising activities which help pay for gas, storage, technical support, and printed materials
  • Assist with inventory control, shelving and gift sorting during distribution center operations (December)
  • Assist gift store shoppers with gift selections
  • Assist with distribution center cleanup and storage
  • Set up a Holiday tree at your place of business and encourage coworkers to take "Angel Tags" (gift suggestions) to help a needy child or senior by purchasing a special gift for them

Orange County Foster Care Auxiliary

Volunteers participate in fundraising for Orangewood Children and Family Center and other special events.

Requirements for all Volunteers

The volunteer process requires special effort, but offers a unique opportunity for those who want to contribute their time and talents.

Adults 18 years of age or older is the preferred age for those wishing to volunteer at OCFC. Minors between 16 – 18 years must be affiliated with a high school program. Volunteers for CASA must be 21 years of age to apply and a background clearances is required. Prospective volunteers will be asked to submit the following:

  • Fingerprint Card/Live Scan (ask for details before proceeding)
  • TB test results (after completion of training)
  • Confidentiality Form
  • Three references
  • Completion of Agency Application

Once clearances have been approved, volunteers will be contacted and invited to attend the required training classes. Background clearances may take up to eight weeks to process.

For more information about volunteer opportunities in other County agencies and departments, please click here.

SSA - Volunteer Application

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