Child Assist Volunteer: Help a local child begin healing in the wake of trauma – Michigan Volunteers

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CARE House of Oakland County

Children and Youth Services: Foster Care Health and Safety: Domestic Violence, Mental Health Education,

44765 Woodward Ave, Pontiac, MI 48341

Phone (947) 232-7844

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Our mission	Our mission is to be a leading resource in the prevention of child abuse and neglect, and the protection of children through advocacy, education, intervention, research, training, and treatment, in collaboration with the community.

Opportunities	Child Assist Volunteer: Help a local child begin healing in the wake of trauma Help create a comforting and welcoming environment for children visiting CARE House of Oakland County, Michigan. Volunteers in our Child Assist role play a key part in easing the anxiety of children who are coming to CARE House for a forensic interview (a one-on-one conversation regarding allegations of child abuse or neglect). As a Child Assist volunteer, you will: Greet child(ren) and their caregiver at our front door and welcome them into CARE House, Help them settle into their private waiting rooms by offering snacks, games, and other age-appropriate activities (all supplies are provided), Provide emotional support, friendly conversation, and a calming presence before and after the interview, Escort the child(ren) and their caregiver to the exit at the end of their appointment, ensuring to stop at our Cuddle Closet where each child gets to select a stuffed animal or other comfort item to take home with them. Forensic interviews are scheduled Monday through Friday during office hours, and volunteers have the flexibility to set their own schedules once onboarded and trained. If you have a passion for helping kids and making a difference in their lives, this is the perfect position for you! Watch our video to learn more: CARE House of Oakland County – What We Do Weekly, Monthly, Ongoing, Recurring 21+, 55+, Adults Individuals In Person, Indoor On-site Weekdays Apply Here Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Volunteers are everyday citizens who are specially trained to advocate for the best interests of children who have been victims of abuse and neglect involved in the court system. Appointed by the Court, CASA Volunteers serve as the child’s voice in legal and social service settings-ensuring they don’t get lost in an overwhelmed system or remain in unsafe or unstable living situations. Through weekly contact with the child and ongoing communication with caregivers, caseworkers, and other adults in the child’s life, CASA Volunteers: Assess the child’s needs, Identify appropriate resources and services, and Submit written reports and recommendations to the court based on their findings. CASAs provide more than just advocacy-they are a consistent, reliable presence for children during one of the most challenging times in their lives. Every child deserves a safe, caring adult in their life. To learn more about becoming a CASA Volunteer in Oakland County, please visit www.casaoaklandcounty.org. Ongoing 21+, 55+, Adults Individuals Other On-site, Formal Anytime Learn More Family Support Programs Meal Provider In addition to forensic interviews and therapy services, CARE House of Oakland County offers ongoing support through programs such as our Family Support Group (FSG) and Nurturing Parent Program (NPP). These weekly evening programs provide children and caregivers with a safe space to build connections, develop healthy coping skills, and strengthen family relationships. Before each session begins, families share a meal together — creating an opportunity to decompress after the day, connect with one another, and enter the evening’s programming feeling welcomed and cared for. That’s where you come in! Meal Providers support our evening programs by preparing or purchasing dinner for participating families. This opportunity is perfect for individuals, families, community groups, student organizations, faith groups, or workplace teams who want to make a meaningful impact but may not be able to commit to ongoing weekly volunteering. Meal Providers are responsible for: Preparing or purchasing a meal for program participants Delivering the meal to CARE House (or preparing it on-site in our fully equipped kitchen) Assisting with meal setup and serving Cleaning up following dinner All meals are served on: Tuesday evenings for Family Support Group Thursday evenings for Nurturing Parent Program Providing a meal is a simple but powerful way to support children and families on their healing journey — helping create a warm, welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and supported. Interested? Please reach out to Becca Wilson, Volunteer Coordinator, at [email protected] or (947) 232-7844 for more information and upcoming dates. What is CARE House of Oakland County? We are the sole Child Advocacy Center serving children and families in Oakland County, MI who have experienced abuse and neglect. Our team works to ensure that every child who walks through our doors receives compassionate support, advocacy, and access to the services they need to begin healing in a safe and child-focused environment. One-time, Occasional, Recurring Teens, Adults, Child with Adult Individuals, Groups (2-10), Corporate Teams, Families Other None Weekdays, Evenings Front Desk Greeter Welcome children and families as they come to CARE House and assist with special projects at the front desk. Occasional, Weekly, Monthly, Ongoing, Recurring 21+, 55+, Adults Individuals In Person, Office work, Indoor On-site Weekdays, Evenings Apply Here Special Events Volunteer Assist in preparing invitations, information packets, or other mailers and to participate in the events with activities, such as helping with registration or setting up for the event. One-time, Occasional Teens, 21+, 55+, Adults Individuals, Groups (2-10) Office work, Indoor On-site Weekdays, Evenings, Weekends

Items we need	Wish List Items needed Our greatest need at CARE House is for financial contributions. For those who prefer to make an in-kind contribution, here is our current Wish List: General Donation Items Gas gift cards – $5 Laundry soap Reams of bright colored copy paper Cases of water – 8-10 oz. bottles Individually wrapped snacks (Cheez-its, cookies, pretzels, fruit snacks, allergen-friendly items appreciated) – NO PEANUT/TREE NUT PRODUCTS Individually wrapped candy – NO PEANUT/TREE NUT PRODUCTS Early Head Start Donation Items Diapers – sizes 4, 5, and 6. Baby wipes Books – parenting books and books for early readers (1-3 years old) Therapy Donation Items Small toys and trinkets (suited for males and females, children and teenagers – we could especially use things for teenagers!) – nail polish, jewelry, puzzles, games, Legos, small toys, etc. Play-doh Paint (acrylic and kid-friendly) Child size smocks Construction paper New or gently used stuffed animals Skinny washable markers Stickers (a variety for different ages and for boys and girls) Colored sand for sand art Small and medium-sized wooden boxes Journals with locks Large rolls of paper Progressive Muscle Relaxation CDs for Children Sand tray figurines Sand Poster boards Play swords and shields (Nerf) Air-dry clay Gift cards for Michael’s or Joann’s Fabrics Gift cards for the Self Esteem Shop in Clawson Books: Helping Your Child Recover from Sexual Abuse Celebrate Your Body Your Body Belongs to You My Body is Special and Private In-Kind Donations Item Collection Make Items Wishlist - Amazon, etc Wish List

How you help	Volunteers at CARE House of Oakland County play an essential role in supporting children and families navigating trauma. Volunteers are often the first warm smile a family sees and the steady presence that helps children feel safe during one of the most difficult moments of their lives. Whether welcoming families, supporting children during appointments, assisting with support groups, advocating in the court system, or providing meals during long days at our center, volunteers serve as a hands-on part of the healing process. Your presence helps create a calm, compassionate environment where children can share their stories, caregivers feel supported, and basic needs are met with dignity. By offering your time, empathy, and consistency, you help ensure that every child who walks through our doors feels seen, heard, and cared for.

About us	CARE House of Oakland County is a children’s advocacy center, providing first-rate services to victims of child abuse and neglect. Founded in 1977 as the Child Abuse and Neglect Council of Oakland County, we currently offer an array of programs focused on the identification and treatment of child abuse victims, and on child abuse prevention. We offer all of our programs at no cost to our clients.