Friday, June 20, 2003

Hope House seeking volunteers for WeCare program

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

Hope House is a children's respite hospice in Union City which takes care of medically fragile children and provides the children's caregivers with a much-needed break from time to time.

Hope House has recently launched the WeCare volunteer program, which extends similar services to non-medically fragile children with conditions such as mental retardation, developmental disorders, attention deficit hyperactive disorder and milder forms of autism and cerebral palsy in their home.

The program matches volunteers to children in their area. Volunteers undergo approximately 20 hours of training, including 16 hours of training in the home with the parents. Volunteer Services Director Jenni Ashmore likens the program to a Big Brother/Big Sister program as volunteers befriend the child and family, giving one-on-one social interaction with the child and giving parents a chance to have a few hours to themselves. Volunteers are asked to commit to four hours a week and to give a six-month commitment to the family.

"We are looking for people who love kids and have the heart for working with children with special needs," said Mark Andrews, Hope House Program Director. "Volunteers do not necessarily need expertise. They will be trained under the supervision of a nurse and parent."

The WeCare volunteer program currently serves people in Fayette, Clayton, Coweta, Henry and South Fulton counties and will most likely expand in the future to Fulton and DeKalb counties, as there is a need for the program there as well. Volunteers entering the program will not only be matched with children according to situations they will flourish in but also according to proximity.

"We are looking for people willing to give of themselves to some one who will really appreciate it," said Ashmore.

If you are interested in entering the WeCare volunteer program, phone Ashmore at 770-969-8354 or e-mail to swch@fairburn.com.