Volunteer Advocate - Volunteer with a friend!

Looking for an opportunity to help your community while spending more time with a friend or family member? We've got the perfect volunteer job for you!

Grab your partner in crime (uh, compassion and service), make a pit stop for your favorite caffeinated beverage, and hit the road to visit residential facilities in your area. During your weekly drive-about, you and your sidekick can catch up while helping others advocate for their rights and access to quality services.

Supporting your community, check! Finally finding dedicated time for a friend date, check! Sound like a win-win? Read on! And, don't forget to share the application link with your friend!

The Residential Facilities Ombudsman program (RFO) provides advocacy services to Oregonians living in homes and facilities licensed or certified for Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities or Mental Health Conditions.

As a RFO Certified Ombudsman (CO) volunteer, you will provide advocacy services directly to individuals. Volunteers conduct in-home visits and manage requests for advocacy support. RFO Certified Ombudsman volunteers work to identify, investigate, and resolve complaints with and on behalf of individuals. COs work closely with the supervising RFO Deputy Ombudsman.

The presence and advocacy of RFO Certified Ombudsman volunteers strengthens each individual resident’s choice, rights, and quality of life.

Qualifications and Skills:

• At least 18 years of age and able to pass a criminal history check
• Strong observation, communication and problem-solving skills
• Dependable and reliable
• Adequate transportation to visit homes and facilities
• No conflict of interest

Training:

• 16 hours of initial concentrated training
• 15 hours of additional training on expanded topics to be completed in the first year of certification
• 10 hours of continuing education annually to maintain certification thereafter
• Need school credit? Depending on your school's internship requirements, we may be able to help.

Time Commitment:

• A flexible schedule of approximately 16 hours per month. This will include facility visits, complaint resolution including calls and meetings, as well as required activity reporting.
• Please consider making at least a one-year commitment to the program.

Apply using this link: