Get Involved

Volunteer Opportunities

Speakers Bureau:
We are looking for experienced speakers that will make presentations to various community groups, including social and service clubs, high school classes, and church groups. Topics include: positive discipline, child abuse prevention, parental stress, emotional abuse, mandatory reporting, and communication skills. We provide information and materials to our volunteer speakers.

Need a Speaker?

Community Education Displays:
These volunteers work at events and fairs distributing the Council's awareness and educational materials. This opportunity is perfect for those who like to talk to people and enjoy attending community activities. Volunteers receive initial training and ongoing support. Hours are flexible; most displays are scheduled on weekends and volunteers are generally asked to cover a two to three hour shift.

Office and Technology Support:
Office, library and technology support volunteers work at the Child Abuse Council offices assisting the office manger and other staff members with general clerical duties and special projects. The hours are flexible and are usually during regular office hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.).

How to Apply:
To request further information about volunteer opportunities or to request a volunteer application, please call 309-786-1466 or fax 309-786-1712 or email to

info@childabuseqc.org.

Volunteer Application Form


Become a Child Advocate

What is advocacy?
Advocacy is defined as the act of pleading for, supporting, or recommending. Therefore, as child advocates, we seek to ensure that the children in our community have a voice and that their needs are met. This can mean speaking to community officials, your state-level elected officials, or your federal policy-makers on behalf of children and families.

Why should you be an advocate?
The most obvious reason to be a child and family advocate is that you care. You care about the children in our country and want them to be safe, healthy, and happy. It follows that you want to help ensure that local, state, and federal policy-makers adopt, implement, and maintain important policies and programs that support families with children. In order to ensure that these policies and programs are maintained, it is critical to have a sustained, vocal, and noticeable presence at all levels of policy-making. You can be part of that presence; therefore, you can be part of the effort to protect our nation’s children and families.

What can you do as a child advocate?

Register to vote and participate in elections.
Take an active role in the process of electing policy-makers. By becoming a registered voter, you are exercising your most basic right as a citizen and advocate.

Get to know your elected officials.
Whether this is your local city council, your state legislators, or your federal Congresspersons, these are the people elected to serve you. Your elected officials depend on you (their constituents) to inform them of concerns in the community. The best time to meet your newly elected officials is now- they are very attuned to their constituents, particularly after an election. There are three primary ways that you can contact your policy-makers and communicate your support of policies that help children and families:

  1. Meet face-to-face with officials. This is a great way to introduce yourself and begin to develop relationships with your officials.
  2. Write your policy-makers. In a brief, concise letter to your elected official, explain why you support or oppose a current policy proposal or program.
  3. Call your elected officials. Even if get an answering machine, this is fine. Just leave a message with your name and address, and whether you support or oppose a current proposal. Every call counts!

Keep in mind that it's just as important (if not more) to thank elected officials when they have supported a program or policy benefiting children and families as it is to request something or complain.

Join a children's coalition
By teaming up with a group of organizations and individuals who share your concern for children and families, you strengthen your position as an advocate. Being part of a coalition will keep you informed of the current policy and program issues in your community and offer you new ways to get involved in the process. One way to get involved is to contact your nearest Prevent Child Abuse America chapter and your local Child Abuse Council.

Resource: Prevent Child Abuse America
http://www.preventchildabuse.org/get_active/tips_on_advocacy.html