BEING A CIRCLE VOLUNTEER
PACT 4 Families Collaborative
WHAT IS MY ROLE AS A CIRCLE VOLUNTEER?
Your role as a Circle volunteer is similar to what you already do! As a family member, neighbor, or friend you provide support, care, and concern for people in your life. By joining Circle you bring that care and concern to young people who need it. Coming to Circle we leave our titles at the door, but we bring our personal experiences, our job history, and family life. All of these experiences make us who we are and when brought together and shared in Circle, they are very powerful.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BE THERE?
Volunteers help the youth and victims by bringing their expertise, experience, and ideas to the Circle ~ brainstorming, networking, developing crisis plans, writing up goals and developing strategies, being a listening ear, etc. As the youth and other Circle members get to know you, they begin to count on you to be there.
HOW OFTEN DO CIRCLES MEET? WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT?
The Circle members ultimately decide how often to meet. Typically, circle meets twice per month, but sometimes (especially early on) Circles may meet more frequently. As youth get near completion of the Circle process, the Circle may meet one time per month. A general guideline is for meetings to last an hour per youth and two youth per Circle, but again this can vary. For any one youth, Circles may meet for several months.
WHAT HAPPENS AT CIRCLE?
A Circle keeper is always present to manage the process. The first Circle a youth attends is considered an application circle. At this initial Circle, the Circle members learn about the youth and his/her crime and will decide if the youth is appropriate for the process. If the youth is accepted, Circle members and the youth’s support person(s) will work with the youth to establish goals. Discussion at subsequent meetings will revolve around a review of the youth’s behavior and progress on his/her goals. The purposes of Circle are: 1) to strengthen the community by helping youth who are guilty of illegal behavior to admit harm they have done, learn to value and demonstrate good behavior, and repair damage they have caused; 2) to help victims recover from being violated and be a part of resolving the crime against them.
WHAT IF I WANT TO BE INVOLVED BUT CAN’T MAKE IT TO EVERY CIRCLE?
Although volunteers, youth, and victims join Circle at different points within the process, youth do need to build relationships and trust with the Circle members. Therefore, we need volunteers to be available for the majority of the scheduled Circles. We understand that everyone can’t be available all the time. In the event that you need to take some time off or just miss one Circle, the Circle Keeper can give updates and pass along information that you would like the Circle keeper to share.
WHAT IF I DON’T FEEL IT IS “WORKING” FOR ME IN CIRCLE?
If something about the Circle process is making you uncomfortable, feel free to talk to the Coordinator or another volunteer.
The great thing about being a Circle Volunteer is that you can remain involved with the family long after the professionals have come and gone.
THANK YOU for your investment.