Girls Using Their Strengths GUTS!

YWCA Missoula Girls Using Their Strengths—GUTS! Program Volunteer Application

Action Group Facilitator Volunteer Position Description:

A leadership program of YWCA Missoula, GUTS! is a unique, community-based leadership and empowerment program designed by and for young women, ages 9 to 18.

Action Group Facilitators lead weekly Action Groups made up of girls from Missoula’s elementary, middle and high schools. A GUTS! Action Group Facilitator must be a creative, caring, supportive, open-minded and dedicated woman, committed to creating a safe environment for girls to discuss real issues in their lives. The facilitator supports the girls in discovering their strengths, developing their leadership skills, and using their voices to activate positive community change. Plus, she must have a great sense of humor and be willing to have tons of fun!

A facilitator must also: 1. Make a commitment to volunteer for at least an entire semester (February—May) and preferably an entire year. 2. Participate in two, three-hour Action Group Facilitator trainings at the YWCA. 3. Attend each scheduled weekly Action Group. 4. Attend monthly volunteer meetings. 5. Be on time to all scheduled groups, meetings, and community adventures. 6. Come well prepared with activities, points of discussion, materials, etc. 7. Create a supportive, respectful, open, comfortable, and fun learning environment. 8. Keep in good communication with co-facilitator, GUTS! staff, and School/Flagship coordinator. 9. Keep a time card of volunteer hours and a brief description of main events, challenges, and successes of each group. 10. Fill out all evaluation forms provided and return to GUTS! staff by the end of each semester’s Action Group.

Additional desired qualifications:  Experience working with youth.  Knowledge of and interest in women’s and/or environmental issues.  Experience facilitating groups.  Outdoor skills (canoeing, skiing, rock-climbing, gardening, plant identification, etc.).  Indoor skills (art, music, dance, bike maintenance, graphic design, etc.).

Applications are due by Wednesday, February 4th and can be dropped off, emailed, or faxed to: YWCA Missoula, 1130 W. Broadway, [email protected] phone: 406-543-6691 fax: 406-543-6777 GUTS! Training Dates are: Monday, February 9th, 5:30pm - 8:30pm AND Wednesday, February 11th, 5:30pm - 8:30pm

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Please write or print clearly.

Street Address: City:

Zip: Phone 1:

Email: Ethnicity:

Education Please describe your education. Include highest education received and any courses/classes that may be relevant to GUTS!.

Volunteer / Work Experience Please list related work and/or volunteer experience. Include name, description of work, and dates of work/service. Attach an extra sheet (or resume with all relevant information) if necessary.

Type of work: Dates of work:

Description of work:

References Please list three references. If you do not have three, please state why.

Name Address Phone Professional, Academic, Personal

PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. If you wish, you may attach a separate sheet with questions clearly labeled.

11. Why do you want to volunteer with GUTS!?

12. What can you offer the GUTS! program/GUTS! girls?

13. What problems do you think young women face today?

14. What is your worst high school/junior high memory? Your best?

15. What special skills, interests, and/or hobbies can you bring to GUTS!?

16. Are you able to commit to all of the responsibilities outlined in the volunteer position description? If not, please explain any prior commitments you have that will interfere in your ability to participate as a volunteer. 3 of 6 Girls Using Their Strengths--GUTS! A Leadership Project of the YWCA Missoula

Please fill out your availability as best as you are able.

 Please star all preferred days and times  Please bold/circle open/tentatively open days and times  Please delete/cross out all days and times you are not available

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 11:30-1:00 11:30-1:00 11:30-1:00 3:30-5:00 3:30-5:00 3:30-5:00 2:30-4:00

+All lunch time groups are 40 minutes long within the 11:30-1:00pm time frame

Do you have an age preference (elementary or middle school)?

Do you prefer to work in a specific school/region of Missoula?

Do you have a car?

Volunteer Agreement

I, the undersigned, agree to accompany the GUTS! girls and staff on program outings, whether they be Outdoor Trips, Community Service, or transportation for Action Groups. I understand the importance of being a dependable and consistent source of supervision on these outings, and the safety of and interactions with GUTS! girls is my first priority. As a volunteer working closely with the GUTS! girls, I understand that when in the capacity of driver, I am to drive with precaution and safety. I also agree not to bring any alcohol or illegal drugs on any outing.

Signature Date

Criminal Background Check Policy

It shall be the policy of the GUTS! program to conduct a criminal background check on all prospective employees and volunteers, ages 18 and older. Information received will be conviction data based upon Montana records, from the State of Montana Identification Bureau.

Applicants or current paid/unpaid employees are not eligible for employment if they have been convicted of the following:

1. Any conviction involving the sale, manufacture, or distribution of a controlled substance. 2. Any conviction involving bodily harm to another individual or the use of a weapon in the commission of a crime. 3. Any conviction of illegal sexual activity or indecency. 4. Any conviction of abuse or neglect of a child.

NOTE: Any volunteer or staff member with a first time DWI conviction within the last five years would not be allowed to operate any vehicles GUTS! uses for activities. All other convictions are to be reviewed and discussed by the GUTS! staff and may result in a decision to hire or not hire the individual involved. If you are aware of any convictions that will be on your report, please feel free to offer a disclosure or explain your record below.

If you care to, use this space to explain any portion of your record. If no explanation is necessary, or you care not to, simply leave blank: ______

Background Check Authorization

Print Name: (First) (Middle) (Last)

Former Name(s) and Dates Used:

Current Address Since: (Mo/Yr) (Street) (City) (Zip/State)

Previous Address From: (Mo/Yr) (Street) (City) (Zip/State)

Social Security Number: DOB:

Telephone Number:

Drivers License Number/State:

The information contained in this application is correct to the best of my knowledge. I hereby authorize ______and its designated agents and representatives to conduct a comprehensive review of my background causing a consumer report and/or an investigative consumer report to be generated for employment and/or volunteer purposes. I understand that the scope of the consumer report/ investigative consumer report may include, but is not limited to the following areas: verification of social security number; current and previous residences; and criminal history records from any criminal justice agency in any or all federal, state, county jurisdictions; driving records, birth records, and any other public records.

I further authorize any individual, company, firm, corporation, or public agency to divulge any and all information, verbal or written, pertaining to me, to ______or its agents. I further authorize the complete release of any records or data pertaining to me which the individual, company, firm, corporation, or public agency may have, to include information or data received from other sources.

______and its designated agents and representatives shall maintain all information received from this authorization in a confidential manner in order to protect the applicants personal information, including, but not limited to, addresses, social security numbers, and dates of birth.

Signature: ______Date: ______

Notice to California, Minnesota and Oklahoma Residents: Please check the box below if you wish to receive a copy of a consumer report that is requested.

I wish to receive a copy of any Background Check Report on me that is requested.

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