Family Access

Are you looking for a meaningful and fun way to make a difference in children’s lives?

Do you have two to three mornings a month free during the school year?

If so, join our dynamic team of trained CAP volunteers. You’ll teach elementary aged children in Newton or Brookline schools that they have the right to be Safe, Strong and Free with their friends and peers, when they meet adult strangers, and with those who are trusted to take care of them. You’ll present guided discussions and engaging role plays to empower the students with practical strategies.

Ready to learn more? Complete the Volunteer Application.

What can you expect as a volunteer?
Newton and Brookline Task Force

Each year CAP volunteer Prevention Specialists present more than 150 workshops to students in Brookline and Newton elementary schools in selected grades. The CAP Prevention Specialists work in three-person teams to deliver the CAP curriculum in 90-minute workshops during school hours.

This program teaches children simple strategies to reduce vulnerability to assault and violence by presenting basic, age-appropriate, skill-oriented workshops that focus on bullying between children, stranger safety and sexual assault by known persons.

The workshops consist of facilitated discussion and role-plays for each of the topics. It ends with “Review Time” when the children are offered the opportunity to talk 1:1 with the Prevention Specialists.

Skills:

• Lead in-class guided discussions with children ages 5 -11
• Participate in simple, short, scripted role-plays
• Listen non-judgmentally to children during Review Time and support their problem-solving skills
• Work as part of a team under the direction of the designated team leader and the Director of the CAP program

Time Commitment:

• Present 2-3 ninety-minute classroom workshops monthly, October – early June, for one school year
• Attend all 3 sessions of the training: Oct. 20, Nov. 3, and Dec. 8, (8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Attend 2-3 In-Service trainings during the school year

Training:

• Provides information on child abuse and neglect and its impact on society
• Includes role play and facilitation practice, opportunities to observe classroom workshops led by experienced Prevention Specialists
• Strengthens listening and responding to children to support their safety
• 19 Continuing education credits available for social workers

Please note that Family ACCESS requires all volunteers who work with children to participate in a personal interview and successfully pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) screenings.

For more information, contact Gail Sommer, Director, 617 969 5906, x 143