NCJ Number
9578
Date Published
1972
Length
10 pages
Annotation
PROCESS BY WHICH VOLUNTEERS ARE INTERVIEWED, ASSESSED, SELECTED, AND TRAINED FOR FAMILY COUNSELING IN A NEW YORK CITY SERVICE AGENCY.
Abstract
A LARGE NUMBER OF POLICE CALLS ARE IN RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC PROBLEMS. SOCIAL SERVICE AND SUPPORT AGENCIES OF ALL TYPES ARE FACING BUDGET REDUCTIONS AND PERSONNEL SHORTAGES. ONE WAY OF REDUCING THE BURDEN OF BOTH THE POLICE AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES IS THE USE OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AS VOLUNTEERS IN FAMILY COUNSELING. VOLUNTEERS AS FAMILY COUNSELORS IS A PAPER PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL WELFARE IN MAY, 1972 WHICH PRESENTS A HISTORY AND DESCRIBES THE OPERATIONS OF THE HOME ADVISORY COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL IS A SERVICE AGENCY IN NEW YORK CITY, DESIGNED TO HANDLE CASES IN WHICH THERE ARE ALLEGATIONS OF ASSAULTS BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS. A SHORT STAFF AND A DECREASED BUDGET LED THE COUNCIL TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN A CORE OF VOLUNTEERS. THE PAPER INCLUDES A DESCRIPTION OF A PROJECT DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE THE APPLICABILITY OF VOLUNTEER FAMILY COUNSELING SERVICES IN UPPER-STATE NEW YORK AS WELL AS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES BY DISCUSSING SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES, DRAWBACKS, AND RAMIFICATIONS OF UTILIZING VOLUNTEERS FOR FAMILY COUNSELING. (SNI ABSTRACT)