A person or a small team is needed to run a bi-weekly newsletter at the residential rehabilitation VA facility, for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and seeking treatment for mental and/or physical disabilities.
This volunteer position will involve running ongoing, weekly group meetings with residents to create/edit content and to produce the newsletter from start to finish with staff support. Volunteers will work hand in hand with staff and residents to encourage veterans to work together (e.g., interviewing one another, writing down another’s oral story) and ultimately produce a newsletter. The volunteers will work closely with program recreation therapist, social work intern, and domiciliary chief to coordinate all aspects of newsletter production.
Ideal candidate(s) will enjoy working in a therapeutic setting to help foster creativity, organizational skills, and personal growth through writing and amateur publishing. Strong organizational skills, either experience or willingness to work with people with mental illness, and the ability to manage conflict in groups will be needed. Many residents have issues with emotional regulation and volatility, anger management, depression, and PTSD. Volunteers will be in the building only when clinical staff are available to assist, should the need arise.
This is a federal facility, so volunteers must be cleared through VA’s voluntary service department (fingerprinting and background check).
Newsletters will include:
- creative stories, poems, personal anecdotes
- photos
- news stories about past and upcoming facility events
- employee and participant profiles
- all kinds of other stuff people can dream up!
The facility is looking for individuals who are creative and dedicated. Lisa Alcala of the VA said, “As this is a new program, we will hold some staff-facilitated group sessions with residents to create a vision and get a good jump-start. Our volunteers are our lifeblood and we are eternally grateful!!”
The facility, located at 1604 SE 3rd Avenue, Gainesville, FL, has 39 male- and 6 female-dedicated beds. Participants have an average length of stay of 90 days, but this varies widely with the needs of individuals.
Anyone interested in assisting with the newsletter should contact WAG’s membership coordinator, Pat Caren.