VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Volunteering for ARM of Care is a special experience that is both rewarding and challenging. In order to prepare you, we have created an online training that will help you to understand the ARM of Care philosophy, how we conduct our art, recreation, and movement groups, and how to work with participants who have been traumatized and/or exploited. Those we serve often take on adult concerns at an early age, and as a result they may feel stressed and out of control, as their basic needs for safety have not been met. ARM of Care provides our clients with a consistent and loving space where they feel safe and can relax, have fun, and express themselves freely.
The key points we hope you will take with you from this training:
- Have Fun Moving and Creating: The environment we provide is aimed at giving back to our participants a piece of their childhood that may have been lost. The art/movement group should be both safe and carefree.
- Listen: You do not have to be a great artist! It is your ability to listen attentively that our participants appreciate. Art is used as a vehicle for creating healthy relationships. Listening and allowing people to freely express themselves helps them to trust, be open, and experiment with relating to others.
- Be Non-Judgmental: It is important not to have expectations of the participants or their artwork. Remain open and realize that what they make is not about you or how you think it should look, but about their need for expression. You are a safe and caring witness.
- Provide a Safe Container: Structure and discipline are needed to provide safety for the participants, but structure at an ARM of Care group may look very different from a classroom or more controlled setting. We do our best to allow and encourage free exploration of art materials, and that can sometimes be messy.
- Model Healthy Boundaries: Having healthy boundaries with the participants can sometimes be difficult but is so helpful in teaching them appropriate ways of relating to others. They may use words and behaviors that are derogatory regarding themselves or others. Establishing clear boundaries can be a very important gift, one they can repeat with others in their lives.
As a volunteer, the quality of your presence and attention, as well as the behavior you model during the art/movement group, can have a profound effect.
