Any questions?  Contact Dr. Karyn Plumm karyn.plumm@und.edu

 

Practical Experiences in Psychology 

Here are some examples of volunteer opportunities that qualify as “practical experiences” in psychology.  This list is only an example and not meant to be exhaustive as there may be other volunteer opportunities that would qualify as well.

 

Organization	Contact	Volunteer Opportunities	Population	Requirements
GF Housing Authority – Client Services	Christina Hutchinson : 795-6300	After-school program Adult computer education Service coordinator Program development	Child Adolescent Adult Elderly	Application Background check Orientation
Altru Health System	Volunteer Manager: 780-5125	ER liaison Pediatric therapy (outpatient) Inpatient child life program OT assistant	Child Adolescent Adult Elderly	Attend recruitment day Health screening Background check Orientation
Prairie Harvest Human Services Foundation	Brenda Monda: 795-9143	Working with adults with mental illness	Adult	Application Background check Orientation
YMCA Family Center	Program Coordinator: 775-2586	Big brother/sister mentor After-school program	Child	Orientation Interview/application Background check
Community Violence Intervention Center (CVIC)	Volunteer Coordinator: 746-0405	Abuse and rape crisis program Wishing well – child visitation program Office duties	Child Adolescent Adult	Application Background check One-week training
Ruth Meiers Adolescent Treatment Center	Bryon Novotny: 795-3870	Mentoring program Group co-facilitation	Adolescent	Background check Training program
UND Psychological Services Center Child Development Clinic	Dr. Michael Himle: 777-3289	Early intervention services for Autism	Children with Autism & developmental disabilities	Approval of instructor willingness/ability to travel locally 3-12 dedicated hours/wk

 

Development Homes
Contact: Brad Crotty at 335-4000
Description: Work with developmentally disabled adults and children in both group homes and in community based apartments.

Northeast Human Service Center
Contact: 795-3116
Description: Community Home Counselor positions in two group homes; a group home for emotionally disturbed children and a group home for adults with chronic mental illness transitioning into the community.

Prairie Harvest Human Services Foundation
Contact: Amy Schmidt at 795-9143 or visit their website
Description: Direct Care work, medication monitors and mentoring programs working with adults with chronic mental illness which are living in the community or in a transitional living facility or needy families in need of temporary assistance.

Success Unlimited
Contact: Diane Wesness at 775-3356
Description: Job coach for adults with developmental disability or chronic mental illness.

Kairos House Group Home
Contact: 218-281-1524
Description:  Kairos house is a group home in Crookston for adolescents who are involved with the social service and/or legal system for various reasons and cannot remain in their homes.  Kairos house is licensed for 9-17 year olds and may house up to 10 residents at anytime. Volunteer and paid positions are available at Kairos house.  These positions provide excellent experience for anyone considering the human service field as a profession.  Experience will be provided in behavior management, group facilitation, one on one contact with residents and with daily treatment planning.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Community Violence Intervention Center, Inc.
Contact: Director at 746-0405 or visit the website
Description: Crisis Line Program:  Work directly with clients to provide support and assistance to victims of violence. Crisis line workers receive 41 hour training program which trains them to answer crisis line calls. This training results in certification by the North Dakota Council on Abused Women's Services/Coalition against Sexual Assault. Volunteers on-call carry a pager with them. The crisis line is staffed from 5:00 P.M. each weekday to 8:30 the following morning. On weekends, shifts are from 8:30 am each morning to 8:30 am the following morning. Intake volunteers complete crisis line training, plus an additional 4 hours of training. This involves coming into the office one day a week for 4 hours to assist with clients. If the volunteer opts to do intake, it can substitute for crisis line commitment. Office volunteers help with routine office responsibilities such as answering phones. The requirements to be a crisis worker is to complete the entire 41 hour training course. They must be on call at least two nights a month and at least one weekend shift every other month. They are also required to attend at least five volunteer meetings each year and meet with volunteer coordinator for evaluations. They must have access to transportation when on-call for Emergency room calls or shelter placements. Volunteers are required to make a six month commitment to the program that begins with training. Wishing Well Child Visitation Program: Assist Wishing Well staff with the supervision and exchange of children to help enforce policies, ensure safety and maintain neutrality.  Must complete an 8-hour volunteer training session and volunteer atleast 8 hours per month including one weekend per month.  Volunteers are required to make a six month commitment to the program.

Habitat for Humanity
Contact: E-mail undhabitat@hotmail.com  
Description.  Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization, that brings people together to build decent affordable housing for low those who need it. This is the University of North Dakota chapter.  More information can be found here.  

Camp Good Mourning: Kids and Teens Grief Camp

Contact:  Hospice at 780-5258
Description:  Volunteers provide individual support as counselors and staff at a camp held in late June at Park River Bible Camp, Park River, ND.  The camp includes recreational activities combined with large discussion groups and small peer groups to encourage campers to discuss their feelings of loss with each other.  Activities include arts and crafts in the craft barn and a focus on the life and death cycle in nature.  The camp is designed to combine both fun and grief support for the kids.

Altru Health System Volunteer Opportunities
Contact: 780-5125
Description:  Several volunteer opportunities are available including Psychiatric Occupational Therapy Volunteer, Child Life Volunteer, Child Evaluation Treatment Program Volunteer, and Summer Camp Counselor.  Variable time schedules and duties.  Call for more details.

Healthy Families Region IV Family Mentor Volunteer
Contact:  746-2064
Description:  Will provide guidance and support to parents with newborn children.  Must be 21 years old and have own transportation with knowledge or experience of the role of parenting.  Will receive 10-12 hours of training and will be supervised by the Volunteer coordinator.  Should commit 6-8 hours per month for 6 months.  Time commitment is flexible and depends on needs of parents and volunteer availability.

The Arc, Upper Valley
Contact:  772-6191
Description:  The Arc,  Upper Valley works to improve the quality of life for children and adults with  mental retardation and related disabilities and their families through advocacy,  education and family support services. The Arc's vision is that all people with  mental retardation and related developmental disabilities will have the opportunity to choose and realize their goals of where and how they learn, live,  work, and play.  There are several projects in which  volunteers are needed and appreciated.  Opportunities include a Moms group in which volunteers mentor moms with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and their children, sibshops in which volunteers assist siblings between the ages of 7-13 in recreational and learning activities along with several other opportunities.  

A.D.A.P.T. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team
Contact:  UND Counseling Center at 777-2127 or ADAPT@und.nodak.edu
Description:  Program designed to increase student awareness about low-risk choices involving alcohol, drugs, sex and many other issues.  Volunteers serve as peer educators who are a group of students who work together in teams of two presenting programs for various campus groups, community groups and student organizations.

Dakota Science Center
Contact: 795-8500
Description: The Dakota Science center encourages lifelong curiosity and fascination with science in children, parents, teachers and the community through discovery, exploration and interaction. Volunteers will assist with hand on exhibits at festivals, demonstrations of school programs.  One of the programs include the Brainy Bunch Science Club which is an after-hours program for school children. The BOSS program involves helping teens with running a science center. The Water Festival is for fourth graders. The Science in the Circle of Life is a camp for rural and minority kids 12-15 years old. For more information the Dakota Science web site is www. dakota-science.org.

Ernie J. Norman Center (Shelter House for Homeless Women and Children)
Contact: 746-5431
Description: Provide supervision of shelter house when regular worker is unavailable. Flexible scheduling. Generally 4-5 hours in evenings or weekends. Occasional overnight stay.

Description: Volunteers are needed to help with packaging food for delivery to the needy and elderly.

Description: Volunteers are also needed to help with grocery shcpping for the elderly.

Hospice Program (In-Home Care for the Terminally Ill)
Contact : Sue Fisk at 780-1450
Description: Volunteers are placed with a family based on patient/family needs, skills, professional training, time commitment and location. Volunteers may provide respite for the primary caregiver, may help around the house with housework, light yard work, or cooking if primary caregiver is unable. Volunteers are asked to listen and to provide comfort and support when needed. May help the patient complete a special project such as needlepoint or woodworking, volunteers are matched with patients to assist this. Volunteers may assist with children, may physically assist the patient, provide transportation to medical appointments or run errands. Flexible scheduling, if they are available during the daytime may be called at least once a week, if available at night and weekend may be called less than once a week. Average volunteer time is 2-3 hours a week. Volunteers must complete a 24 hour training program which is given in eight sessions on Tuesday evenings.

Just Friends Community Support Program
Contact: 795-5056 or pharvest@corpcomm.net
Description: A community support program for individuals with serious mental illness.  Typically spend 1-4 hours a week with a mentally ill adult as a friend, to go shopping, socialize, develop hobbies or interests and to share holidays. Should have a driver's license and vehicle and commit to at least 6 months with the program.

North Dakota Development Center (Grafton, ND)
Contact: Kevin Frederickson 701-352-4419 or Paul Kolstoe at 701-352-4444
Description: May be involved with client contact including socialization/recreation, interviewing, observation, assessment and individual and group therapy, program development, research and department operations. Hours are flexible.

Project Globe
Contact Shannon Strating at 746-5431 or shannon@rrvca.com
Description: After school program for impoverished and homeless children on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-6 P.M.  Expect at least three hours/one day per week, some evenings or some weekends for special field trips.  Will help children with school work, class projects, chaperone field trips, plan projects, assist with transportation and provide a dependable fun mentor to youth in need.

St. Anne's Guest Home (Retirement Residence)
Contact: 746-9401
Description: Assist residents with letter writing, socials, bingo, study groups, transportation, bazaars and providing a friendly face. Hours are flexible.

Kairos House Group Home
Contact: Lynn at 218-281-1524
Description:  Kairos house is a group home in Crookston for adolescents who are involved with the social service and/or legal system for various reasons and cannot remain in their homes.  Kairos house is licensed for 9-17 year olds and may house up to 10 residents at anytime.  Volunteer and paid positions are available at Kairos house.  These positions provide excellent experience for anyone considering the human service field as a profession.  Experience will be provided in behavior management, group facilitation, one on one contact with residents and with daily treatment planning.

Volunteer Center- United Way
Contact: Melissa at 775-0671.
Description: The Volunteer center is a referral service that maintains a database of potential volunteers and agencies that provide volunteer opportunities for them. You will fill out a volunteer profile that characterizes your interests and the profile will be used to match you with agencies interested in volunteer help. The United Way is affiliated with 31 non-profit agencies and coordinates ongoing efforts as well as annual events.