Youth Program Volunteers
DOWNLOAD APPLICATION
How to Apply
Read the information below, then click here
to download an application form (requires Acrobat Reader, available free from
Adobe).
Completed forms may be returned to the Youth Program Coordinator by:
If you have any questions, please call the Youth Program Coordinator at (403)266-1601.
Job Description
Our Teen Line and Youth Drug Line volunteers provide peer support to Calgary
youth during the hours of 5:00pm to 10:00pm every day. They are on the front line working directly
with our clients. If you are between the ages of 16 and 18 and would like to take an active role in
helping others in your community, then this is the job for you!
The Teen Line volunteer job includes:
- Extensive training in preparation for volunteering
- Answering the Teen Line and Youth Drug phone Line from 4:00pm to 11:00pm every night
- Providing peer support to Calgary youth
- Exploring caller concerns
- Clarifying caller feelings
- Helping youth callers make plans of action
- Responding to online posts through Teen Line Vibe, a peer support forum powered by Calgary Urban Vibe
Commitment and Shifts
To ensure that we continue providing the best service we can, we ask our youth
program volunteers to make a commitment to work 3 shifts per month, for 8 months, or a total of 24
shifts for the first 8 months.
Training
Youth volunteers are trained in the classroom setting with crisis line volunteers
(link to training page) and receive one additional training session on providing support online. Once
they have completed classroom training, volunteers will complete three supervised shifts with one of our
leadership volunteers (volunteers who have completed their commitment).
Youth program meetings are offered 8 times annually. These meetings offer ongoing
training for volunteers on a wide variety of topics such as youth services, positive youth enhancement,
bullying, dating violence, and self-mutilation. Pizza, pop, and prizes are always provided at the meetings!
Benefits
Working as a youth program volunteer can be a richly rewarding experience that
provides excellent opportunities. Here�s what current youth volunteers have to say about benefits
of volunteering in the Youth Program:
�Everyone here makes volunteering a lot of fun, which makes me want to
volunteer even more!�
On meeting new, friendly people
�I�ve met two of my best friends at the Distress Centre�
On developing communication skills and knowledge
�Any feedback I get always seems to have good things written and good
suggestions, which makes me feel better about how I handled calls�
On learning more about youth related topics
�I never thought I would learn so much in training. It�s stuff you�ll really
use in life!�