Volunteer on Perinatal Support WA’s Parent Support Warm Line!

PS-WA is looking for Warm Line volunteers! Are you a parent who has experienced and recovered from postpartum depression, anxiety, postpartum psychosis or other perinatal mental health issues, or suffered a perinatal loss, birth trauma or experienced the NICU? We are looking for parent volunteers including dads, LGBTQ+ parents, and BIPOC parents to assist those reaching out to our Warm Line for support.

About Peer Support

The line is staffed by volunteers who are parents that have experienced a perinatal mood and/or anxiety disorder and have recovered. Parents calling the line often feel alone in their feelings or shame for the feelings they are having. Tallking with another parent who has been in a similar situation validates their struggles and helps on their healing journey. Receiving and providing peer support is unique and powerful for both the volunteer and parent!

Make a difference in other’s lives – offer hope and community to other parents!

We are recruiting volunteers for 2 positions:

• Live Answer Volunteer: Answer calls during a 4 hour weekday shift (once a week from the comfort of your home).
• Evening or Weekend Volunteer: Volunteer 2 evenings or the weekend, every 4 -7 weeks by responding (same day or within 12 hours) to callers who leave a voicemail, email, or text.

Volunteers offer peer support, wellness planning, resources and referrals to callers on a short term (2 weeks) or long term (up to 3 months) basis.

• Our next volunteer training is Saturday, November 16 & Sunday, November 17, 2024, 9:00am-1:15pm on Zoom*

Volunteer Commitment:

• Volunteer from your home and/or your office. All you need is a phone and computer. We supply you with a phone extension to contact callers, through an app on your cell phone.
• Calls generally last 30-45 minutes. In addition there are tasks to follow up with after a cal: locating and reaching out to providers, sending a follow up email with resources and referrals, etc.
• Volunteers always check in with parents 1 week after the initial contact and offer extended peer support to parents for 2-12 weeks (when requested and as needed).
• 1 hour monthly volunteer meetings on zoom.

Volunteer Training Logistics:

• 24 hours of recorded and live virtual training.
• Please know that the training on zoom is a participatory training. Learning to create and hold space for people to share their experiences requires learning what it is feels like to be with one another and be present. We are creating community through learning and sharing. Volunteers should plan to be at the whole training, video on for interactive portions, with limited multi-tasking. In our busy world, and with online trainings, it can be very tempting to think that we can do more than one thing. Please give yourself and the community of learners a gift of allowing yourself to be with us each day, fully, and engaged.
• Please make arrangements for childcare.

For more information about volunteering on the warm line and our short volunteer application: https://perinatalsupport.org/event/warm-line-volunteer-training/

If you have any questions please reach out the Warm Line Program Manager at Victoria.cherniak@peraintalsupport.org