How do I become a MISS Volunteer?

How do I get more information?

What Volunteer positions are currently open?

How do I become a MISS Volunteer?

Click here to download our PDF Guide to Becoming a MISS Volunteer.

Contact Cath Duncan, Volunteers Coordinator, with any questions, comments, feedback.

Back to Top

What volunteer positions are currently open?

As of May 1, 2012, we have the following volunteer recruitment campaigns open:

- HOPE Mentors all over the US and beyond
- Volunteer Executive Assistant
- MISS Forum Moderators
- MISS Forum Chat Hosts

(click listing titles above to see below for details
and link to applications)

Open: HOPE Mentors Required all over the USA and beyond

Role Overview:

Our HOPE Mentors are volunteers who provide one-on-one peer mentoring to families who are seeking bereavement support from the MISS Foundation. HOPE Mentors reach out to identified families (primarily via phone and email) on a regular basis in order to develop a relationship and walk alongside these families, as-needed, during their grief journey. HOPE Mentors are NOT counselors or crisis-responders.  

HOPE Mentor Skills/ Knowledge/ Criteria:

• Must be at least 18 years of age and complete all MISS Foundation volunteer requirements, including background check, references and Confidentiality Agreement.
• Should be at least 18 months into their own grief journey.
• Must complete the mentor training and set-up process - email/volunteer webpage access.
• Must agree to keep contact information up-to-date and be available to respond to email requests within 24 hours.
• Should regularly engage in continuing training modules available on volunteer page.
• Should feel at ease reaching out to others, sharing their own loss story and have their own support network already in place.
• Should demonstrate the ability to have healthy boundaries regarding time commitments and relationship development - and be willing to ask questions, get help, utilize the resources provided to them.
• Should be willing to stay up-to-date on local resources available to families as a way to help families build their own support network.
• The time commitment for this role is variable, depending on demand, and you can let us know how much time you’re able to commit to each week.

This role demands a medium-term commitment (at least 1-2 years) and can be done from anywhere in the world. This role carries a lot of responsibility and it's critical to the success of the MISS organization. We need highly dependable, skilled, responsible and committed individuals.

If you're interested in joining our team of HOPE Mentors, please submit your application online here.  And if you know anyone else interested, please share this forward!

• Answering the MISS Foundation national phone
• Warmly receiving families coming into the office for counseling by providing the intake forms
• Sending donation thank you's
• Sending birthday cards to families
• Entering data into the MISS database
• Helping with miscellaneous assignments and projects
• Helping with accounting tasks
• Assisting in event coordination and errands
• Assisting in preparation of board meetings and other group activities

• The MISS forums are a collection of support and discussion boards available every day, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
• Moderators are expected to log into the MISS forum boards at least once in 48 hours, at least 4 times a week. Therefore, reliable and consistent access to the Internet is required.
• Prospective applicants who are able to commit to short daily visits are ideal. A time commitment of approximately 7 hours per week is standard.
• Moderators are expected to respond promptly to private messages from members.
• Moderators welcome new members across all of the forum boards.
• Moderators need to be keen observers, possessing an ability to discern when it’s appropriate to allow courteous disagreements within discussions and when it’s better to judiciously intervene to mediate conflict or guide a discussion.
• Finally, moderators need to be able to work in a team, participate in all discussions in the private moderator lounge, be transparent in their role as moderator, and follow advice or directions from senior team members.

• Proficiency in the use of basic grammar, punctuation, and spelling is useful. Typing skills and basic computer knowledge are handy.
• A working knowledge of the resource material available to members and the ability to refer members to this material when appropriate is necessary. Training is provided.
• Applicants should be 18 months or more into their grieving process, and be at a transitioning point whereby your grief, while always a part of you, is no longer completely overwhelming. This allows you to focus on the needs of others.
• You possess the ability to start topics, share your journey and process with members, honouring your own feelings and theirs.
• You consistently demonstrate the ability to look at a situation from all sides, possess a calm demeanor, and a non-aggressive writing style. You are comfortable with managing issues with empathy and assertiveness.
• You are able to recognize your own limits and are able to ask for support from administrators or other members of the moderating team.
• You are able to agree to a one-year commitment, with the option to renew annually after review.
• All first-time moderators will be accepted on a 6 month trial basis. This allows both the administration team and the trainee moderator time to determine if the role is an appropriate fit.
• All new moderators will be provided with training for their role which should be completed during this trial period.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY to be a part of the Forums as a MISS Volunteers:

Chat Moderators are need to commit to hosting regular chats in our forum chat room.

Role Responsibilities Include:

• Scheduling and hosting regular chats - at least twice a month. Chat Mods should be aware that the forums see more traffic during certain days and times, and try to schedule their chats accordingly, when possible.
• Posting their chat schedule on the forum calendar in advance, and posting a reminder on the forum boards, 24 hours before their chat.
• Sending an advanced chat notice email, at least 24 hours before the chat, to Laurie-Beth, so that it can be posted on our social media sites.
• Moderating the chat, during the time it is scheduled. Chats often run longer than the posted time. Chat Mods, do not have to stay past the ending time, unless they feel their presence is needed.
• Report any problems or concerns to the Administration Team. All chats are recorded and logged. If the discussion concerned you or if you had any technical problems, please contact a member of the Administration Team.
• Disruptive members can be "kicked" from the chat room, but can return immediately. Banning a member from the room prevents them from coming back, but any member banned from chat has to be "unbanned" from the Administrative Control Panel. If you needed to kick or ban someone, please contact the Admin Team so they may follow up with that member.
  

Training Protocol:

• All Chat Moderators, are considered part of the Moderating Team and have access to the Moderating Forum. If you have any questions, concerns about a members, or need to debrief, please post them on the Mod board, or contact a member of the Admin Team directly. We are here to help you in any way we can.
• All Chat Mods, must complete the Chat Mod Training Module before hosting their first chat. Previous Forum Mods are exempt from this training.
• Forums Mods who transition to the Chat Mod role, may continue to greet new members at the discretion of the Global Moderators.
• Chat Moderators who wish to transition to the role of Forum Moderator, will be accepted under the new moderator training protocol.

If you're interested in applying for this role, please submit your application online here.  And if you know anyone else interested, please share this forward!

Back to Top