Volunteer Program Start-Up Toolkit
This toolkit provides practical tools and guidance to help public or nonprofit organizations establish, strengthen, or expand volunteer programs that provide community engagement opportunities for Medi-Cal members.
Resources include program readiness; purpose and roles; workflow and capacity; supervision and recruitment; safeguards and tracking; and a final decision about whether the program is ready to proceed.
Start with the Program Readiness Assessment: Identify what is already in place, where gaps remain, and your organization’s readiness and priorities. Then use the results to decide which tools and resources are needed.
The toolkit can help organizations design and document volunteer opportunities consistent with current community service requirements. The member’s county Department of Social Services (DSS) determines Medi-Cal eligibility and assesses whether work and community engagement requirements apply or are met.
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When to use: Use this tool first to understand the toolkit’s purpose and boundaries, see what it includes, and choose where to begin.
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When to use: Use this tool to assess whether your organization is ready to start or expand a volunteer program, identify gaps, and decide what needs attention.
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When to use: Use this tool to define why the volunteer program is needed, what volunteers will do, the intended results, and how the program supports the organization’s work.
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When to use: Use this tool to define what volunteers will do, the qualifications and participation requirements for the role, the role’s boundaries, and how the role will complement staff and support accessible participation.
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When to use: Use this tool to define how volunteer work is identified, assigned, completed, documented, and reviewed, including what happens when plans change.
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When to use: Use this tool to determine whether the organization has the support, staff capacity, funding, and operational resources needed to implement and sustain the volunteer program.
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When to use: Use this tool to define who will supervise volunteers, the level of ongoing oversight and support they will receive, and how feedback and performance issues will be addressed.
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When to use: Use this tool to define how prospective volunteers will be recruited and informed about opportunities, how applications and selection will be handled, and how selected volunteers will be prepared and approved to begin serving.
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When to use: Use this tool to establish the conduct, confidentiality, safety, screening, incident response, and insurance safeguards needed to protect volunteers, participants, staff, and the organization.
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When to use: Use this tool to establish how volunteer service time and activities will be recorded, verified, maintained, and used to monitor participation and program results.
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Volunteer Program Start-up Toolkit
Appendix A: Volunteer Program Example – Senior Connect
Appendix A - Purpose
Appendix A - Roles
Appendix A - Workflow
Appendix A - Capacity
Appendix A - Supervision
Appendix A - Recruitment
Appendix A - Safeguards
Appendix A - Tracking