Volunteer Opportunities

Our volunteers play a vital role in helping parents navigate the special education process and make a difference in the lives of children and families every day. Here are answers to our most frequently asked questions about how to become one of our amazing volunteers.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN IN*SOURCE VOLUNTEER?

When you have completed the process of becoming an IN*SOURCE volunteer, you will join the largest network of individuals in Indiana dedicated to supporting parents and families of children with special needs. You will receive a personalized name tag which lets people know that you are knowledgeable and connected to resources that can help families navigate the special education systems. With your permission and without your contact information, you will be recognized on the IN*SOURCE website as qualified to assist families. 

HOW DO VOLUNTEERS HELP?

Volunteers work in their local communities to provide support and information to other parents and help them address issues as they pertain to children and young adults with disabilities. This is done by phone, face-to-face meetings and, in some cases, by attending meetings with parents. In addition, many volunteers assist IN*SOURCE staff in trainings on topics about parent involvement in the special education process. Here are some specific examples of ways that you can support IN*SOURCE as a volunteer:

  1. Educate your community about IN*SOURCE through outreach to doctors, educators, providers and families in your area about how IN*SOURCE helps families and by providing resources to local agencies and groups.

  2. Represent IN*SOURCE at Resource Fairs or Transition Fairs at schools and local or statewide community events.

  3. Assist a Special Education Liaison or Youth Coordinator with training by helping set up, collecting information from participants, monitoring the chat feature on virtual training or being with students in the classroom while the youth trainer presents virtually.

  4. Generate enthusiasm in your community and assist with our fundraising efforts by serving as a stakeholder, planning or providing leadership and support at events, and connecting community leaders and philanthropists to our organization. You yourself may wish to consider us in your estate planning and charitable giving.  

  5. Provide individual assistance to families so they become a better advocate for their child in school through phone and email assistance, sharing resources, and attending meetings with parents.

HOW DO I GET THE TRAINING I NEED TO BE A VOLUNTEER?

Before applying to be a volunteer, you will be asked to take a pretest to be used to measure your growth in the program. Then you will complete an application to start the process. Based on the times that you indicate that you are available, you will be invited to engage in an onboarding conversation with a leader in the organization.

During the onboarding conversation, a plan will be developed to ensure that you have been introduced to the skills and knowledge necessary to support families. You may be asked to continue with online classes or other exercises that will reinforce special education information and regulations based on your areas of need. 

Once it is determined that you are prepared to continue your journey as a volunteer, you will complete a Code of Conduct acknowledgement. New volunteers will meet their regional team leader and develop a supportive relationship with the liaisons in their area. You will be connected to resources and continued opportunities to learn and grow as a member of the regional team.

HOW MUCH TIME WILL BE REQUIRED OF ME?

After completing the onboarding, your time commitment is dependent upon your availability and the demand for your assistance. It is totally up to you how much time you invest in this role. You will work with your regional IN*SOURCE staff to learn about opportunities to support the work of IN*SOURCE in your area.

DO I NEED TO MAINTAIN MY STATUS AS A VOLUNTEER?

IN*SOURCE provides ongoing support to our volunteers through continuing education, newsletters, webinars, and frequent opportunities for networking with staff and other volunteers. To maintain status as an IN*SOURCE volunteer, we ask our volunteers meet regularly with IN*SOURCE staff in their region and participate in at least three hours (or 180 points when counted as minutes) of continuing education per year. 

You can visit our webinar training schedule and check out the IN*SOURCE training calendar for additional opportunities to participate in training events. Training opportunities are outlined in our IN*TOUCH Weekly newsletter, so please subscribe. We also host a weekly continuing education discussion for our staff in which volunteers are invited and welcomed to participate.  You can join Lunch with Lesa here every Tuesday (except the last Tuesday of the month) at 12 noon ET.

Volunteers are required to annually renew and abide by a Code of Ethics and take annual post-tests.  

WHAT IS THE COST?

There is no cost to the training that is required to become or maintain your status as a volunteer. 

HOW DO I GET STARTED? 

If you are interested in joining a vital and growing network of parents in Indiana who are providing valuable assistance to others in their communities, please start by completing:

  1. Our Pretest

  2. This Application 

  3. The Code of Ethics Acknowledgement Form

Once the first three steps are completed, the Assistant Director of Regional Teams will reach out to you for an intake interview and will set you up for next steps. If you have any questions, please email Sarah Cassavaugh at scassavaugh@insource.org.

We greatly appreciate your willingness to serve and look forward to hearing from you!

HOW WILL IT BE KNOWN THAT I AM AN IN*SOURCE VOLUNTEER?

Once you are welcomed to serve on a regional team, you will receive an IN*SOURCE badge with your name on it, renewable every year. Your picture and name will also be added to collection of team members on the the Regional Teams Page.