LOVE BABIES Volunteer with Good Beginnings (Central Vermont)
Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart, one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them."
― Marvin J. Ashton
Good Beginnings is seeking caring community members to extend a warm welcome to new babies and their families in our community. Are you a positive, friendly, and outgoing person with a big heart? Please join our efforts to ensure that new parents have access to vital information and some caring company in the vulnerable postpartum period.
Good Beginnings Volunteer Visiting Opportunities
Home Visitor
Home visitors attend the Good Beginnings 90-minute orientation and 6 additional trainings per year. Home visitors are matched with a family in their community that is expecting a new baby, or has just birthed or adopted a new baby. Volunteers visit weekly or biweekly for 12 to 24 weeks postpartum for 2 to 3 hours. Volunteer home visitors have strong communication skills and knowledge of service agencies available to assist families with newborn babies. Volunteers provide a link to community resources, offer education and support with emphasis on maternal/infant bonding, infant care, breastfeeding, fatherhood, nutrition, and literacy. Volunteers also encourage literacy awareness by bringing books (available from GBCV) and other reading material for babies, young children, and parents.
Welcome Baby Visitor
Welcome Baby visitors attend the Good Beginnings 90-minute orientation and provide one time visits to families in central Vermont in their homes after the birth or adoption of a baby to welcome their new baby to the community. They provide a free Welcome Bag to families, a reusable bag that is full of fun toys, books, and parenting resources. A visit from a Welcome Baby visitor is an opportunity for parents to ask any questions about area resources for families. This one-time visit usually takes about 30 minutes. During the visit, the Welcome Baby Visitor is a non-judgmental, empathic listener, who checks in with the family and assesses any needs. The visitor responds by offering resources for families to address the needs identified.
In Loving Arms Visitor
This group of visitors attends the Good Beginnings 90-minute orientation, the Central Vermont
Medical Center volunteer training, and 6 additional trainings per year. These visitors are matched with a family who's newborn or infant is boarding at CVMC due to Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (born dependent on substances) or other medical issues until certain benchmarks are met. Volunteers for Good Beginnings' In Loving Arms Program will visit the nursery or birthing center on a regular basis to hold, feed, comfort and play with boarder infants under the supervision of a licensed nurse. In some cases, visitation for these babies is minimal. In other cases, parents are there around the clock and need respite. In either case, our volunteers will provide in-arms care visits for young patients while they recover. Research has shown that in-arms care helps babies to thrive and develop emotional wellness. These visits may translate to home visits when the infant is released from CVMC. In Loving Arms visitors will have the opportunity to receive training in infant addiction and other relevant topics. The ideal volunteer would be available on-call for urgent needs.
Vulnerable Families Visitor
The vulnerable families visitors attend the Good Beginnings 90-minute orientation and 6 additional trainings per year. These visitors are matched with our most vulnerable families during pregnancy or after the birth or adoption of an infant. Volunteers visit weekly or biweekly for 12 to 24 weeks postpartum for 2 to 3 hours. They provide respite, mentorship, guidance, resources and a vital link to the community. Vulnerable families are those experiencing poverty, food insecurity, mental illness, substance abuse, disability or other. Volunteers working with these families will have a special interest in helping those with the greatest barriers reach their fullest potential. Visitors will receive ongoing support from GBCV staff and the opportunity to shadow visit with the Assistant Director prior to visiting independently.
*All visitors must complete our application process, criminal background check and reference checks. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and have prior experience with infants 0-3 months old. All visitors have the opportunity for shadowing with the Program Director prior to visiting independently. All visitors also have access to ongoing trainings throughout the year. Visitor applications can be accessed at our website at www.goodbeginningscentralvt.org and can be submitted to 174 River St., Montpelier, VT 05602 or to our.
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