Dear Prospective Volunteer:
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Urban Peak Colorado Springs. Volunteers are an integral part of life at Urban Peak as we work together in partnerships to fulfill our mission. We offer daytime, evening and weekend
opportunities to fit your schedule. The following is an overview of our programs and departments:
• THE Place – This is our transitional housing shelter (THE-Transitional Housing Experience). We provide a safe living environment for youth ages 15 – 20. This includes meals, classes, case management, recreational and educational activities. We also provide a bike program where youth may ‘earn’ their own bicycle.
• Administrative - Our administrative offices include Development, Grants, and Volunteer Dept.
• Outreach – Services are provided to young people living on the street have no other place to go. Outreach workers provide essential items to youth and encourage them to come to infor services.
• Employment Assistance – Youth are provided placement services and job readiness training. • Education – A contract with District 11 provides a licensed teacher for GED classes.
• Non-direct services – There are a number of small and large special events, committees, fundraising activities and speaking engagements which require volunteer assistance.
• Entertain and Teach – Evening and weekend classes provide youth with fun activities or learning a new skill. Some of these classes are healthy living, substance abuse, Tai Chi, and Yoga. Drivers also act as chaperones on field trips.
• HUD Supported Housing Program – Urban Peak provides single dwelling apartments to youth transitioning from the shelter.
• Health Care – Provides limited health care serices along w/education and connections w/mental health providers – PPCH, AspenPointe
Requirements for volunteering: *Age 21 or older
*TB test with negative results ($20) – completed BEFORE volunteering
*Fingerprint card ($15) and Background check fee ($39.50) – due two weeks after your first day volunteering *Two references
*Court ordered community service volunteers are not utilized at Urban Peak *Commit to at least six months or one semester (if an Intern)
*Drivers – age 25 or older, valid DL, recent MVR, insurance coverage of 100/300/100 *Interview and training by Volunteer Services Manager – completed BEFORE volunteering
Process for Becoming an Urban Peak Volunteer
1. Fill out the online application online:Online Application
2. TB Skin Tests are required for all volunteers who work in the shelter. Go to either your doctor’s office or the Immunization Clinic located at 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Rd. You will need to return to the Health Department to have the results read within 48-72 hrs.
3. Return finger print card and TB test results to Eileen O’Reilly c/o Urban Peak.
4. Complete the volunteer interview and training program with appropriate program supervisor.
Fingerprints:
*Stetson Hills Police Station – 4110 Tutt Blvd. 80922 - Wednesdays 9am-5pm OR
* Police Operation Center – 705 S. Nevada, 80903 - Monday through Friday 7am-5pm, Saturday 8am-4pm
Urban Peak Colorado Springs 423 East Cucharras Street Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903 719-630-3223, ext. 2827 Eileen.O’[email protected] http://www.urbanpeak.org/up_cos.html
Urban Peak needs Volunteers!
Life Skills Mentor:We have an awesome apartment program which houses eight youth who moved on from THE Place. You need mentors to teach basic cooking, food safety, cleaning practices and other life skills. Is this for you? Our Apartment Program Coordinator would work with the volunteer and the youth to design an individual life skills hands-on course to fit the needs of each youth.
Education and Employment:
So you enjoy tutoring high school students? Or maybe doing mock job interviews? Many job applications are now online – how about helping a youth create a resume and then fill out an application?
Food, food, and more food:
Do you enjoy the culinary arts; have a favorite recipe or two? We have the job for you. We serve 20 youth three meals per day, 365 days per year. If you have two spare hours per month and like to eat consider preparing a meal for our youth.
Vrooommm:
Own a car? Field trips are a valuable way to get to know our youth in a fun-filled activity. Volunteer drivers enjoy the activity and have their meal and entry fee provided when transporting our youth to an event. Must be at least 25 years old and meet other criteria.
Graphic Designer:
Urban Peak needs creative people to assist with designing flyers, brochures, newsletters, etc. Are you creative? Have some free time? Access to graphic design software? Then this is for you.
Classes:
Like to teach? Share a skill? Create art? During the cold winter months our shelter is open during the day and youth would love to be taught creative writing, paint, create crafts, the arts provide an endless means to have youth connect to their creative side.
Bike Program:
Not much beats riding a bike in Southern Colorado. Our youth ‘buy’ their bicycles through working in our bike program. They also learn how to repair and maintain their bike which they retain once they leave Urban Peak. Come alongside a youth to work and have fun!
Grants:
Writing and Money! Who doesn’t like money? A willing heart but not much grant writing experience? We can put you to work in our Development Department working alongside an experienced grant writer.
Reference Form
Volunteer Applicant: _____________________________________ Date: ___________________ The above mentioned person has applied to serve as a volunteer with Urban Peak, a center for homeless and runaway youth. Volunteers are trained to work directly with the youth in a variety of capacities. As a protection to the youth, character references are required for all volunteers. This information will be kept
confidential. Please complete this form as thoroughly as you can and mail or fax it to the Manager of Volunteer
Services at the address below. If you have any questions call Eileen O’Reilly, 719-630-3223 Extension 2827.
Your Name:________________________________________Phone#___________________________ 1. How long have you known the applicant?
2. What is your relationship to the applicant? 3. Does the applicant follow through on projects?
4. How does the individual interact with others, especially youth?
5. Would you recommend the applicant for a position that includes working closely with youth? 6. What are the applicant’s strengths?
7. What are the applicant’s weaknesses?
8. Is the applicant able to keep information confidential?
9. Do you know of any reason this person should not be allowed to work with young people?
10. Please state anything you know about the applicant that would particularly qualify or disqualify him/her for the position. Please use the back of this sheet.
Please Fax to 719-630-3250 or return to:
Eileen O’Reilly c/o Urban Peak Colorado Springs 423 E. Cucharras Street Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Reference Form
Volunteer Applicant: _____________________________________ Date: ___________________ The above mentioned person has applied to serve as a volunteer with Urban Peak, a center for homeless and runaway youth. Volunteers are trained to work directly with the youth in a variety of capacities. As a protection to the youth, character references are required for all volunteers. This information will be kept
confidential. Please complete this form as thoroughly as you can and mail or fax it to the Manager of Volunteer
Services at the address below. If you have any questions call Eileen O’Reilly, 719-630-3223 Extension 2827.
Your Name:________________________________________Phone#___________________________ 1. How long have you known the applicant?
2. What is your relationship to the applicant? 3. Does the applicant follow through on projects?
4. How does the individual interact with others, especially youth?
5. Would you recommend the applicant for a position that includes working closely with youth? 6. What are the applicant’s strengths?
7. What are the applicant’s weaknesses?
8. Is the applicant able to keep information confidential?
9. Do you know of any reason this person should not be allowed to work with young people?
10.
Please state anything you know about the applicant that would particularly qualify or disqualify him/her for the position. Please use the back of this sheet.Please Fax to 719-630-3250 or return to:
Eileen O’Reilly c/o Urban Peak Colorado Springs 423 E. Cucharras Street Colorado Springs, CO 80903
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK
Urban Peak is a licensed homeless youth shelter. As such, we are required to conduct background checks on employees and some volunteers (depending upon assignments) including fingerprints. Conviction of a crime does not necessarily mean that you are not eligible for employment or volunteering. The nature of the crime is the critical information.
If you falsify the information you give here or in any other part of your application, Urban Peak may terminate you for cause. Further, ANY applicant who knowingly or willfully makes a false statement of any material
fact or thing in the application is guilty of perjury in the second degree as defined in Section 18-8-503, C.R.S., and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished accordingly.
Please answer all questions completely.
1. Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor? ____Yes ____No If yes, please give the dates, reason, and sentence.
__________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________
2. Have you ever been convicted of a felony? ____Yes ____No If yes, please give the dates, reason and sentence.
__________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________
3. Have you ever been listed on the Child Abuse Register? ____Yes ____No If yes, please give dates and reason.
__________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________
_____________________________ _______________
Print Name Date
______________________________ Signature
Urban Peak Colorado Springs 423 E. Cucharras Street Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Urban Peak
Acknowledgment of Risk / Waiver of Liability / Volunteers
I, (your full name)_____________________________________________, the undersigned,understand that participation as a volunteer in the Urban Peak Volunteer Program may carry risks, including personal injury, from natural or man-made hazards, environmental conditions, diseases and other conditions that have the potential to cause injury. As a condition of my participation in any volunteer duties, program, activity, class, recreation or fitness activity, you agree as a
participant or parent/guardian of a participant in the program, to assume all risks and hazards of engaging in or observing at any Urban Peak activity or facility, including assuming all risks for personal injury, death and property damage.
You further agree to hold harmless Urban Peak, its staff, instructors, volunteers, officials, sponsors, partners or representatives (the Releasees) from liability for any losses, damages or injuries that may occur in any way as a result of these activities or facility uses – regardless of cause. You further certify that you are properly prepared to engage in any activities you have selected and that you have recently consulted a physician to establish that it is safe and
appropriate for you to engage in these activities. Anyone recovering from an injury or illness must first discuss their return to physical activity with their physician and their Urban Peak supervisor prior to enrolling/participating.
Therefore, having read and understood this waiver and in consideration of your accepting my entry into the Urban Peak Volunteer program, I, for myself and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, waive and release Urban Peak, all staff, volunteers, sponsors, and representatives from all claims or liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation in (or as a spectator of) any program or use of any facility.
NOTE: If a facility user or program volunteer is under 18 years of age, you as a parent or legal guardian, agrees to the same terms, conditions and waiver of liability set forth in this agreement. I HEREBY RELEASE, DISCHARGE, AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Urban Peak, their respective
administrators, directors, agents, officers, members, volunteers, and employees, other
participants, any sponsors, advertisers, and, if applicable, owner and lessors of premises on which the Activity takes place, FROM ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, LOSSES, OR DAMAGES ON MY ACCOUNT CAUSED OR ALLEGED TO BE CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE "RELEASEES" OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING NEGLIGENT RESCUE OPERATIONS AND I FURTHER AGREE that if, despite this RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT I, or anyone on my behalf, makes a claim against any of the Releasees, I WILL INDEMNIFY, SAVE, AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH OF THE RELEASEES from any litigation expenses, attorney fees, loss, liability, damage, or cost which may incur as the result of such claim. I HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP
SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT AND HAVE SIGNED IT FREELY AND WITHOUT INDUCEMENT OR ASSURANCE OF ANY NATURE AND INTEND IT TO BE A COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY TO THE GREATEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW AND AGREE THAT IF ANY PORTION OF THIS AGREEMENT IS HELD TO BE INVALID THE BALANCE, NOTWITHSTANDING, SHALL CONTINUE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.
Printed Name of Volunteer: __________________________________________________________ Signature of Volunteer:______________________________________________________________ Today’s Date: _____ / _____ / ______
