Austin Children’s Shelter
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Austin Children’s Shelter Mission:
The Austin Children’s Shelter provides a variety of ways to get involved in meaningful ways and help make a difference in the lives of abused and neglected children. It is the mission of the Austin Children’s Shelter to provide emergency shelter, high quality care and hope for the future to the abandoned, neglected, and abused children of our community.
Who We Are:
When children are removed from their homes due to life-threatening abuse or neglect, a temporary home must be found for them until more permanent plans are made. The Austin Children’s Shelter was created to be a safe haven for children in crisis. Established in 1984, the Austin Children’s Shelter cares for more than 300 children each year from birth to 17 years of age.
Austin Children’s Shelter Mission Goals Include:
Every child who comes to the Austin Children’s Shelter is in trauma and has special needs. Our goal is to reduce the emotional trauma suffered by child victims of abuse, violence and neglect and lay a foundation of hope. We provide the children’s basic needs such as meals and clothes but also critical services such as medical care, therapy and, most importantly, a nurturing and safe environment.
Volunteers:
Volunteers are a crucial part of the Shelter’s ability to provide quality care for the children and to run the organization efficiently. There are a variety of volunteer jobs both at the Shelter, working directly with staff and children, and through the ACS Guild.
ACS Guild:
The ACS Guild is a membership-based volunteer organization of the Austin Children’s Shelter, providing support through fund-raising, public awareness, and other volunteer activities. Through the Guild, volunteers can find numerous opportunities to use their talents and skills. This growing organization needs dedicated people who want to make an impact with their time.
Leadership: volunteers have an opportunity to utilize their leadership skills in a meaningful and fulfilling way, helping to ensure that the Guild continues to be a vital part of the Shelter.
Marketing/PR: skills in marketing, public relations, writing and graphic design are critical needs in the Guild.
Speakers Bureau: volunteers are trained to speak on behalf of the Shelter to groups throughout Austin.
Fund Raising: multiple opportunities are available throughout the year to help with fundraisers such as the poinsettia and holiday card sales, cooking classes and events.
If you are interested in the ACS Guild:
E-mail: guildmembership@austinchildrenshelter.org
Call: (512) 499-0090
Website: www.ACSGuild.org
Direct Service Volunteer
Becoming a volunteer at the Shelter gives you the opportunity to have a direct impact on the children in our care and involves making a conscious commitment to bettering the lives of abused and neglected children in our community. Volunteers are required to complete the orientation and training session and give at least eight hours per month. State regulations require a tuberculosis test and all volunteers must undergo a criminal background check done prior to their start date.
Volunteer Needs:
Tutors: education professionals who have the skills to help school aged kids with homework can make a major difference in a child’s ability to succeed in school.
Bi-lingual volunteers: more than a third of the children who come to the Shelter are Hispanic and many, especially young children, only speak Spanish. Bi-lingual volunteers can help bridge the gap in communication which can make all the difference to a young child.
Male Direct Service Volunteers: Men play an important role in working with the children because many of them have not had positive male role models to emulate.
Direct Service Volunteers for Teens: assist staff with adolescents and teens helping with meals, activities and homework.
For more information: Visit www.austinchildrenshelter.org.
Please direct inquiries to:
Christina Cooper
Director of Volunteer Services
E-mail: christina@austinchildrenshelter.org
Phone: (512) 258-4579 ext. 115
