Position Title:  VOLUNTEER ADVOCATE

 

Responsibilities and Duties:  Assure that the rights of the person are

protected.  Encourage the person to participate to the maximum

extent of their abilities in the decisions that affect the person’s life.

Required to attend all Interdisciplinary Team meetings.

 

Accountable to:   ARCCorps Program

 

Purpose of the Position:   To provide advocacy for persons with

developmental disabilities who have the capacity to make their own

decisions but require support in speaking for themselves.

 

Qualifications/Requirements:  Must be a caring, devoted individual

who is willing to make a long-term commitment to a person with

developmental disabilities. Must be available to attend IHP, IEP, and

other Team meetings. Must be available and accessible to the

person they serve on a reasonable basis. See “Qualifications of

Volunteer Advocates and Guardians” for other requirements.

 

Training Required and/or Provided by the Agency:  The TARC

ARCCorps Program will provide a training module that will cover

the basics of advocacy. In addition to the initial training, the

Volunteer Recruiter will provide ongoing technical support to a

volunteer as needed.

 

Time Commitment:  The amount of time required to serve as an

effective Volunteer Advocate will vary with the needs of the

individual. However, ARCCorps recommends that Volunteer

Advocates visit the person they serve at least once per month

and call on the telephone at least once per week. Advocates are

encouraged to call and visit as often as possible.

 

Benefits:  Advocacy training, access to TARC’s resource

library, ongoing technical assistance from ARCCorps staff, and the

personal satisfaction of watching someone learn and grow as a person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O.S. Title 30 Section 4-104, 4-105 sets forth the requirements for guardians, which DDSD is using as criteria for volunteer advocates and guardians, along with additional stipulations:

 

A.      volunteer is not a minor;

B.      volunteer is not incapacitated or partially incapacitated;

C.      volunteer is not a convicted felon (except upon further review by the court into the nature of the felony and only with court approval);

D.      volunteer is not under any financial obligation to the proposed ward/consumer;

E.      there is no conflict of interest which would preclude or be substantially detrimental to the ability of the person to act in the best interest of the proposed individual;

F.               volunteer must be a resident of the state of Oklahoma for at least one year; and

G.     volunteer supports the philosophy and values consistent with the DDSD mission statement.

H.      no person may act as a volunteer advocate or guardian for more than two individuals.  The role requirements are such that quality representation may be jeopardized if more than two individuals are served, except in very unusual cases, and only upon an approved exception per OAC 340:100-3-5.1.

 

DDSD supports the recruitment of volunteer advocates and guardians from outside the service delivery system.  The intent is to avoid potential conflicts of interest.  However, current and former non-DDSD OKDHS employees, contract providers and employees of contract providers may serve as Volunteer Advocates and Temporary Volunteer Advocates if:

 

A.      an on-going relationship exists with the individual,

B.      they are not providing direct services to the individual and are not employed by a        provider agency that provides services to the individual.

The following individuals are ineligible to serve as Volunteer Guardians except as approved by the DDSD director or designee per OAC 340:100-3-5.1:

 

A.      DDSD employees,

B.      Immediate family members of DDSD employees who are members of the individual's Personal Support Team,

C.      Extended family members of DDSD employees who are members of the individual's Personal Support Team and there is evidence that financial interdependence exists,

D.      OKDHS employees cannot serve as Volunteer Guardians for residents of NORCE, SORC, or Greer, per 10 O.S. § 1415,

E.      DDSD contract providers who serve the individual, e.g., residential, vocational, psychology, speech therapy, occupational therapy, foster parents, etc.,

F.      Employees of contract providers who serve the individual,

G.     Immediate family members of contract providers who serve the individual; and

H.      Extended family members of contract providers who serve the individual, and there is evidence that financial interdependence exists.