Volunteers provide priceless amounts of support in our palliative care community. In a recent CHPCA webinar about Nav-CARE (Navigation – Connecting, Advocating, Accessing, Resourcing), a volunteer program providing early assistance to persons living with declining health, a panel of Volunteer Coordinators shared their thoughts as they explored some considerations that should be addressed when thinking about program implementation. While the session focused on Nav-CARE, the discussion points can be extended to the implementation of any new volunteer program.
Is the program aligned with the vision of your organization?
There are many benefits of implementing new volunteer programming, but before jumping in and investing your precious time and energy, “you do really have to make sure that it aligns with the strategic vision of your organization” reflects Cynthia LaPointe from Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence. In addition, Katrielle Ethier from CHPCA warned about falling in to the “Mission Creep”; as dynamic and enthusiast individuals who serve their community with passion, we can sometimes fall fowl of trying to address multiple agendas simultaneous resulting in initiatives becoming a diluted version of their full potential. So even though a program may seem like a wonderful addition, holding back and asking questions like, ‘Is this a good fit for us now?’, ‘Does it fulfil a community need?, ‘Do we have capacity? and considering, as Sandy Pringle from Terrace Hospice suggests, whether the ‘programming dovetails with the infrastructure that already exists’ are important first steps.
Do you have the capacity to start and sustain the program both in the short and long term?
Project Manager for Nav-CARE, Gloria Puurveen, discussed the importance of having a sufficient number of volunteers to support programming without depleting your current pool, she noted that “volunteers are so generous but you don’t want to burn them out”. She also explained that “stable leadership” and “ensuring your organization has capacity” are important considerations. The panel also discussed the importance of developing strategic partnerships with stakeholders who will support your ability to make connections with potential clients and promote the program. Emily Ballinger from Home Hospice North Lanark described how implementing Nav-CARE not only enabled her to develop new partnerships but fostered an opportunity to ‘reestablish and strengthen previous partnerships’ in her community.
Echoing Sandy’s earlier comment, Carolyn Parkes from Hospice Peterborough advocated for aligning processes with those already in the organization in order to streamline work and maximize efficiency. She also reiterated the importance of a strong alignment with the strategic plan so that the organization sees value in maintaining the program and described how the collection of evaluative data provides a strong evidence base for both the organization and potential funders. Linda Merlo from Greater Trail Hospice Society supported this saying that the evidence base, coupled with strong partnerships provides a ‘great foundation for grant applications’ to sustain programming.
Are there persons in your community who would benefit from the program?
Thinking about this question, the panel described the importance of investigating the needs present in your own community, identifying the group of persons you seek to serve, and scanning your community to see what other services exist. Ensuring that your service is complementary rather than competitive is essential for success. It may be the case that you do not need to identify a different population to the one that you already serve, they may just have a need that is not being met, and you may be able to address that need by providing your volunteers with additional skills under current programming so that they may provide additional services to the clients you already have.
The challenges of actually reaching potential clients and client engagement in rural, underserved areas were raised by Jan Watson from Home Hospice North Lanark. In order to connect with, and serve these persons, Jan stressed the importance of the relationship between volunteers, community partners, and the organization. Panelists also referred to other potential barriers including how the service will be perceived e.g., that palliative care as a service, is only for those who are dying.
Can you find a champion for the program?
Panelists discussed how a strong volunteer coordinator, who is well supported, is essential for success. They are a conduit, ensuring, as Bisi Akintola from Hospice Halifax noted, the program remains aligned with the organizational strategic plan, community bridges are built and maintained, and volunteers are supported. The capacity to fulfill this latter role is imperative, as Cynthia LaPointe puts it, volunteer support ‘goes on and on and is constant. The volunteers are everything and always need support’.
Implementing new volunteer programming can be challenging and stressful, but, as the panel would affirm, with the right preparation, planning, and approach, it can be extremely fruitful and rewarding for the whole community.
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