Here is a partial list of volunteer opportunities in the community:
The Sixth Division of Circuit Court (Juvenile Division) is now recruiting volunteers to be trained as auxiliary probation officers. They will work with offenders to provide one-on-one supervision in an effort to redirect youth at risk. Any person who has no involvement in the Juvenile Court System may volunteer as little as one hour a week. The qualifications for an auxiliary probation officer are as follow:
• Must be committed
• Must be 20 years of age, except college students must be 19 years old and a sophomore
• Must pass a drug screen
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
• Must pass a Central Registry Check for Child Abuse and Neglect
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work confidentially
• Ability to work with a diverse population
• Must have dependable transportation
• Volunteer’s own child cannot be involved in Juvenile Justice System
For additional information, please contact Roderick O. Shelby Sr., chief of staff; Juawana Jackson, deputy chief of staff; or Eric Walden, APO coordinator at 870-541-5455. Applications are also available on the Jefferson County Sixth Division of Circuit Court’s website www.jeffersoncircuitcourt6.org.
The CASA (Committee Against Spouse Abuse) Women’s Shelter is in need of a variety of volunteer help. There is a need for a person to sit with children from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays while their parents are in a group counseling session. For more information, call Karen Palmer at 870-535-2955 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Kids First, an affiliate of the University Of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Little Rock, is looking for volunteers at its pediatric health facility in Pine Bluff for medically at-risk children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. The volunteers would assist the early childhood specialists and have fun with the children while the “Partners for Learning” curriculum is implemented. For more information, call Felecia Miller at 870-534-7392 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Clean and Beautiful Commission would like volunteers, individuals or groups for its Adopt-A-Spot Program. They would also like to have elementary teachers participate in the Waste in Place teacher workshop, which is funded by Clean and Beautiful. Other programs and projects include Pick Up Arkansas Campaign during the month of April and The Great Arkansas Cleanup in September. Call Gloria J. Sumner at 870-543-4901 for more information.
The Literacy Council of Jefferson County is in need of volunteer tutors to teach reading, writing and life skills. Anyone interested in making this type of investment in someone’s life may call Nell Jones at 536-7323 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Anyone wishing to list volunteer opportunities in this column may call Patricia Johnson at 870-543-4227 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.