How you can become a part of building a community of hope for these young people

Contributions

Contributions support ongoing treatment services for our residents.  Designated contributions can be accepted for:

- The YGA Endowment Fund
- The YGA Scholarship Fund
- Summer Camp Scholarships
- Light Up A Life Christmas project
- Other specific projects that fit within the mission and scope of the agency.
- We also accept donations of vehicles. 

YGA is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization.  All contributions to YGA are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. 

Copies of past IRS Form 990s can be viewed at Guidestar.com .

Volunteering

Use your talents and skills to help a young person

Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back to your community; and our experience has been that the volunteers always feel that they were blessed in return. It is rewarding to know that you have had an impact on a young person's life, that you have contributed in some way to helping them make the positive changes that may well impact the future direction of his/her life.

A variety of ways to volunteer your time and energy are available at Youth Guidance. Your specific abilities and interests are very important and will be taken into consideration in determining how best to use your volunteer efforts. We are also very aware that people have busy lives, and no specific time commitment is required. We can match a volunteer position with whatever time you have to give.

Some volunteers are interested in working directly with the young people who reside in our facilities. Volunteer positions of this kind would include mentoring, tutoring or acting as a big brother or big sister for one of the residents. There are also people who, after developing a relationship with the young person, develop an interest in becoming a visiting resource and opening their home for either day or overnight visits. 

Other volunteers are interested in more project-focused activities, which might include facility enhancement (i.e. painting, landscaping, decorating, maintenance or repairs), help with mailings, or other projects. 

Still others offer their skills and abilities to teach. Through volunteers, we have been able to offer classes to our young people on a variety of subjects, i.e. woodworking, personal health and hygiene, cooking, crafts, relationship building, art, self-defense, just to name a few. Such classes may be offered on a one-time basis or may continue over a series of weeks, depending on the desires and time constraints of the volunteer. 

Whatever your interest, YGA has a place for you. Why not call today to see how you can become involved in creating a "community of hope" for these young people. 

How to become a volunteer

As a prospective volunteer, you will first talk with the Volunteer Coordinator, complete an application form and then schedule an in-person interview. In addition, all applicants must agree to a criminal history check and telephone reference checks. It is important that volunteers agree with the philosophy, mission and policies of Youth Guidance. Volunteers will be supervised by the Program Director (or designee) of the facility at which they are working. They will not have responsibility for any decisions regarding service planning and will not be left alone to supervise the youth. Training for volunteers begins with an orientation process that includes outlining their responsibilities, emergency procedures and the need for confidentiality and protection of the rights of the youth and their families. After the first month, the supervising Program Director or designee will set up a time with the volunteer/intern for the purpose of debriefing their experience.

If you are interested in more information about how you can get involved, please contact the YGA office (503) 234-0085.

Employment

Looking for a way to make a difference?

YGA is always looking for qualified individuals who have a desire to work with troubled adolescents. This is very challenging work, but also very rewarding when you see young lives turned around. It is exciting to see young people who were angry, disillusioned and in despair come to a place where they have hope for the future, confidence in themselves, and an ability for make positive choices for their lives.

Qualifications

YGA is an equal-opportunity employer. Preference is given to those who have a college degree in a related field, such as: human services, juvenile justice, sociology, psychology, and human development. This includes persons with Associates degrees who also have had experience with an adolescent population. All employees must have a valid Oregon drivers' license, unless there is reason for exception. 

Beyond the educational requirement, Youth Guidance is looking for people of integrity-people who will be good role models for the young people with whom they work. The young people in our programs have been hurt and disappointed by the adults in their lives, and they need to see something different. They need people in their lives who will really care about them. At times this means caring enough to tell them the truth or to give them consequences for their misbehavior. Or it may mean taking the extra time to really listen, to be willing to forgive when they lash out in anger or to demonstrate patience when they're frustrated with their homework and want to give up.

Character is just as important as education in our business; and we want people of character who will be the trustworthy adults that these kids so desperately need in their lives.

How to Apply

Those interested in finding out more about employment opportunities with YGA should call the Program Administrator at the main office (503) 234-0085. You may also access an application form via this link: YGA Application. All prospective employees will fill out an application form, including references, which is then reviewed by the HR person. If the applicant appears to be qualified, an interview is then set up and telephone reference checks are completed. A criminal history check is done on all new employees, and continued employment is subject to YGA receiving an acceptable report from the agency conducting the check. Likewise, the new employee's driving record is reviewed by YGA's insurance company, and anyone not approved may become ineligible for employment.