Volunteer Community Connector Application 5.7.2026

About Us
Contact Community Services is a Syracuse-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health of individuals across the lifespan. We respond to the evolving needs of our community with compassion, professionalism, and care.

Volunteer Overview
Contact Community Services offers a range of community-based support programs, including TeleCare (telephone reassurance), the Contact Warmline (supportive listening), and community outreach and training initiatives.

Volunteers in this role gain hands-on experience providing compassionate, phone-based support while also learning how community-based mental health services operate. Primary responsibilities include making outbound TeleCare calls and, as appropriate, supporting Warmline services and outreach efforts.

TeleCare is a free telephone reassurance program that provides consistent connection to individuals experiencing isolation, loneliness, or other life challenges.
Contact Warmline offers supportive listening and connection for individuals seeking non-crisis emotional support.

This role focuses on connection and prevention, recognizing that:

Not every difficult moment is a crisis—but every moment deserves care.

Why Volunteer at Contact?
- Make a meaningful difference in people’s lives
- Provide connection to individuals experiencing loneliness or stress
- Develop strong communication and active listening skills
- Receive training, support, and ongoing supervision
- Be part of a compassionate, community-focused team

Schedule & Commitment
Volunteer shifts take place in-office at our East Syracuse location and are typically 4 hours in length and available Mon-Thur 7a-10p, Fri 7a-3p.

Volunteers are generally asked to:
- Commit to at least 3 shifts per month
- Commit to a minimum of 6 months of service

Training & Expectations
All volunteers receive structured onboarding and 12 hours of training prior to beginning shifts. Training includes:

- Active listening and communication skills
- Warmline and TeleCare call handling
- Escalation and safety protocols
- Documentation systems
- Shadowing and guided practice

Volunteers are expected to:
- Maintain confidentiality at all times
- Demonstrate professionalism and reliability
- Follow established policies and procedures
- Participate in supervision and ongoing support

Initial orientation, onboarding, training, and volunteer shifts are conducted in-office at our East Syracuse location. Do you live in the greater Syracuse area and have reliable transportation?

Name

First NameLast Name

Email

example@example.com

Phone Number

Format: (000) 000-0000.

Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState

Zip Code

Emergency Contact

Background Check Authorization

In alignment with our safety and confidentiality policies, Contact Community Services requires all volunteers to successfully complete a background check before beginning service. This check is used solely to assess suitability for roles that involve contact with vulnerable individuals.

Do you consent to a background check as part of the volunteer onboarding process?

How did you hear about volunteering with Contact?

What drew you this opportunity?

What do you hope to gain as a volunteer?

What do you feel you would bring to this role?

Do you have any previous active listening or mental health training? If yes, please elaborate.

What strategies do you use for self-care and managing stress?

What else would you like us to know about you?