Voluntary Support Research Articles

The psychological burden of volunteers in psychosocial emergency care – a qualitative interview study

Psychosocial emergency care personnel provide voluntary psychological support directly after potentially traumatic events. During emergency responses, they experience challenging situations. However, previous quantitative studies suggest that the psychological burden of psychosocial emergency care personnel does not exceed that of the general population. This study aimed to obtain an in-depth analysis of the volunteers’ psychological reactions and resources regarding emergency responses. 36 psychosocial emergency care volunteers (12 pre-training, 12 post-training, 12 experienced) were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. The volunteers were selected from previous cross-sectional and longitudinal studies on secondary traumatization in psychosocial emergency care volunteers. A qualitative content analysis of the transcribed interviews was performed following the principles of summary and inductive category development. We identified 845 codes which we summarized in three overarching categories: (I) reactions to emergency responses, (II) psychosocial emergency care work related resources and (III) experiences and changes in life perspective related to working in psychosocial emergency care. The volunteers described both emotional and physical reactions to emergency responses. While they perceived social support as a key coping resource and reported a greater appreciation of their own lives and their families due to their work, many volunteers also felt increased concern that something could happen to them. The volunteers’ reactions and symptoms are reasonable responses to stress and not indicative of serious impairment. Nevertheless, emergency responses are both emotionally and physically challenging. Volunteers should be carefully selected, receive regular supervision and determine the frequency of emergency responses.

American Mineralogist thanks the 2020 reviewers

Abstract American Mineralogist greatly values the time and effort of the 2020 reviewers, especially in such an unprecedented year. The Journal thrives due to the commitment of many people. It could not do so without the support of these crucial volunteers.

Crowdsourced Water Level Monitoring in Kenya’s Sondu-Miriu Basin—Who Is “The Crowd”?

Citizen science is gaining popularity as a way to engage people to participate in environmental projects. In addition to potential challenges regarding data quality and the choice of variables, a key factor in the success of participatory monitoring projects is the active participation of volunteers, the “citizen scientists.” To learn more about the motivation of citizen scientists to participate and their socio-economic background, a telephone survey was implemented with participants of a citizen science water level monitoring program in the Sondu-Miriu basin, western Kenya. We analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and random forest models to elucidate the characteristics of the participant population, underlying motivations, and the challenges and opportunities to develop recommendations for sustainable community-based water monitoring programs. As citizen scientists who engaged long-term were 30–49 years old, had primary or secondary school education and passed by the monitoring station frequently, targeting sensitization activities at people with such background could increase participation in community-based water monitoring. Sensitization meetings were key in engaging long-term volunteers, but participants indicated that continued feedback through education and communication of the project findings is required to keep volunteers motivated. The use of cellphone credit to submit data was identified as challenge for participation, highlighting the need for data submission methods that do not incur costs for the participants. Greater volunteer support could also be achieved by active involvement of the members of Water Resource Users Associations, since membership increased the likelihood of continuous engagement in water monitoring under the participants. Furthermore, many participants indicated that their motivation was to help water management and conservation, as most people rely directly on rivers for their water supply. Providing a platform to contribute to better water resources management could therefore result in direct benefits (e.g., improved water supply) for the participants, and thus an incentive to participate actively.

The Mediating Effect of Social Capital on the Relationships between Community Attachment, Community Support, and Civic Engagement of Volunteers in Thailand

The Mediating Effect of Social Capital on the Relationships between Community Attachment, Community Support, and Civic Engagement of Volunteers in Thailand

Health system preparedness & community participation in Japanese encephalitis/acute encephalitis syndrome (JE/AES) prevention in a tribal district of Odisha, India.

Background & Objectives:Japanese encephalitis/acute encephalitis syndrome (JE/AES) is one of the major zoonotic arbodiseases that has a significant effect on human and animal health. Though many studies have been published on the epidemiology and transmission mechanisms of JE/AES, but there is little evidence on health system preparedness, including community-based engagement. This study was undertaken to explore a multi-stakeholder perspective on health system preparedness for the prevention of JE/AES in a tribal district of Odisha, India.Methods:This study was conducted at Malkangiri district of Odisha. A total of nine focus group discussions (FGDs) among women having under-five children, community volunteers, and community health workers (CHWs), and 20 in-depth-interviews (IDIs) among community leaders, healthcare providers, and programme managers were conducted. The FGDs and IDIs were digitally recorded, transcribed, translated and analysed using content analysis approach.Results:Health system preparedness for the prevention of JE/AES was improved, including effective vector management, implementation of the surveillance system, and vaccination programme. The JE vaccine was introduced under Universal Immunization Programme in Odisha in 2016. Behavioural Change Communication activities were provided with the support of community volunteers on Village Health Nutrition and Sanitation Day (VHNSD) under Gaon Kalyan Samiti (GKS) platforms. The CHWs were actively involved in vector management and raising sanitation and hygiene awareness.Interpretation & conclusions:Community participation and coordination between different stakeholders have a significant impact on the successful implementation of the programme. It was suggested that there was a need for a sustainability approach to active participation, orientation and capacity building training among CHWs and community volunteers to successfully implement the programme.

Regional differentiation of direct support for farmers in Poland as exemplified by selected regions

The objective of this study was to measure the dispersion of the unit level of support, paid under the direct payment scheme, among voivodeships with a similar average agricultural holding size, and to identify the reasons for this dispersion. It begins with a description of the shape of the direct payments scheme in Poland. The paper further presents and analyses the results of the measurement of dispersion of support as part of the direct payment scheme between voivodeships with no significant differences in the sizes of agricultural holdings. It has been shown that this dispersion is a result of the differences in the structure of support absorbed by farmers in individual regions. The measurement of the support level is the average aid amount per unit of agricultural area and the average aid amount per one beneficiary. The source material used in this paper was the data from the Polish paying agency responsible for direct payments made to farmers, i.e. the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture. The reference period of the study is 2018. As three voivodeships with the most similar average farm size were selected, the study covered Łódzkie, Śląskie and Lubelskie Voivodeships. The analysis was performed with the use of descriptive statistics methods. The data was visualised with the use of pie and bar charts, and a choropleth map. It was found that the instrument with a particularly strong potential for the impact on support level in absolute terms (per one holding) and relative terms (per 1 hectare of agricultural land in a holding) is the so called voluntary coupled support. With this instrument, European Union Member States can adjust the distribution of funds between individual regions, reducing the strength of a relationship between the volume of support absorbed by individual regions and their abundance in agricultural land. The intention of such actions may be to compensate for social inequalities or to stimulate growth in peripheral areas.

Reaffirming trust in social enterprise in the COVID-19 era: Ways forward

COVID-19 has overwhelmed and stretched existing healthcare infrastructure in both developed and developing economies and pushed governmental response mechanisms to the brink. Globally, governments elicited the call for corporate support, asking social entrepreneurs and social business ventures to organise efforts to build voluntary support for the large-scale response needed during the sudden lockdown disruptions. By April 2020, 26.5 million jobs were lost in the US alone (Lambert, 2020), global stocks plummeted at least 25% and gross domestic product (GDP) contracted significantly for all countries. With reduced domestic demand for non-food goods, reduced foreign demand for US goods exports, supply-chain disruptions, and plant closures, the manufacturing sector saw a huge decline (Reinicke, 2020). Governments all over the world announced massive stimulus packages. The US has approved $2 trillion financial support to combat the economic downturn so far (Emma & Scholtes, 2020) and EU finance ministers have recently approved €500 billion in stimulus measures (Riley, 2020). It is estimated that the global economy will grow at -3 percent in 2020. This article sheds light on the role of social enterprises in addressing the societal problems caused by COVID-19. The authors highlight the efforts of virtual and collaborative associations who seek to swiftly recognise issues and develop solutions, which create social value and alleviate the plights of suffering communities. This article sheds light on the role of social enterprises in addressing the societal problems caused by COVID-19. The authors highlight the efforts of virtual and collaborative associations who seek to swiftly recognise issues and develop solutions, which create social value and alleviate the plights of suffering communities. The authors place emphasis upon the role of the social entrepreneur in developing a way forward in these challenging times and present a contemporary conceptualisation of the social entrepreneur in the form of an “avatar” and the impact that this may have on social enterprise.

Community-based child-rearing volunteer support in UK -A report of visiting to the Home- Start UK

Community-based child-rearing volunteer support in UK -A report of visiting to the Home- Start UK

Factors Related to Continuation of Child-rearing Support Volunteer Activities in Local Community

Factors Related to Continuation of Child-rearing Support Volunteer Activities in Local Community

THE INFLUENCE OF VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES ON THE SOCIALIZATION OF CHILDREN FROM ORPHANAGES BY MEANS OF ART

Purpose of Study: The study is aimed at substantiating theoretically and methodologically the influence of volunteer activities on the socialization of children from orphanages using art and socio-cultural rehabilitation.
 Methodology:The study is divided into three stages, during which different methods of analysis and information collection are used. At the first stage, a preliminary analysis of secondary data from open sources is carried out. At the second stage, an analysis of the primary information received from the orphanage staff from semi-structured interviews and questionnaires developed by the authors of the study is carried out. At the third stage, conversations with children, as well as the observation during their activities and questionnaires for both the children and the volunteers, are carried out and projective methods are used.
 Main Findings: The study has revealed a significant role and influence that volunteers and their artistic and creative activities with children have on the process of socialization of children through art. Several practical recommendations have also been developed for organizing the selection of volunteers to work in orphanages and to organize, accompany and support volunteer activities there.
 Applications of this study: The results of the study can be used in pedagogical activities in the process of organization of leisure and extracurricular activities as additional education, both in orphanages for children with special needs and in educational institutions during the implementation of inclusive education. Besides, the results of the study can be used in the process of organization of psychological assistance and/or corrective work with children with special needs to help them socialize successfully through art.
 The novelty of the study: The theoretical and methodological substantiation of the positive influence of volunteer activities on the socialization of children from orphanages by means of art and socio-cultural rehabilitation. It was carried out with the help of questionnaires and surveys developed by the authors of the study, analysis and assessment of the degree of volunteers’ influence on the process of socialization of children with special needs, with identifying the main requirements for volunteers, practical recommendations for psychological support and support of volunteers and their work with children with special needs in orphanages.

Castello dei Tre Cantoni in Scicli in the light of new excavations. First observations

In connection with a research programme concerning the role of the Normans in the formation of the cultural face of medieval Europe, the Research Centre for Late Antique and Early Medieval Studies of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology Polish Academy of Sciences in Wrocław began excavations in Scicli based on a scientific cooperation agreement with Soprintendenza per i Beni Culturali ed Ambientali di Ragusa with the support of local volunteers. The project concerned the castle, known as Castello dei Tre Cantoni (also Castelluccio), occupying the top of the hill of S. Matteo above the town of Scicli (Fig. 1). The time of construction of both castles and their functioning period remains a subject of inquiry for archaeologists, historians, and architectural historians. The research carried out in 2018 produced the first information, documented by systematic excavations, on the chronology of the fortification on the hill of San Matteo. Thanks to them, it was possible to discover a building workshop dating from the second half of the 14th to the first half of the 15th century and confirm the castle wall’s construction (reconstruction?) at the same time. Both the stratigraphy and the 14C dates were obtained to confirm the castle’s functioning from the 2nd half of the 14th century.

YOUTH AS A LEADING POWER OF UZBEKISTAN

The article examines the features of effective interaction between government agencies, NGOs, and other civil institutions on youth issues. State youth policy in Uzbekistan considers revealing the potential of young people and promoting their effective socialization. The article shows the importance of modern education and upbringing, social support of young people in Uzbekistan. The political activity of youth is an indicator of the processes taking place in modern society. The article considers youth policy, the UN international legal documents regulating the youth sphere. The urgency of the youth issue is growing in connection with the deepening of globalization. The solutions to the problems and challenges are impossible without the active participation of young people. Therefore, this issue was always one of the priority tasks of the international community and the UN. Since the middle of the 20th century, the youth issue has been the object of the policy of more than 130 countries in the world. The article examines the policy in the youth sphere of foreign countries and Uzbekistan. And the article notes general aspects and features. In the way the state organizes youth policy, two models stand out – the European and Anglo-Saxon. The European model implies the leading role of the state in the feld of youth policy. The Anglo-Saxon model characterizes an approach to exclusive support volunteer activities and youth organizations. But government agencies have not to take systematic participation in the implementation of youth policy. The article comprehensively surveys the new course of Uzbekistan to increase the role of youth in socio-political life. In this regard, it emphasizes comprehensive support of youth initiatives, both from the state and youth organizations. Open dialogue with youth has become a strategic direction at a new stage of development of Uzbekistan. This strategy gives a key place to increasing the public activity of young people. The process of forming a modern, democratic country involved youth.

Enforcement may crowd out voluntary support for COVID-19 policies, especially where trust in government is weak and in a liberal society

Effective states govern by some combination of enforcement and voluntary compliance. To contain the COVID-19 pandemic, a critical decision is the extent to which policy makers rely on voluntary as opposed to enforced compliance, and nations vary along this dimension. While enforcement may secure higher compliance, there is experimental and other evidence that it may also crowd out voluntary motivation. How does enforcement affect citizens' support for anti-COVID-19 policies? A survey conducted with 4,799 respondents toward the end of the first lockdown in Germany suggests that a substantial share of the population will support measures more under voluntary than under enforced implementation. Negative responses to enforcement-termed control aversion-vary across the nature of the policy intervention (e.g., they are rare for masks and frequent for vaccination and a cell-phone tracing app). Control aversion is less common among those with greater trust in the government and the information it provides, and among those who were brought up under the coercive regime of East Germany. Taking account of the likely effectiveness of enforcement and the extent to which near-universal compliance is crucial, the differing degrees of opposition to enforcement across policies suggest that for some anti-COVID-19 policies an enforced mandate would be unwise, while for others it would be essential. Similar reasoning may also be relevant for policies to address future pandemics and other societal challenges like climate change.

The roles of donation experience and advocacy: extending the organization–donor relationship model

PurposeThis study examines the stakeholder’s experiences of two key groups: donors and donor-volunteers. The goals of this study are to (1) determine how donor experience affects organization–public relationships (OPRs) and its antecedents for these two groups and (2) extend the OPR model by considering new potential supportive behavioral intentions arising from OPR outcomes.Design/methodology/approachUsing data from a survey of self-identified donors and donor-volunteers, multiple regressions were performed to establish the possible effects of experience and advocacy on OPRs.FindingsFindings of this study support the idea that donation experience can be considered a potential antecedent for the OPR. The findings also support the idea that advocacy can be a valuable behavioral outcome resulting from OPR.Practical implicationsNonprofits are ever seeking to better connect with their donor and volunteer supporters. This study helps to show the value of donation experience and the importance of cultivating advocacy behaviors among these supporters.Originality/valueThe study seeks to merge extant theory in communications and public policy to better understand the OPR model. Specifically, connecting OPR to the antecedent of donor experience and behavioral intentions like advocacy will help paint a stronger picture of donor–volunteer relationships with nonprofits.

IT Is Not for Me: Why Age Matters in Technological Innovation

During 2017-2019, we conducted a randomized stepped-wedge cluster trial of an online program to increase ease of access to information and support for caregivers of a person living with dementia in rural Australia. The program, called Virtual Dementia Friendly Rural Communities (Verily) Connect, was innovative; it consisted of a custom-designed website and mobile application (app) in Android and iOS, use of videoconferencing for peer support, chat forum and use of volunteers to build technological skills and confidence for online users. The program overcame barriers experienced by rural Australian caregivers, particularly geographical distance from services and other caregivers, stigma, and lack of localized supports. Although participants identified that Verily Connect program afforded several benefits, including increased flexibility in accessing support, easier access to localized dementia-related information, and more opportunities for attaining support, uptake of the program was disappointingly low. A strong theme in the program evaluation, which used the Consolidated Framework of Implementation Research, was that although the program was perceived as advantageous, adaptable, of high quality, and easy to implement, engaging participants failed because the target users, people over 65 years, eschewed involvement with online technology. Our future research plans include finding ways to offer hybrid online/face-to-face support programs specifically designed for older adults, so that older adults have equitable opportunities to access technological innovations. Older adults ought not to be disadvantaged because it is difficult to keep pace in a rapidly changing world.

Statewide Implementation of the Music & Memory Program: Facilitators, Barriers, and Lessons Learned

The movement of evidence-based interventions into routine institutional settings like nursing homes is challenging. Among non-pharmacological interventions to address behavioral problems of residents with dementia, Music and Memory (M&M), a popular individualized music listening program, has been shown to have potential to improve quality of life among residents. To examine facilitators and barriers to implementation and sustainability of the M&M program in nursing facilities, a statewide (online and mail) survey of nursing homes was conducted in Wisconsin where the statewide implementation of the program occurred. The response rate was 41% (N=161). Descriptive statistics and content analysis were conducted. Over 80% of facilities provided the M&M program, and 86% of them planned to continue the program. The majority of respondents found the M&M to be beneficial to residents but also reported that the program was not equally effective for everyone, and M&M was time and labor intensive. Barriers to sustainability were: lack of buy-in by direct care staff, use of technology, costs of equipment, inconsistent volunteers, and families not supportive or helpful. Facilitators were: support of facility personnel, family, and volunteers; observing positive effects of program, M&M training provision and support, family involvement, and accessibility of equipment. Targeted resident selection is needed to identify the residents most likely to benefit from the program to avoid possibility of increased agitation or discomfort. Careful consideration is needed for facilities to identify realistic costs, labor, and staff buy-in to promote success.

Volunteerism takes big hit due to pandemic

Nonprofits across the United States have seen big drops in volunteer support since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to new research from Fidelity Charitable, the nation's largest grantmaker thanks to its role as administrator of Fidelity's donor‐advised fund. All told, some two‐thirds of volunteers surveyed by Fidelity decreased or stopped contributing their time altogether due to the pandemic—leaving a major gap in available support for nonprofits at a time when demand for many of their services has risen substantially.

Making Room for Volunteer Participation in Managing Public Affairs: A Russian Experience

In 2018, the United Nations Volunteers organization recognized that the governmental support for volunteering is a superior public management practice, offering the much-needed fuel for the integration of volunteering in politics, law-making, and social planning at the government level. The present article analyzes the current situation of governmental support for volunteering at federal, regional, and local levels of public administration in the Russian Federation as a precondition for making coproduction of public services possible. The analysis is based on the scrutiny of documents, a questionnaire survey of Russian volunteers, and an expert poll of public servants and nonprofit organizations (NPO) leaders. The analysis of the state policy of support for volunteering is carried out with respect to the following parameters: the awareness and evaluation of national measures of the governmental support for volunteering, as well as the evaluation of informational, financial, consulting, and organizational measures to support volunteer organizations by regional and municipal civil servants. In a country such as the Russian Federation, where volunteering is a relatively young social phenomenon, public administration needs not only to provide support, but also to administer transformation processes toward sustainable development, relying on the partnership and resources volunteers bring for effectively managing public life.

Breastfeeding support at an Australian Breastfeeding Association drop-in service: a descriptive survey

BackgroundIn Australia, during the early establishment phase of breastfeeding, women can access telephone peer support counselling provided by the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) however options for face-to-face peer support are limited. The known factors which improve ongoing and exclusive breastfeeding include face-to-face support, peer and/or professional support, and trained personnel. This study aimed to examine women’s experiences of accessing one breastfeeding drop-in peer support service provided by trained peer support volunteer counsellors from the ABA.MethodsWomen who accessed the service were invited, in 2014, to participate in an anonymous online survey which collected both quantitative and qualitative data. Participants were asked about their experiences of breastfeeding support, as well as their experiences of the drop-in service. In total, 53 women completed the online survey, and subsequent analysis generated descriptive statistics and qualitative themes.ResultsResponses to the survey revealed that women attended the drop-in service with infants ranging in age from less than 1 week through to 12 months of age. Most women reported attending with infants aged 0–8 weeks of age (72%). The predominant presenting problems identified were sore/damaged nipples, difficulties with infant latching to the breast, or concerns about using nipple shields. Analysis of the open text qualitative responses revealed one overarching theme ‘Support to continue breastfeeding’ and four subthemes: ‘feeling listened to and not judged’; ‘emotional support and confidence building’; ‘the importance of face-to-face, practical support’; and ‘the need for ongoing, free access’.DiscussionIn this study many women were seeking support for ongoing breastfeeding difficulties. Health professionals who had limited breastfeeding knowledge and skills were identified as most unhelpful in providing support with ongoing breastfeeding difficulties. Women valued having access to trained peer counsellors, who had the capacity to provide non-judgemental, face-to-face support; who could sit through a feed; in a space that was ‘safe’; and who could enhance a woman’s confidence with breastfeeding over the course of her full breastfeeding journey.ConclusionsReactive peer support, provided in response to need, at an Australian Breastfeeding Association drop-in service, was described by participants as pivotal to enabling their ongoing breastfeeding.

The compound role of a coordinator for home-dwelling persons with dementia and their informal caregivers: qualitative study

BackgroundAs the number of persons with dementia is increasing, there has been a call for establishing sustainable clinical pathways for coordinating care and support for this group. The LIVE@Home.Path trial is a multicomponent, multi-disciplinary intervention combining learning, innovation, volunteer support and empowerment. To implement the intervention, a municipal coordinator has a crucial role. Implementation research on multicomponent interventions is complex and we conducted a qualitative study, aiming to explore the coordinator role and how a coordinator may empower persons with dementia in decision-making processes.MethodsQualitative program evaluation combined with a hermeneutic interpretive approach was chosen as methodological approach. Sixteen dyads, consisting of the person with dementia and their main informal caregiver received the intervention by two coordinators. Of these, six dyads, three informal caregivers alone and the two care coordinators along with their leader, in sum, eighteen persons, participated in in-depth or focus group interviews, sharing their experiences after 6 months intervention.ResultsWe found that the coordinators fulfilled three functions for the participating dyads: being a safety net, meaning that the dyads might have little needs at the moment, but found safety in a relation to someone who might help if the situation should change; being a pathfinder, meaning that they supported the dyads in finding their way through the complicated system of care and support services; being a source for emotional care and support, meaning that they listened, acknowledged and gave counsel in times of distress. The coordinators emphasized that a trusting leader and work environment was crucial for them to fulfill these functions. We also found that it was challenging for the coordinators to build a relation to the persons with dementia in order to pursue genuine empowerment in decision-making processes.ConclusionWe found the framework for follow-up to be a feasible starting point for establishing empowering coordination and a sustainable care pathway for persons with dementia and their informal caregivers. More meeting points between coordinator and person with dementia should be pursued in order to fulfill the persons’ fundamental rights to participate in decision-making processes.