Introduction

Action Ideas That Work

Volunteer Driver Training Program
    Welcome / Introduction
    Who Are We Serving,
    Who Are We
    Challenges for Caregivers in
    Regards to Transportation
    Potential Challenges for
    Volunteer Drivers
     - Listening
     - Communication
     - Sensitivity
     - Preventing Agitation
     - Dealing with Agitation
     - Providing Physical Assistance
     - Boundaries
     - Safety Considerations for
       Volunteer Drivers
     - Emergency Procedures
   Transportation Specifics
   for Leaders
     - Risk Management
     - Insurance for Volunteers
     - Insurance and Liability
       Concerns
    Materials Needed to Teach
    Conclusion

Resource Sheets

Resources / Links

Action Ideas That Work

Carolyn Klaver was a Parish Nurse for nine years in a suburban Saint Paul church of 1500 members. For over eight of those years she developed and initiated a “Good Samaritan” program which was very successful in meeting one-time needs of the congregants and of their community. This included a wide-range of “helping” tasks, one of which was volunteer drivers. Based on the large success of this program, Carolyn writes/ teaches with confidence on the need, as well as on the possibilities for a Volunteer Transportation Program. Through a “team approach” to Parish Nursing, Carolyn utilized Volunteer Coordinators to run various teams under the Faith and Health Ministry. Two of these teams included (1) Good Samaritans for one-time needs and (2) Care Team Ministry for long-term needs. Dedicated volunteer coordinators ran each of these teams separately. When the Parish Nurse assessed a need, she would call the appropriate coordinator, and would verbally or through written intake pass on this need to the coordinator. The coordinator would then look at her list of volunteers deciding which to phone to fill this request.

For several months, the Good Samaritan Team provided three day a week transportation for a community member to Courage Center for therapy. Bimonthly, the Care Team ministry provides transportation for two women who no longer drive and wish to get to church for communion services. In both situations, members and non-members have been served … and the volunteers and persons-in-need have been blessed with wonderful experiences.

Faith based organizations who have Parish Nurses can broaden the Parish Nurse ministry through this team approach. Many situations do not require an RN to personally carry out- but having the Parish Nurse to oversee and give input can make a potentially frightening situation turn in to an INCREDIBLE outreach that involves persons from multiple non-health related expertise. It truly can be a win-win for all.