Q1 |
How do I become a volunteer for a public sector agency? |
A |
The first step is to apply for a position that interests
you. This Web site can help you locate and apply for opportunities
online. Once you are selected for a position you and the project
supervisor will sign a volunteer service agreement that describes
the work, the time commitment and relevant factors such as training,
equipment, accommodation, and health and safety. |
Q2 |
If there are several applicants for a volunteer assignment,
must the applicant who seems to have the best qualifications
on paper be chosen? |
A |
No. The selection of a volunteer is not a formal competitive
process. Volunteers are selected based on several considerations
such as experience, education, availability, interest, motivation,
and personal interview. |
Q3 |
What happens if I am injured while serving on a volunteer
assignment? |
A |
Volunteers who are enrolled with Federal agencies are
covered under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, which authorizes
compensation for work-related injuries. Prospective volunteers for
other governmental entities should ascertain answers directly from
these public sector organizations as there is so much variance between
states and local governments on this important question. |
Q4 |
What if I have an accident and damage private property
or injure someone while serving as a volunteer? |
A |
Volunteers are covered under the Federal Tort Claims
Act, which protects volunteers and Federal employees from liability
for injury or damage to others while they are acting within the
scope of their assigned duties. As stated above, prospective volunteers
with other governments should ask about liability coverage afforded
volunteers. |
Q5 |
Does the work I perform as a volunteer in a Federal
agency count toward Federal service if I later become a Federal
employee? |
A |
No. Volunteers are not considered Federal employees.
Your service is not creditable for leave accrual, retirement, or
other benefit purposes should you later accept a Federal appointment.
Similarly, serving as a volunteer for other government entities
does not convey any benefits or entitlements. |
Q6 |
Can I add my volunteer service to my resume or job
applications? |
A |
Yes. The experience, knowledge and skills you gain as
a volunteer are applicable to many paid positions in both public
and private sectors. Volunteer work often demonstrates to prospective
employers your personal initiative, enthusiasm, and dedication. |
Q7 |
Does serving as a volunteer for a Federal agency
make it easier for me to obtain a job in the Federal government? |
A |
Federal positions are filled through a competitive process
and are based on many job-related factors. Your volunteer assignment
may enhance your qualifications for a position, but it does not
guarantee your selection. |
Q8 |
Can a volunteer perform services at home? |
A |
Depending on the nature of the volunteer work, certain
volunteer services can be performed at home. The volunteer supervisor
would determine whether the volunteer work could be adequately accomplished
at home, taking into consideration such things as the need to use
Government equipment or facilities. |
Q9 |
Are there age limits for volunteers? |
A |
People of all ages may volunteer. Young people, under
age 18, can volunteer provided that the work does not pose a threat
to their health or safety or violate Federal or State child labor
laws or the policies of the agency’s volunteer program. A
parent or legal guardian must give written consent before a person
under 18 years of age may volunteer. |
Q10 |
Are volunteers permitted to perform hazardous duty
assignments? |
A |
In some cases, adults aged 18 or over may perform hazardous
duties. If volunteers perform such duties, appropriate certifications
and training are required. This will be evaluated on a case-by-case
basis by individual agencies. Volunteers may not perform active
law enforcement activities. Where careful analysis shows an unacceptable
risk to the volunteer's health or safety would preclude volunteers
working in such activities. |
Q11 |
What is done to protect the health and safety of
minors who volunteer for public sector agencies? |
A |
Every effort is made to ensure that minors are protected
and safeguarded during their assignments as volunteers and that
they are provided adequate instruction and adult supervision. All
partnering agencies comply with Federal or State child labor laws
and the policies of their individual agencies in assigning minors
to volunteer duties. In the interest of safety, volunteers under
age 18 may not be assigned duties involving any of the following:
- Underwater diving
- Use of toxic chemicals or other laboratory hazards
- Exposure to radioactive substances or biological hazards
- Riding in small boats, helicopters or any unscheduled
aircraft
- Driving Government-owned motorized vehicles
- Operation of power-driven machinery or equipment (e.g.
chain saws, power shop tools, rock crushers, drill rigs,
specialized equipment or vehicles, etc.)
- Use of firearms, explosives or incendiaries
- Exposure to any unusual or unacceptable health or safety
risk
|
Q12 |
Can students receive academic credit for their volunteer
work? |
A |
It is the decision of the educational institution whether
or not to give credit for students’ volunteer work. Supervisors
of volunteers are usually willing to provide the necessary job descriptions
and assessments of the student’s work. Students are personally
responsible for making the arrangements with the educational institution
and their supervisor. |
Q13 |
May the relative of a Federal employee serve as a
volunteer in the employee’s agency? |
A |
Yes. Immediate family members and other relatives of
Federal employees may serve as volunteers in the same agency. Certain
restrictions apply within each agency. |
Q14 |
Can a Federal employee serve as a volunteer for a
Federal volunteer program? |
A |
Yes. However, if the Federal employee volunteers for
his or her hiring agency, the services must not be the same type
of duties for which the employee is paid. It is very important that
the volunteer services are substantially different from official
duties. |
Q15 |
May volunteers enter private property, when necessary,
to conduct their assignments? |
A |
Federal employees and volunteers must comply with all
Federal, State and Tribal laws, including trespass and privacy laws.
Volunteers are not to enter private property unless authorized by
their supervisor. Supervisors are responsible for obtaining appropriate
permission to enter private property. |
Q16 |
Are a volunteer's services tax-deductible? |
A |
Volunteers are advised to contact their tax accountant
or consult Internal Revenue Service publication 526 for information
and guidance. |
Q17 |
Can non-U.S. citizens, residing outside the U.S.,
volunteer with a Federal agency? |
A |
Citizens of countries other than the U.S., who reside
outside the U.S. are not eligible to participate in Federal volunteer
programs. The government is neither a religious nor a nonprofit
service organization. Accordingly, Federal agencies are precluded
from registering foreign nationals as volunteers. For additional
information, contact the Department of Justice’s Immigration
and Naturalization Service (INS). |
Q18 |
Can non-U.S. citizens, residing within the U.S.,
volunteer with a Federal agency? |
A |
Individuals who are not U.S. citizens, but who reside
in the U.S., may volunteer (1) if they are a lawful permanent residents;
or (2) if they are non-immigrant aliens with F-1 visa status, who
are bona fide students residing in the U.S. solely to pursue a course
of study at a recognized, approved institution of education. |
Q19 |
Will the Federal agency pay my travel and living
expenses if I volunteer in an area that is distant from my home? |
A |
As a general rule, volunteers are responsible for their
own living expenses and travel to and from the location of the volunteer
assignment. If funds or accommodations are available, they may be
provided. Documentation of any reimbursement or arrangement for
accommodations will be specified on the volunteer agreement. |
Q20 |
If I am selected for a volunteer position that requires
me to wear a uniform, do I have to pay for the uniform? |
A |
No. Volunteers who are required to wear a uniform as
part of their assignment are provided the uniform at no cost. |
Q21 |
What step should a prospective volunteer consider
before seeking a volunteer position? |
A |
Step 1 - Identify your personal goals.
Knowing your personal goals will help you choose a volunteer position
that's right for you. Ask yourself, "Why do I want to volunteer?
What are my goals? Do I want to make a difference in my career,
my social life, my community, or something else? What do I hope
to gain? To give? To learn?"
Step 2 - Assess your skills and interests.
What are you good at? What do you enjoy? What skills would you
like to improve? If you have volunteered in the past, you
can think about the things you liked the most and least about
your experience. Be specific. Do you like working indoors
or outdoors? Independently or with others? Would you choose
to work in a behind-the -scenes position, such as a clerical
assistant in the office of a partner agency, or in a position
that provides direct service, such as a campground host or
veterans’ health volunteer?
Step 3 - Determine your time commitment.
Be realistic. After completing the above steps, you may feel
anxious to get started. Before you do, try making a chart
of the number of hours you spend on daily activities--job,
family, friends, hobbies, chores, etc.--and see how much time
is left. Then decide how many of these hours you are willing
to donate to a volunteer position. |
Q22 |
What are my rights and responsibilities as a volunteer? |
A |
Rights:
- Clear, Appropriate Assignment
- Fulfilling Work
- Orientation and Training
- Informed Involvement with Agency
- Supervision and Support
- Development of Individual Potential
- Recognition of Service
- Respect
- Time put to Best Use
- Safe, Healthy Working Conditions
- Right to terminate a volunteer agreement
Responsibilities:
- Be Honest about Goals, Skills, Limitations and Motivations
- Fulfill Your Commitment
- Maintain Confidentiality
- Cooperate With Staff
- Be Flexible and keep an Open Mind
- Stay Informed
- Participate in Training
- Ask for Help or Clarification
- Understand Your Role as a Volunteer
|
Q22A |
What are the rights and responsibilities of the agency? |
A |
Rights:
- Screen or Redirect Volunteers
- Request References
- Require Volunteers to Attend Training
- Expect Volunteers to be Responsible
- Reassign Volunteers
- Receive Notice of Leaving
- Terminate a volunteer agreement
Responsibilities:
- Interview candidates for Best Placement
- Provide a Written Position Description
- Treat Volunteers as Valuable Team-Members
- Inform of special events for the workforce
- Provide Supervision
- Seek and Respect Volunteer Contributions
- Conduct an Exit Interview
|
Q23 |
What is Volunteer.Gov/Gov? |
A |
Volunteer.Gov/Gov is a one-stop recruitment internet-based
website that revolutionizes the matching of volunteer interests
and abilities with available opportunities in the public sector
nationwide. |
Q24 |
How does Volunteer.Gov/Gov work? |
A |
Individuals will be able to search for volunteer opportunities
by the following criteria: volunteer activity, location of opportunity,
effective date of the opportunity, the sponsoring partner and by
keyword search. |
Q25 |
Where are the volunteer positions located? |
A |
Volunteer positions are available nationwide with several
Federal, State and local agencies. |
Q26 |
What types of volunteer opportunities are available
through the Web site? |
A |
The Web site offers thousands of volunteer opportunities
related initially to natural resources and Veteran’s health. |
Q27 |
What other volunteer opportunities will be available
in the future? |
A |
In the future, the Web site has the potential to incorporate
volunteer opportunities for other service areas across government,
such as science, healthcare, and social services. |
Q28 |
What happens once the volunteer identifies a potential
opportunity? |
A |
The potential volunteer can click on any opportunity
on the list to view a detailed description, which will also include
a method for application. Once the application is completed, the
agency coordinator will be notified of the potential volunteer. |
Q29 |
What happens once a volunteer opportunity is filled? |
A |
Volunteer.Gov/Gov coordinators are responsible for posting
and removing their filled positions. The database will enforce expiration
dates set by the coordinator or will be preset by a system default. |
Q30 |
How will the Web site handle information learned
about you from your visit? |
A |
Volunteer.Gov/Gov will collect and store only the following
information: the name of the domain from which you access the Internet
(for example, aol.com if you are connecting from America Online);
the date and time you accessed the site; and the internet address
of the Web site from which you link directly to the site. Volunteer.Gov
DOES NOT store any personal identifiers. |
Q31 |
How will the volunteer opportunities be input in
to the Web site? |
A |
Each agency or bureau will have a volunteer coordinator
or authorized representative who will have access to the opportunity
portion of the web site via a password protected interface. The
coordinator or representative will then enter the information that
will later be provided to potential volunteers. |
Q32 |
| |
A |
All partners with existing systems will have their current
information merged into the new Volunteer.Gov/Gov database |
Q33 |
| |
A |
Submit a comment off the tool bar and request additional
information. |
Technical Questions |
Q34 |
What is the kind of system software was used to link
dynamic data to the database? |
A |
The software is ColdFusion Application Server V 5.0. |
Q35 |
What database is being used in Volunteer.Gov/Gov? |
A |
Volunteer.Gov/Gov uses Microsoft SQL Server V 7.0. |
Q36 |
What web platform is Volunteer.Gov/Gov using? |
A |
Volunteer.Gov/Gov is using Microsoft NT V 4.0 as the
web platform. |
Q37 |
What are the input methods for the data? |
A |
There are three different methods being used to input
data. These include: Internet web forms, Automated query robots
for existing databases and XML. |
Q38 |
What is the source of data delivery? |
A |
The source of data delivery is via the web/internet,
all V 4+ Internet Explorer and Netscape browsers, PDAs running Microsoft
CE, and cellular devices using WAP (text only) |
Q39 |
What type of security or privacy protects Volunteer.Gov/Gov? |
A |
Volunteer.Gov/Gov uses an encrypted database, 128 bit
SSL, and is firewall protected. In addition, the site uses intrusion
detection monitoring. |
Q40 |
What type of data backup or recovery system is in
place? |
A |
Volunteer.Gov/Gov will have daily data backups along
with twice monthly offsite data backups. In addition, a second redundant
server will reside at a separate location. |