Volunteer Opportunities

Peer Educator Program Volunteer

The Peer Educator Program consists of community representatives who work side-by-side with our staff to engage people in services and promote agency programs. Program Peers are an integral part of the recruitment strategy for all of the agency’s prevention initiatives. Peer Educators should be members of the target population or having firsthand knowledge of the target populations and community in which they reside and/or gather. The program also serves as a resource for Peers to learn more about reproductive health, sexuality and other health concerns.

Peers help staff complete a lot of activities, including:

Participate in outreach events (for example, street outreach or a special event)
Refer people they know to agency services or other services available in the community
Help staff prepare for a special event by making safer sex kits or organizing other outreach materials
Help plan and carry out a special event or a community testing event
Help contribute to ACR Health social media pages
Help facilitate an educational session or group
Be a guest speaker at a special event or an educational session
Learn how to become a trained Testing Counselor and help staff test community members for HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections

Every volunteer must complete the Volunteer Application Form. Please fill it out, download the completed document, and email it to us at receptionSYR@acrhealth.org. Please contact us if you require assistance filling out the application – we are here to help! You can reach us at (315) 475-2430.

Peer Delivered Syringe Exchange Volunteer

The Peer Delivered Syringe Exchange service allows highly trained Peers access to safer injection supplies to distribute among networks of people who inject drugs. This helps the Syringe Exchange Program provide services to people who don’t feel comfortable or don’t wish to participate in our office or mobile unit services.

Incentives are also available for participation in specific training sessions throughout the year. Peers meet monthly in each region and are supported by staff and managers on an ongoing basis.

Those interested in becoming a peer must complete a Peer Educator Application and participate in all sessions of a Peer Training class. With successful completion of training, peers are given the chance to shadow staff in the community and then decide if they would like to continue with the program or not. Participation in Peer Services is completely voluntary.

Administrative Volunteer

General Description:

Learn about managing community non -profit organizations with this administrative internship at ACR Health. With the mission of building healthy communities and ending the AIDS epidemic, ACR Health works with underserved communities in nine counties, providing services and programs for people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses, people who use drugs, people who need health insurance and Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Questioning youth and families.

Position Description:

We are looking for a student intern to assist with a wide range of administrative organization and projects. There will be activities that help with day-to-day functions as well as larger projects that needs support from start to finish. Not only will you contribute to the health and well-being of our many clients, but you will also sharpen your practical business and management skills with exposure to one or more areas such as compliance, finance, human resources and agency operations, as well as New York State contract management. You will also gain insights and experience with fundraising/ event coordination, public/ media relations, and the management of volunteer services.

As part of your training, you will receive instruction in compliance and confidentiality.

Qualifications:

Desired computer skills include: Microsoft Office, including Excel, database experience.
Communication skills: basic business writing, proofreading, good telephone manner.
Physical: ability to lift 50 pounds, such as moving boxes of files.
General: professional conduct, logical thinker, ability to follow procedures.

Non Discrimination Policy:

ACR Health offers its services to anyone without discrimination based on age, race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, political affiliation, marital status, handicapped status or mode of transmission. ACR Health is an equal opportunity provider and employer.