Volunteer Program Enhancements - A New Direction in Changing Economic Times

About the Program

Category: Volunteers (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

Over 25 years ago, Chesterfield County recognized the value of resident involvement in local government and developed a volunteer program to encourage this partnership. Former volunteer opportunities that were available focused on providing basic support to departments in need. For many years, one staff member provided general oversight of the application process and placement of volunteers in various county departments. As time passed, minor incremental process improvements were implemented in the county’s volunteer program. However, the economic downturn of 2008 forced the county to reduce some programs and service offerings, along with downsizing the workforce in some areas of government, as experienced by most governmental and private employers throughout the nation during that time. Chesterfield County’s leadership identified significant enhancements for its volunteer program that would aid the county in providing many of the same quality programs and services while maintaining high level customer service standards for residents by better utilizing a supplemental workforce – i.e., volunteers. Major efforts were made to improve volunteer recruitment and retention strategies, educate county leadership on the value of the enhanced volunteer program and partner with departments to increase and diversify volunteer opportunity offerings in all county departments. As a result, the number of volunteers has grown in a variety of areas in county government, and more departments are participating in the volunteer program [Attachment A].