The Matching Program staff recruits volunteers to become involved as Advocates in one to one relationships with a senior or an adult with a disability, whom we call a Partner. These relationships are called Matches.

The Advocate

An Advocate is a mature individual who is at least 18 years of age.
He or she has a concern and enthusiasm for people and a willingness to share their time and experience with another person.

An Advocate makes a commitment to a Partner. This commitment means that the Advocate will regularly visit his or her Partner for the duration of their match. It also means that the Advocate is committed to protecting and advancing the Partner's needs and interests, as directed by the Partner.

All Advocates are carefully screened by Citizen Advocacy to make sure they are of good character. An Advocate is willing to participate in orientation and training with the Citizen Advocacy office to ensure they have the necessary skills to deal with various situations.

An Advocate must have good communication skills. He or she must be able to communicate effectively on behalf of and with his or her Partner. An Advocate must also be able to communicate clearly with the Citizen Advocacy staff.

The Partner

A Partner in the Matching Advocacy program must be at least 18 years of age, have a physical, psychiatric, or developmental disability and/or be a senior (55+). A Partner must have a willingness to become involved with the program.

Seniors and adults with disabilities can become a Partner if they are socially isolated and lack support systems. This means that the Partner's friends and family are not able to provide support on a regular basis.

Volunteer Application