DEVELOPING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: MISSOULA YOUTH COURT AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF MISSOULA
Habitat for Humanity of Missoula is a non-profit organization which builds efficient and affordable housing for local, qualified residents. All work performed on an HfH home is done on a volunteer basis.
Missoula Youth Court has partnered with HFH to provide novel community service opportunities for local kids. Under the direction of a worksite supervisor, Youth Court clients perform various construction related task to assist in the building of a HFH home. Kids learn basic home building skills while providing much need assistance to the HFH project. (see HFH 2008 video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lHk9VMmgCQ )
As an indication of the good will and personal development enjoyed by Youth Court HFH participants, many young people continue to volunteer their services after their court directed hours are completed.
For further information, visit the Habitat for Humanity of Missoula website at http://www.habitatmsla.org/index.htm or contact either of the following:
Dave Chrismon- Habitat for
Humanity of Missoula Director
549-8210
Jim Applegate- Worksite
Juvenile Supervisor
207-4762
C.J. Kuipers/Murray Pierce- Youth Court Contact
258-4735
Habitat for Humanity of Missoula/Youth Court Program Overview
Kids under 16:
Cannot be on the jobsite
Kids
under 18:
Cannot operate power tools
Cannot be any higher than 8 ft. off the ground
Forms:
·
All participants must fill out
a volunteer application
All
participants and Parents/Guardian must sign two releases and waivers—a
release of liability for minors form and a Wells Fargo release.
·
Youth Court has a separate
form outlining expectations of participants ordered to the program
Program Particulars:
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Work crews are comprised of 5-6 people w/ 1 job-site supervisor
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Crews run from Tuesday through Friday generally from 8:45 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
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Program can accommodate 2 kids per day (3 days per week for 3 weeks)
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Participants are responsible for transportation to and from work site
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Participants are provided a copy of their work schedule and job site
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Lunch is generally from 12-1:00 and participants are responsible for providing their own lunch
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It is the participant’s responsibility to put their signature on the sign-up sheet when they arrive or else they will not be counted as present for the day
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HFH of Missoula has insurance. Generally they expect the participants insurance to kick in initially and they will pick up the bill after the participant’s insurance coverage is used up. Participants without insurance are covered by HfH of Missoula’s policy from the beginning.