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Volunteerism: Why do we need to require it?
“volunteerism” has become a big buzz word. National conferences and forums have addressed the need for more volunteerism in the United States, and s;uch national leaders as Cohn Powell and former President Jimmy Carter have been quite vocal about this issue. Many school districts and companies have also become active in promoting volunteerism or public service. Some companies give their employees a certain number of hours off work to participate in a variety of volunteer activities, whereas other companies promote volunteerism by taking on a specific community service project. Schools are taking both voluntary and required approaches to volunteerism. Some districts award honors and even scholarships to students who complete a certain number of volunteer hours, whereas in other districts a certain number of community service hours are required. For example, the state of Maryland mandates that students serve 75 hours of community service to receive a high school diploma (Pride in Service, 1997). Doesn’t it seem strange that we now have to require volunteerism? Indeed, some students and their parents view the requirement of volunteer activities as illegal and have filed lawsuits; other students are also protesting this coerced volunteerism. Some cases have even
November/December
1997
drawn similarities between forced volunteerism and slavery. Is making community service a requirement the only way we can promote volunteer activities and community service among our young people? Shouldn’t this incentive come from families and not be a requirement of the state? I certainly believe that volunteer activities and community service are important. Not only are other people helped through these activities, but the volunteer reaps many benefits as well. Community service can expand one’s life experiences; for example, volunteers can actually experience situations they previously may have seen only on television or the movies, or they may encounter situations they never even knew existed! Working with other persons can help an individual discover special interests and talents in areas outside the traditional classroom setting. In addition, it seems logical that working with others would reduce self-centeredness and increase empathy, an important characteristic to promote in children. Indeed, some campaigns for volunteerism emphasize that these activities may help us as a society reduce vio-
J Pediatr Health Care. (1997). Copyright
II, 255.256.
0 1997 by the National
0891-5245/97/$5.00
lence. Assuredly the benefits of volunteering are numerous, but will the same benefits be reaped if these efforts are required? Only researchers in the future will be able to answer that question. Rather than making public or community service a requirement for high school graduation, I suggest that we begin promoting social responsibility much earlier in children’s lives. Then, it is hoped, community service requirements wouldn’t be necessary. This is an ideal time of the year to begin promoting social responsibility and volunteer activities in the children and families for whom we provide care. Children often visit nursing care facilities during the holiday season to sing or provide residents with baskets of goodies. At the same time, scout troops, elementary school classes, and church groups often collect canned goods or clothing to share with the less fortunate. Children involved in such projects often work very hard and feel proud that they are able to share the results of their efforts with those less fortunate. However, many of these projects end when the holiday season is over. If we can find the time and energy to pro-
Association
of Pediatric
Nurse Associates
& Practitioners.
+ 0 25/g/84636
255
i%l
Nelms
EDITORIAL
mote these wonderful projects during such a busy season, why can’t we continue our efforts the rest of the year? We can help promote volunteerism and community involvement in numerous ways. First, we can educate families about the benefits of such activities. Many families today consist of two parents who work full time. They often complain about a lack of time to spend with their children while at the same time they are concerned about promoting positive values. What better way to address these concerns than with a family volunteer project? The process of selecting a project alone can help parents teach decision making, time management skills, and group process skills, not to mention the specific skills and talents that are promoted in carrying out the actual project. We can encourage such involvement by asking about these types of
activities as we take health histories. This gives us the opportunity to reinforce the volunteerism that families are already involved in and to encourage and educate them about the benefits of volunteering. Second, we can promote volunteerism by making opportunities for community involvement available in the office or clinic. A bulletin board or newsletter that describes projects and provides information about who to contact can be very helpful. A variety of projects should be included, thus giving families many choices as they select the type of involvement that best fits them. This process of identifying potential projects can promote better awareness and communication between community groups and health care providers, which is another benefit of this type of involvement. I believe that learning the importance and benefits of community
service should begin at home and not be a school requirement. Certainly schools can build on this foundation, but the family should be the primary teacher. We can do a great deal to promote volunteerism and the wonderful benefits it provides. As you enjoy this holiday season, take a few minutes to think of the good feelings that come from sharing and giving to others. Then make some plans to promote volunteerism among your patients and their families in the coming year. Only benefits can result, and perhaps one future graduation requirement can be eliminated. Good luck and happy holidays. Bobbie Crew Nelms, PhD, RN, CPNP
REFERENCE Pride
in Service. Times,
(1997, June 16). Los Angeles
El, E6.
Bound Volumes Available to Subscribers of the Journal of Pediatric Heulth Cure are available
Bound volumes to subscribers (only) from the Publisher, at a cost of $37.00 ($46.01 for Canadian and $43.00 for international). Shipping charges are included. Each bound volume contains a subject and author index and all advertising is removed. Copies are shipped within 60 days after publication of the last issue of the volume. The binding is durable buckram with the Journal name, volume number, and year stamped in gold on the spine. Payment must accompany all orders. Contact Mosby-Year Book, Inc., Subscription Services, 11830 Westline Industrial Dr., St. Louis, MO 63146-3318, USA; telephone (800) 4534351 or (314) 453-4351. Subscriptions must be in force to qualify. place of a regular Journal subscription.
2 56
Volume
11 Number
6
Bound
volumes
are not
available
in
JOURNAL
OF PEDIATRIC
HEALTH
CARE
November/December
1997
drawn similarities between forced volunteerism and slavery. Is making community service a requirement the only way we can promote volunteer activities and community service among our young people? Shouldn’t this incentive come from families and not be a requirement of the state? I certainly believe that volunteer activities and community service are important. Not only are other people helped through these activities, but the volunteer reaps many benefits as well. Community service can expand one’s life experiences; for example, volunteers can actually experience situations they previously may have seen only on television or the movies, or they may encounter situations they never even knew existed! Working with other persons can help an individual discover special interests and talents in areas outside the traditional classroom setting. In addition, it seems logical that working with others would reduce self-centeredness and increase empathy, an important characteristic to promote in children. Indeed, some campaigns for volunteerism emphasize that these activities may help us as a society reduce vio-
J Pediatr Health Care. (1997). Copyright
II, 255.256.
0 1997 by the National
0891-5245/97/$5.00
lence. Assuredly the benefits of volunteering are numerous, but will the same benefits be reaped if these efforts are required? Only researchers in the future will be able to answer that question. Rather than making public or community service a requirement for high school graduation, I suggest that we begin promoting social responsibility much earlier in children’s lives. Then, it is hoped, community service requirements wouldn’t be necessary. This is an ideal time of the year to begin promoting social responsibility and volunteer activities in the children and families for whom we provide care. Children often visit nursing care facilities during the holiday season to sing or provide residents with baskets of goodies. At the same time, scout troops, elementary school classes, and church groups often collect canned goods or clothing to share with the less fortunate. Children involved in such projects often work very hard and feel proud that they are able to share the results of their efforts with those less fortunate. However, many of these projects end when the holiday season is over. If we can find the time and energy to pro-
Association
of Pediatric
Nurse Associates
& Practitioners.
+ 0 25/g/84636
255
i%l
Nelms
EDITORIAL
mote these wonderful projects during such a busy season, why can’t we continue our efforts the rest of the year? We can help promote volunteerism and community involvement in numerous ways. First, we can educate families about the benefits of such activities. Many families today consist of two parents who work full time. They often complain about a lack of time to spend with their children while at the same time they are concerned about promoting positive values. What better way to address these concerns than with a family volunteer project? The process of selecting a project alone can help parents teach decision making, time management skills, and group process skills, not to mention the specific skills and talents that are promoted in carrying out the actual project. We can encourage such involvement by asking about these types of
activities as we take health histories. This gives us the opportunity to reinforce the volunteerism that families are already involved in and to encourage and educate them about the benefits of volunteering. Second, we can promote volunteerism by making opportunities for community involvement available in the office or clinic. A bulletin board or newsletter that describes projects and provides information about who to contact can be very helpful. A variety of projects should be included, thus giving families many choices as they select the type of involvement that best fits them. This process of identifying potential projects can promote better awareness and communication between community groups and health care providers, which is another benefit of this type of involvement. I believe that learning the importance and benefits of community
service should begin at home and not be a school requirement. Certainly schools can build on this foundation, but the family should be the primary teacher. We can do a great deal to promote volunteerism and the wonderful benefits it provides. As you enjoy this holiday season, take a few minutes to think of the good feelings that come from sharing and giving to others. Then make some plans to promote volunteerism among your patients and their families in the coming year. Only benefits can result, and perhaps one future graduation requirement can be eliminated. Good luck and happy holidays. Bobbie Crew Nelms, PhD, RN, CPNP
REFERENCE Pride
in Service. Times,
(1997, June 16). Los Angeles
El, E6.
Bound Volumes Available to Subscribers of the Journal of Pediatric Heulth Cure are available
Bound volumes to subscribers (only) from the Publisher, at a cost of $37.00 ($46.01 for Canadian and $43.00 for international). Shipping charges are included. Each bound volume contains a subject and author index and all advertising is removed. Copies are shipped within 60 days after publication of the last issue of the volume. The binding is durable buckram with the Journal name, volume number, and year stamped in gold on the spine. Payment must accompany all orders. Contact Mosby-Year Book, Inc., Subscription Services, 11830 Westline Industrial Dr., St. Louis, MO 63146-3318, USA; telephone (800) 4534351 or (314) 453-4351. Subscriptions must be in force to qualify. place of a regular Journal subscription.
2 56
Volume
11 Number
6
Bound
volumes
are not
available
in
JOURNAL
OF PEDIATRIC
HEALTH
CARE