This course is intended for new volunteers who will be working one-on-one with beneficiaries.
Before we begin, let me first take a moment to thank you for your interest in Hostage US. The work that we do isn’t easy, and oftentimes can be quite frustrating, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Those we serve are often family members who are living through the most terrifying experience of their lives, and former captives who are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after enduring some of humanity’s most inhumane conditions.
As a volunteer Support Coordinator you will most likely work with both groups, and with time, you may find that you prefer one over the other depending on your personality, strengths and interests. Regardless of who you end up working with at any given time, you will want to understand both sides of the situation so that you can provide the support that is most meaningful and impactful. In this orientation training course, you will be introduced to all aspects of our organization and work, including the “hostage enterprise space” both inside and outside the US government. We will also examine common challenges faced by beneficiaries, how you as a volunteer Support Coordinator can help tackle these challenges, and how you might approach specific situations to ensure that you are building trust and empowering beneficiaries.
Our work is quite nuanced, and the challenges that we encounter are vast, unique and oftentimes unpredictable. No family or individual should have to tackle this situation alone, and for this reason, Hostage US exists to step in and help carry some of the burden. With your help, we can take some of the weight off of their shoulders and provide them with some much needed breathing room so that they are prepared, both mentally and physically, to tackle the numerous challenges that lay ahead.
This training is split into 8 sections:
- Hostage US Overview: An introduction to the organization
- The Support Program: An introduction to the Support Coordinator position and how it fits within the overall Support Program.
- Practical Skills: A series of useful exercises that will facilitate communication with your beneficiary and help build rapport.
- Needs & Challenges of Families: An outline of what you can expect from working with families and how to address their unique needs.
- Needs & Challenges of Returnees: An outline of what you can expect from working with returned captives and how to address their unique needs.
- Working in Stressful Environments: Information that will help you identify and understand the types of stress our beneficiaries stress, and how you can take care of yourself to prevent and / or manage burnout and vicarious trauma.
- U.S. Government Response: An overview of the U.S. government’s response
network. - Case Management and Notes: A practical guide to managing your first case.
The course should take between 5 and 6 hours to complete. When you have completed the course, the Program Director will schedule a follow up call with you to answer any questions and to go over next steps.
Again, from all of us at Hostage US, we thank you for your willingness to give your time in support of the work that we do.
