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| 1135 SW Highland Ave., Redmond OR 97756 541-548-8817 |
| Volunteer Resources |
Thank you for being interested in becoming a COCOA volunteer!
This section will explain how our agency is connected to the community, cover pertinent
information about our policies and procedures, and cover job descriptions and
opportunities available to you. We hope it will also provide you with information on what
to expect from our agency, and show you how important you are to the success of our
programs.
Hopefully, this will be only the beginning of a rewarding experience for you. We hope
you become a permanent part of the COCOA volunteer team!
APPLICATION PROCESS
Volunteers with COCOA are asked to complete a screening process. The volunteer
enrollment form is the first step in this process. You will also notice an authorization form
for a criminal background check. All volunteer applicants must go through a criminal
background check with the State of Oregon.
WHO WE ARE
COCOA is a charitable non-profit public benefit corporation, responsible for providing
services to meet the needs of Seniors in the Central Oregon tri-county area. We are
the local designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA). “AAA’s” are located throughout the
state, and across the nation.
COCOA is unique in that we are a Type “A” agency, acting as a private non-profit
entity. Your volunteer hours become even more important to us, as the majority of our
operation is based on community support, both in dollars and time!
COCOA’S Central Office, located in Redmond, has an administrative support staff of
six. The agency is managed by the Executive Director, and is governed by a Board of
Directors and an Advisory Council. The Board of Directors and the Advisory Council
represent a variety of expertise throughout the tri-county area, and are very involved
in overseeing COCOA programs. They are also involved in the fundraising events for our
agency.
COCOA’s stated mission, to “promote dignity, well-being, security and independence for
Central Oregon’s Senior Citizens,” is evident in the many services we offer. We
encourage a maximum of self-help and independence through services and programs
that encompass nutrition, health and wellness, transportation, in-home services,
advocacy and legal assistance.
SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM
(Congregate & Meals on Wheels)
These programs offer economical, nutritious meals in both a group setting at the Senior
Centers, and to the frail, homebound elderly, through the Meals-On-Wheels program.
The Senior Center mealsite programs (congregate meals) vary in hours and days of
operation, depending on the Center in each community. The meals have a requested
donation of $3.50 for those over 60 (and a spouse of any age) and are open to those
under the age of 60 at a specified cost of $5.50. Our Meals-on-Wheels program
delivers hot meals to those in need, based on an in-home assessment completed by one
of our Case Managers. Donations are requested of the participants, as with the
congregate meals program.
Volunteers are needed in many areas at the congregate mealsite, including meal
preparation, serving, host or hostess, information and assistance and helping make the
meal an enjoyable experience.
Volunteers are needed in the Meals-on-Wheels program to deliver mid-day meals. Meals-
on-Wheels delivers hot meals to approximately 400 seniors per day in the tri-county
area!
SENIOR CENTER PROGRAMS
COCOA offers a variety of programs coordinating health and wellness education, health
screening, legal assistance, paperwork assistance, recreation, arts, and many outreach
and referral services. Each site has a Program Coordinator who manages COCOA
programs at that site, as well as supervising the staff and volunteers.
Volunteers can answer the phone for referral services, coordinate social events, lead
recreational activities, teach classes, or help in the gift shop.
CASE MANAGEMENT
COCOA Case Managers assist seniors in making cost-effective and appropriate decisions
regarding their care needs. The Case Manager normally receives a referral, schedules a
home visit to complete a needs assessment, and then networks with family, friends and
community resources to provide needed services. Each Senior Center has a Case
Manager available; in some cases the Program Coordinator is also the Case Manager.
IN-HOME SERVICES
Oregon Project Independence (OPI) is a unique Oregon program providing in-home care
to seniors who are at risk of institutionalization. OPI offers such services as
housekeeping, personal care, laundry, shopping and meal preparation. A sliding fee
scale is used to determine what fees, if any, will be charged for services. All fees
collected are used to expand OPI services.
DIAL-A-RIDE (DAR)
Dial-a-Ride provides transportation to Seniors and people with disabilities of any age, for
medical appointments, local shopping, transport to the Senior Centers, and personal
errands.
Dial-a-Ride is funded by the county’s Special Transportation fund from the State
cigarette tax, the Older Americans Act, and by riders’ fees and donations. COCOA
contracts with Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council to provide DAR service with
their Cascades East Transit in all areas of Central Oregon, except in Bend, where the
service is provided by the Bend Area Transit. DAR is fee-for-service for general
transport. The ride to the mealsite is on a donation basis.
Volunteers are needed to provide seniors with occasional individual service.
OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DUTIES: COCOA is governed by a 9-member Board of Directors responsible for
overseeing the agency through its Executive Director. The Board is also responsible for
fundraising in the tri-county area.
.
TERM AND COMMITMENT: Each Board member serves a 3-year term, and meetings are
scheduled on a monthly basis. Individual committee meetings are scheduled as needed.
Each Board member is asked to actively participate, be involved in the community, and
be willing to follow through on given assignments. An interest in community building,
and patience in developing and implementing short and long range goals are added
assets.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
DUTIES: In an advisory capacity to the Board of Directors, the Advisory Council
assesses the service needs of seniors and disabled through contact with other
providers, and with Senior Center site staff. They facilitate accurate exchange of
information among staff, community, and the Board. The Advisory Council serves as an
important link to the Seniors served by our programs.
TERMS AND COMMITMENT: Each Council member serves a 3-year term, and meetings
are scheduled on a monthly basis. Individual committee meetings are scheduled as
needed.
Each Council member is asked to commit adequate time to research and stay up to date
on changes affecting Senior issues within the community.
This section will explain how our agency is connected to the community, cover pertinent
information about our policies and procedures, and cover job descriptions and
opportunities available to you. We hope it will also provide you with information on what
to expect from our agency, and show you how important you are to the success of our
programs.
Hopefully, this will be only the beginning of a rewarding experience for you. We hope
you become a permanent part of the COCOA volunteer team!
APPLICATION PROCESS
Volunteers with COCOA are asked to complete a screening process. The volunteer
enrollment form is the first step in this process. You will also notice an authorization form
for a criminal background check. All volunteer applicants must go through a criminal
background check with the State of Oregon.
WHO WE ARE
COCOA is a charitable non-profit public benefit corporation, responsible for providing
services to meet the needs of Seniors in the Central Oregon tri-county area. We are
the local designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA). “AAA’s” are located throughout the
state, and across the nation.
COCOA is unique in that we are a Type “A” agency, acting as a private non-profit
entity. Your volunteer hours become even more important to us, as the majority of our
operation is based on community support, both in dollars and time!
COCOA’S Central Office, located in Redmond, has an administrative support staff of
six. The agency is managed by the Executive Director, and is governed by a Board of
Directors and an Advisory Council. The Board of Directors and the Advisory Council
represent a variety of expertise throughout the tri-county area, and are very involved
in overseeing COCOA programs. They are also involved in the fundraising events for our
agency.
COCOA’s stated mission, to “promote dignity, well-being, security and independence for
Central Oregon’s Senior Citizens,” is evident in the many services we offer. We
encourage a maximum of self-help and independence through services and programs
that encompass nutrition, health and wellness, transportation, in-home services,
advocacy and legal assistance.
SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM
(Congregate & Meals on Wheels)
These programs offer economical, nutritious meals in both a group setting at the Senior
Centers, and to the frail, homebound elderly, through the Meals-On-Wheels program.
The Senior Center mealsite programs (congregate meals) vary in hours and days of
operation, depending on the Center in each community. The meals have a requested
donation of $3.50 for those over 60 (and a spouse of any age) and are open to those
under the age of 60 at a specified cost of $5.50. Our Meals-on-Wheels program
delivers hot meals to those in need, based on an in-home assessment completed by one
of our Case Managers. Donations are requested of the participants, as with the
congregate meals program.
Volunteers are needed in many areas at the congregate mealsite, including meal
preparation, serving, host or hostess, information and assistance and helping make the
meal an enjoyable experience.
Volunteers are needed in the Meals-on-Wheels program to deliver mid-day meals. Meals-
on-Wheels delivers hot meals to approximately 400 seniors per day in the tri-county
area!
SENIOR CENTER PROGRAMS
COCOA offers a variety of programs coordinating health and wellness education, health
screening, legal assistance, paperwork assistance, recreation, arts, and many outreach
and referral services. Each site has a Program Coordinator who manages COCOA
programs at that site, as well as supervising the staff and volunteers.
Volunteers can answer the phone for referral services, coordinate social events, lead
recreational activities, teach classes, or help in the gift shop.
CASE MANAGEMENT
COCOA Case Managers assist seniors in making cost-effective and appropriate decisions
regarding their care needs. The Case Manager normally receives a referral, schedules a
home visit to complete a needs assessment, and then networks with family, friends and
community resources to provide needed services. Each Senior Center has a Case
Manager available; in some cases the Program Coordinator is also the Case Manager.
IN-HOME SERVICES
Oregon Project Independence (OPI) is a unique Oregon program providing in-home care
to seniors who are at risk of institutionalization. OPI offers such services as
housekeeping, personal care, laundry, shopping and meal preparation. A sliding fee
scale is used to determine what fees, if any, will be charged for services. All fees
collected are used to expand OPI services.
DIAL-A-RIDE (DAR)
Dial-a-Ride provides transportation to Seniors and people with disabilities of any age, for
medical appointments, local shopping, transport to the Senior Centers, and personal
errands.
Dial-a-Ride is funded by the county’s Special Transportation fund from the State
cigarette tax, the Older Americans Act, and by riders’ fees and donations. COCOA
contracts with Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council to provide DAR service with
their Cascades East Transit in all areas of Central Oregon, except in Bend, where the
service is provided by the Bend Area Transit. DAR is fee-for-service for general
transport. The ride to the mealsite is on a donation basis.
Volunteers are needed to provide seniors with occasional individual service.
OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DUTIES: COCOA is governed by a 9-member Board of Directors responsible for
overseeing the agency through its Executive Director. The Board is also responsible for
fundraising in the tri-county area.
.
TERM AND COMMITMENT: Each Board member serves a 3-year term, and meetings are
scheduled on a monthly basis. Individual committee meetings are scheduled as needed.
Each Board member is asked to actively participate, be involved in the community, and
be willing to follow through on given assignments. An interest in community building,
and patience in developing and implementing short and long range goals are added
assets.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
DUTIES: In an advisory capacity to the Board of Directors, the Advisory Council
assesses the service needs of seniors and disabled through contact with other
providers, and with Senior Center site staff. They facilitate accurate exchange of
information among staff, community, and the Board. The Advisory Council serves as an
important link to the Seniors served by our programs.
TERMS AND COMMITMENT: Each Council member serves a 3-year term, and meetings
are scheduled on a monthly basis. Individual committee meetings are scheduled as
needed.
Each Council member is asked to commit adequate time to research and stay up to date
on changes affecting Senior issues within the community.
| Becoming a COCOA Volunteer |
Instructions for:
Background History Request Form
Background History Request Form
- Copy 301AD form and instructions
double sided. Staple together. - Have the subject individual complete
section 5 on side two of the 301AD
form. Refer person to the
instructions. - Be sure they date and sign at the
bottom of page 2. - Make a photocopy of the person’s
photo ID (drivers license, DMV-issued
ID; or passport) - Indicate in Section 4 on page one the
description of duties (Meals On
Wheels driver, kitchen help etc). - Send completed 301AD form with
copy of photo ID to: Jane Roger,
COCOA, 1135 SW Highland Avenue,
Redmond, OR 97756. - Any questions? Call Jane at 548-8817.
