Public Sector Volunteer Management: Best Practices and Challenges

Description

In order to effectively and consistently provide services to citizens, local governments have had to come up with creative ways for offering services demanded by their citizens. One popular approach became the creation of volunteer programs as local governments became increasingly reliant on volunteers. Volunteers are one means by which local governments help to increase meaningful engagement with citizens and help meet the increasing needs for public services with limited resources. On a broader scale, volunteers in public agencies provide a variety of services to fill gaps in creating and sustaining collective societal goods that otherwise might have been limited due to fiscal stress on local governments or eliminated. Public Sector Volunteer Management: Best Practices and Challenges adds to the understanding of how management practices may affect retention of volunteers. It provides an opportunity to add much-needed data to any discussion concerning volunteering at the local government level from the perspective of volunteer coordinators and aims to provide in-depth research on local government volunteer management practices. This book focuses on best practices identified as necessary for successful volunteer management in the public sector, specifically in a local government setting, making it a valuable text for researchers, academics, and students in the fields of public and nonprofit management, leadership, and human resource management. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents Figures Tables Acknowledgment Preface 1. Introduction: Introducing Concepts The Spirit of Volunteering in America Historical Roots of Volunteerism Volunteerism Who Is a Volunteer? Types of Volunteers Benefits of Volunteering Conclusion Exercise Questions to Consider Discussion Questions References 2. Public Sector Volunteer Management The Public Sector Volunteerism in the Public Sector Sample of Roles Performed by Volunteers Who Volunteers in the Public Sector? Volunteer Programs/Organizations Organizational Models of Volunteerism Model 1: The Ad Hoc Model Model 2: The Outside Recruitment/Internal Management Model Model 3: The Centralized Model Model 4: The Decentralized Model References 3. Theoretical Frameworks to Study Volunteer Management Introduction Human Resources Management Theory Human Relations Theory Bureaucratic Theory Why People Volunteer Discussion Questions References 4. Best Practices in Volunteer Management References 5. Local Government Volunteer Management Why Involve Volunteers in Local Government? Example of the Impact of Volunteers in Local Government Considerations for Involving Volunteers Volunteer Coordinator References 6. Volunteer Programs in Local Government References 7. Citizen Engagement References 8. Volunteer Retention and Turnover References 9. Virtual Volunteering References 10. Global Volunteering Global Volunteering References 11. Case Studies—Texas Case Study 1 Data Collection Procedure Participation Procedures The inclusionary criteria for this study were limited to: Research Instrument Survey Questionnaire Telephone Interviews Interview Questions Analysis Limitations Survey and Interview Results Qualitative Analysis of Interviews Codes and Themes Emergent from the Interview Analysis Part 1: Human Relations Challenges Engaging Volunteers Outreach to Volunteers Recognition of Volunteers Annual Evaluation of Volunteers Meeting the Volunteers' Needs Recognition of Volunteers Volunteer Orientation Matching Volunteers to Positions That Are a Good Fit Retention of Volunteers Recruiting Volunteers Volunteers Sitting on Community Boards Human Relations Management—Challenges Part 2: Bureaucratic Best Practices of Volunteer Management Volunteer Program Policy Managing Volunteers Volunteer Program's Budget Preparation and Planning for New Programs Training Volunteers Tracking Volunteer Hours Training Volunteers for the Right Position Best Practices in Volunteer Management Challenges Political Challenges Strategies for Volunteer Retention Newsletter Matching Volunteers to the Right Position Part 3: Volunteer Program Challenges Support from City Showing Value of Volunteers to Taxpayers and City Hall Visibility of Volunteer Program Managing the Needs of Volunteers and Departments Volunteer Program Challenges—Challenges Limitations of Volunteer Programs Comparing Long-Time Volunteer Coordinators with Newer Volunteer Coordinators Summary Discussion of Survey Results Summary of Participant Demographic Characteristics Local Government Volunteer Management Practices and Implications for the Conceptual Model Community Engagement Opportunities Provided by Local Governments Challenges Associated with Coordinating Community Engagement Activities for Volunteers Discussion of the Study Interviews Volunteer Program Challenges Human Relations Challenges Bureaucratic Best Practices of Volunteer Management Summary Recommendations Case Study 2 Background Traditional Volunteering Episodic Volunteering Mandatory Volunteering Continuum of Care An Overview of Homelessness in Texas Volunteer Activities and Homelessness Prevention The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center Services Offered and Volunteer Opportunities Intake Engagement Reception Desk Volunteer Library Volunteer Art Class Volunteer Karaoke Volunteer Kennel Companion Volunteer Campus Organization Special Campus Projects Treat Social Game Day and Bingo Night Meal Services Volunteer Risk Management Conclusion References Appendix Survey Volunteer Management Practices Citizen Engagement Citizen Engagement Challenges Appendix A. Qualitative Interview Protocol and Questions Qualitative Interview Protocol and Questions Interview Guide Volunteer Management Practices Probe Best Practices of Volunteer Management Challenges Probe Questions Questions Linked Back to Survey Citizen Engagement Challenges Linked to Survey Probe Questions Appendix B. Codes Codes Appendix C. Coded Participant Responses to Challenges Questions Coded Participant Responses to Challenges Questions Coded Participant Responses to Challenges Questions Index