Katrina Ayres

Publication Date

8-2005

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Katrina Phelps, Elizabeth Shoenfelt, Jacqueline Pope-Tarrance

Comments

Access granted to WKU students, faculty and staff only.

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Degree Program

Department of Psychology

Degree Type

Specialist in Education

Abstract

The ALIVE Center (A Local Information & Volunteer Exchange) was established in 2003 to promote placement and effective use of volunteers and to provide information and resources for human services. The center began as part of Western Kentucky University’s Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Project. This study compared the ALIVE Center to three other information, referral and volunteer centers in Kentucky: Metro United Way, United Way of the Bluegrass and the Volunteer Center of Owensboro. Areas that were assessed include: history, funding, facility, staff, programs, and services. In addition, the success of the ALIVE Center was evaluated based on the attainment of specific grant objectives.

The results indicate many similarities across the four information and referral centers. The Volunteer Center of Owensboro was the only center significantly different from the others in that they allow use of registered volunteers only to organizations that pay a fee. Both United Way centers use Volunteer Solutions as a main component to their technology. They are in the beginning stages of implementing 2-1-1, a community human services phone number. The ALIVE Center appears to be effectively and efficiently run. Their technology is comparable to other centers; they offer up-to-date information on human services and volunteer opportunities. Also, the ALIVE Center offers workshops for area nonprofit agencies, adults, and youth. Implications and suggestions for the future of the ALIVE Center are discussed.

Disciplines

Education | Educational Administration and Supervision | Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | Higher Education Administration | Leadership Studies | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Sociology | Student Counseling and Personnel Services

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