SMART Recovery Online (SROL) Volunteer Job Descriptions

Thank you for your interest in Volunteering for SMART Recovery Online (SROL)!
Please read the position descriptions and then submit the application for the volunteer position you're interested in.

Note: Applications may be shared with online volunteers for feedback.

Please don't take the idea of being a SMART Volunteer lightly. More than anyone, the volunteers of SMART Recovery Online (SROL) ARE the face of SMART Recovery. People come to SMART looking for hope, and they find it in the tools and peer support that SMART Recovery offers.

New members arriving at SMART tend to view volunteers as people who have an understanding of our 4-Point Program®. While it's not necessary for a volunteer to be a "total expert" with our methods, a basic grasp of the tools and concepts is desirable. And- one very valuable benefit of becoming a volunteer is you'll have ongoing opportunities to enhance your own knowledge of the tools as you help others.

SMART's expectation is that as a volunteer you will seek to use the tools in all of your dealings at SROL. When you volunteer, you "are" SMART Recovery for many people. It can take real dedication and willingness to give of yourself to be an effective volunteer, while at the same time, volunteering can be a very rewarding and satisfying way of furthering your own recovery.

Title: Chat Volunteer

Role Summary

Chat Volunteers help create a friendly, supportive environment in the chatroom so that participants can easily learn, use the tools of SMART Recovery, and feel welcomed by the greater SMART Recovery Online Community. Chat Volunteers ensure that principles, practices, concepts and tools used in 24x7 Chat are consistent with those of SMART Recovery.

All SMART Recovery volunteers acknowledge and accept that any person they may interact with may be suffering to some degree and may act illogically, irrationally, or impractically. Our work is to empathize with these conditions and acknowledge their valiant attempt at a different behavior where possible, rather than take a behavior personally.

Qualification Requirements

Be involved at SMART Recovery online for a minimum of three months
Required to complete the Get SMART Fast Facilitator training within three months of becoming a volunteer – click Online Training Program

Please Note: There is an expense involved for the training. If you have a question or a concern that this expense might be problematic or may prevent you from becoming a volunteer, please CLICK HERE to learn about scholarships

As a Chat Volunteer I am required to know

The basic SMART Recovery 4 Point Program
SMART Recovery tools and techniques
Where to direct new participants for further resources
How to get in touch with the Chat Co-Liaisons
Know the suicide links
The ability to deal with strong personalities and de-escalate hostile situations or arguments

Abstinence Requirement (when applicable)

6 months of continuous abstinence in order to apply.
Click - SMART Volunteer Abstinence & Relapse Policy

Communication Skills

Good written and oral abilities
Conveys essential information to other volunteers, Chat Co-Liaisons, and participants of the Online Community
Conveys basic principles and tools of SMART Recovery

Confidentiality

Has access to personal information of other volunteers and members of the Online Community (a sense of privacy is crucial)
Maintains confidentiality/privacy of all information
- Violation of privacy/confidentiality will result in evaluation of involvement

Role Requirements

This is a volunteer position
The Chat Liaison coordinates the recruitment of a suitable a Chat volunteer – the Leadership Team and National Office are responsible for the management of all volunteers.
The volunteer may spend as much or as little time as they wish. To achieve lifestyle balance and avoid burnout, it is recommended that the volunteer not spend all of their time in chat. The volunteer’s own recovery comes first at all times!

Role Responsibilities

Be Present in Chat
Greet Newcomers
Provide information and links about message board orientation, SMART tools, etc.
Alert administrators and other volunteers to participants who may be problematic
Provide support and crisis links when needed
Explain how SMART Recovery tools can be used to deal with a variety of issues
Attend Chat Volunteer meetings if available and when able

Click here to Volunteer for this position!

Title: Message Board Volunteer – MBV

Role Summary

MBV creates a warm, friendly, supportive atmosphere on the MB so that a participant might more easily learn and use a tool of SMART Recovery that is considered relevant to them. A MBV attempts to ensure that a principle, practice, concept or tool used on the MB is consistent with those of SMART Recovery. Acts in a manner consistent with the Mission Statement, Principles and Practices of SMART Recovery.

Qualification Requirements

Be involved at SMART Recovery online for at least three months
Have at least TWELVE posts on the Message Board.
Required to complete the Get SMART Fast Facilitator training within three months of becoming a volunteer – click Online Training Program

As a MBV I am required to know

The basic 4 Point Program of SMART Recovery
SMART Recovery tools and techniques – having attempted a HoV, a CBA, and an ABC in writing
The layout of the message board
Basic posting guidelines – especially the ‘Terms Of Service’ – click TOS
How to report a post
The suicide links

Abstinence Requirement (when applicable)

Six months of continuous abstinence in order to apply.
Click - SMART Volunteer Abstinence & Relapse Policy

Role Requirements

This is a volunteer position.
The MB Liaison coordinates the recruitment of a suitable a MB volunteer – the Leadership Team and National Office are responsible for the management of all volunteers.
As a MB volunteer there is an expectation to attempt a supportive post at least once a week.
It is seen as helpful to ‘adopt’ one or more forums and make a habit of providing support and attempt to keep other posts helpful there.
Life-style balance and the avoidance of burnout is a priority. The volunteer’s recovery comes first at all times!

Confidentiality

Has access to personal information of other volunteers and members of the Online Community (a sense of privacy is crucial)
Maintains confidentiality/privacy of all information
- Violation of privacy/confidentiality will result in evaluation of involvement

Role Responsibilities

Respond to a person’s post in a helpful, supportive and encouraging way – to do this at least FOUR times in a month.
Rather than give advice, say what has worked for ‘ME’ or what ‘I’ might try – in order to do that, it is seen as helpful to speak in the ‘first person’ – I, me, my, etc
Provide information about meeting times, access to the handbook, message board orientation, a SMART tool, etc
Monitor a thread or threads of my choice
Find a post in an incorrect thread or forum, report it to be moved, and steer a participant towards a more appropriate forum.
Alert an administrator by reporting a participant’s post that may be problematic – especially one in apparent violation of the TOS, or a spammer.
Report a thread which might be becoming unhelpful.
Explain to a participant how I might have used a SMART Recovery tool to deal with a life challenge or issue.
Attend a MBV meeting when possible.
Let the MB Liaison know if I will be away for more than 2 weeks or if I feel it is important that I have a break from the role for a while – my well-being comes first.

Click here to Volunteer for this position!

Title: Meeting Helper

Role Summary

Supports the facilitator(s) of SMART Recovery Online meetings using the Zoom platform. Ensures that the meetings are run in a manner consistent with the Mission Statement and practices of SMART Recovery. Acts in a manner consistent with the Mission Statement and practices of SMART Recovery. Upholds policies determined by the SMART Recovery Board of Directors, National Office, and SROL Leadership Team

Qualification Requirements

Participation in SROL or SMART Recovery Face-to-Face meetings for a minimum of three months
Completion of the Facilitator Training course
Ability to demonstrate use of SMART Recovery tools and techniques
Follow structure/format of SROL meetings
Good social skills
Good computer/internet/Zoom skills
Provide crisis links to distraught participants when needed

Training Requirements

Complete the Get SMART Fast Facilitator training – click Online Training Program
Complete on-the-job training with facilitator and Lead Meeting Helper

Abstinence Requirement (when applicable)

6 months of continuous abstinence in order to apply
Click - SMART Volunteer Abstinence & Relapse Policy

Communication Skills

Excellent written and oral abilities
Conveys essential information to the Facilitator, Lead Meeting Helper, other volunteers, participants of the Online Community
Must be able to convey the principles and tools of SMART Recovery
Ability to use assertive communication to effectively problem solve

Confidentiality

Has access to personal information of other volunteers and members of the Online Community (a sense of privacy is crucial)
Maintains confidentiality/privacy of all information
- Violation of privacy/confidentiality will result in evaluation of involvement

Role Demands

Volunteer position requires a commitment of a minimum of one meeting per week
The Meeting Liaisons coordinate the recruitment of a suitable a Meeting Helper – the Leadership Team and National Office are responsible for the management of all volunteers.
Keeps up with SROL updates, information and announcements
Owns computer with up-to-date operating system and audio/video capabilities, smart phone, and internet connectivity
Strong computer skills
Participate in meetings/trainings
To achieve lifestyle balance and avoid burnout, it is recommended that the volunteer not spend all of their time in SROL. The volunteer’s own recovery comes first at all times!

Role Responsibilities

Greet people as they come into the meeting
Answer general meeting questions i.e. “is this a meeting?”, “who is the facilitator?”
Help the facilitator keep the group focused
Posts links for the facilitator
Help ensure participants adhere to meeting ground rules and expectations
Reports all meeting incidents to the facilitator
Refer suicidal and distraught participants to appropriate resources
Attend the SROL Volunteer meetings and respond to communications within a 3-day time frame

Click here to Volunteer for this position!

Title: Meeting Facilitator

Role Summary

Facilitates SMART Recovery Online meetings using the Zoom platform. Ensures that the meetings are run in a manner consistent with the principles of SMART Recovery. Acts in a manner consistent with the Mission Statement, Principles, and Practices of SMART Recovery. Upholds policies determined by the SMART Recovery Board of Directors, National Office, and SROL Leadership Team.

Qualification Requirements

Participation in SROL or SMART Recovery Face-to-Face meetings for a minimum of three months
Completion of the Facilitator Training course
Completion of SROL FIT (Facilitator-in-Training) course
Ability to demonstrate use of SMART Recovery tools and techniques
Follow structure/format of SROL meetings
Good communication skills
Good computer/internet/Zoom skills
Provide crisis links to distraught participants when needed

Training Requirements

Complete the Get SMART FastGet SMART Fast Facilitator training – click Online Training Program
Supervised FIT meetings: working under the supervision of an experienced SROL Meeting Facilitator for 6 to 12 online meetings
Other training requirements/recommendations may be added, length of training may be adjusted based on input from the Training Facilitator and approval from SROL Meeting Co-Liaisons

Abstinence Requirement (when applicable)

6 months of continuous abstinence in order to apply.
Click - SMART Volunteer Abstinence & Relapse Policy

Communication Skills

Excellent written and oral abilities
Conveys essential information to the SROL Leadership Team, National Office, other volunteers, and participants of the Online Community
Must be able to convey the principles and tools of SMART Recovery
Ability to use assertive communication to effectively problem solve

Confidentiality

Has access to personal information of other volunteers and members of the Online Community (a sense of privacy is crucial)
Maintains confidentiality/privacy of all materials
- Violation of privacy/confidentiality will result in evaluation of involvement

Role Demands

Volunteer position requires a commitment of facilitating a minimum of one meeting per week
The Meeting Liaisons coordinate the recruitment of a suitable a Meeting Facilitator – the Leadership Team and National Office are responsible for the management of all volunteers.
Keeps up with SROL updates, information and announcements
Owns computer with up-to-date operating system and audio/video capabilities, smart phone, and internet connectivity
Strong computer skills
Participate in meetings/trainings
To achieve lifestyle balance and avoid burnout, it is recommended that the volunteer not spend all of their time in SROL. The volunteer’s own recovery comes first at all times!

Role Responsibilities

Start and end meetings on-time
Ensure participants adhere to meeting ground rules and expectations
Reports all meeting incidents to SROL Meeting Co-Liaisons within 24 hours
Adhere to the SMART Recovery meeting format for the type of meeting you facilitate
Keep group focused on task (insofar as possible)
Explain how SMART Recovery tools can be used for recovery and a variety of life issues
Refer suicidal and distraught participants to appropriate resources
Attend the SROL Volunteer Meetings and respond to communications within a 3-day time frame

Click here to Volunteer for this position!