FPC is holding a Volunteer Interest Meeting on January 29, 2026! Click the image to learn more, and the orange "RSVP" button to sign up!

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Volunteer FAQs

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. For individuals under 18, schedule a meeting with our Training and Care Coordinator to discuss potential volunteer opportunities.

  • Children’s Room Volunteer:
    Youth and childcare volunteers will assist Family Peace Center staff and clients by creating and promoting a safe place for children. Volunteers will monitor the children’s playroom area and assist with children’s activities. Various tasks may include monitoring children’s playroom, reading books, assisting in age-appropriate game play, supervising educational videos, supervising arts and crafts, and assisting older children with homework assignments. There are also evening opportunities for childcare during support group and journaling workshop offerings for survivors with children.

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Court Watch:
    Court Watch was developed to capture data around what survivors in our community are experiencing in their engagement with the court system. We are committed to providing data-driven and timeline-driven solutions to enhance offender accountability, survivor safety, and judicial efficiency. Court Watch volunteers attend court in Winnebago County and capture data on survivors' experiences. They also attend monthly virtual check-in meetings to discuss their efforts with FPC staff an other volunteers.
  • Chaplaincy:
    Because spirituality plays an important role in many survivor’s lives, the Family Peace Center (FPC) has created an Interfaith Chaplaincy program to provide spiritual support to those survivors that wish to use this service. As a victim of domestic violence enters the FPC, it is our desire that they be offered holistic support, including spiritual needs. The role of the FPC Chaplain is not to proselytize, but to provide spiritual support to FPC guests. The FPC Chaplains include ordained ministers, leaders, and volunteers from a variety of traditions. These Chaplains undergo training in domestic violence and sexual assault and the particular intersection of these issues and religion.

Application Process

  1. Phone Interview: Initial screening to discuss volunteer interests and opportunities.
  2. Background Check: Conducted through the Illinois State Police and the Department of Child and Family Services.
  3. Training Requirements: Includes Family Peace Center Orientation and for Childcare and Chaplaincy volunteers, the 40-hour online Illinois Domestic Violence Training and Mandated Reporter Training.
  4. Fees: The training cost for Childcare and Chaplaincy options is $275. Please discuss your ability to pay with FPC staff during the application process.

Ready to learn more or start the process to becoming a FPC volunteer? Call us! 779-348-7600