Vancouver Coastal Health - CUDDLE 1-1 Outreach Program

Are you....

A parent who understands the isolation that new moms can feel and how valuable an extra set of helping hands and social support can be? A survivor of postpartum depression, anxiety or other perinatal mood disorder and want to provide help and hope to a mom going through a similar experience? Personally touched by this through witnessing a love one's experience?  Have supported postpartum moms through your work?

The Vancouver Coastal Health - CUDDLE 1-1 Outreach Program is a volunteer visitor in-home & emotional support program for new mothers who are at risk for postpartum depression.  CUDDLE stands for Caring, Understanding, Desire to help by Doing, Listening, and Encouragement. 

Accepted volunteers are matched with a new mother to provide the extra support that they need to help them adjust to the postpartum period.  Our volunteers are confident, are active listeners, and have a strong interest in maternity and women’s health, and have experience and feel comfortable engaging with babies and toddlers.  Volunteers develop a compassionate but professional relationship over a 4 to 6 month weekly placement. 

We are looking for volunteers with these qualifications or life experience: 
•	Are 19 years or older
•	Have personal post partum experience or professional experience supporting someone with postpartum mood disorders
•	Are confident in holding and soothing fussy infants, comfortable engaging with babies and toddlers.
•	Can offer empathy, patience, and practical encouragement to a parent navigating exhaustion, anxiety, and self-doubt
•	Have a strong interest or background in supporting post partum/maternity health, women’s health, Early Childhood Education, or Social Work.

Training: Orientation to the role by the Volunteer Resources Coordinator, orientation by the client hour online CUDDLE Outreach workshop 

If you have personal experience / a strong interest in maternity health/women's health, Early Childhood Education, this could be a good fit for you. 

Other languages can be an asset in this role.

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To begin your application process, please:

1.	Create a log in and fill in the application at:

https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/411c3039-cea1-4367-bf98-6317cb4be7b8/1

2.	Once you have completed the application you will receive an automatic email asking you to complete some initial online learning modules, and apply for your Criminal Record Check.

Once this process is complete, an intake coordinator will contact you for an interview.

At this interview you can state your interest in the CUDDLE program and find out about other VCH volunteer opportunities that may be a good fit for you.