American Cancer Society Mission Training and Support for Volunteers

General Questions

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General questions that apply to all volunteer roles
General website questions
Training and Registration
Look Good…Feel Better
Call Back
Reach to Recovery
Man to Man
Road to Recovery

General Questions that apply to all volunteer roles

What happens after I submit my volunteer application?
Once your local staff partner receives your volunteer application, s/he will contact you to arrange a meeting to learn more about your interests, skills, and availability, as well as review the program of your interest in more detail and orient you to the American Cancer Society. Once you and your staff partner collectively decide which program(s) is/are the best fit for you, register to participate in the program-specific training(s) that will certify you for your program. See your program’s volunteer position description for a complete list of required trainings on the Prospective Volunteers page. Road Recovery and Call Back trainings are offered monthly, Man to Man trainings are offered quarterly, and Look Good…Feel Better and Reach to Recovery trainings are offered on an as-needed basis several times each year (see FAQ section for those programs for more information).  Register for your required trainings in the Volunteer Learning Center.  You are highly encouraged to periodically participate in optional cultural awareness trainings, cancer support trainings and Doc Talks to stay up to date with advances in cancer and learn new skills, and you will also be invited to participate in a face-to-face Patient Support Training when one is scheduled in your area (see the FAQ section for Training and Registration for more information).

Can I volunteer in more than one program?
Yes. Many people volunteer their time in multiple programs, as program roles vary throughout the year, and many roles compliment one another (ex: Reach to Recovery and Call Back). You may also wish to volunteer part of you time in a patient service program, and another part in income development (Relay for Life, Daffodil Days, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, etc.). See the Prospective Volunteers page to learn about all the possible ways of getting involved.  Each volunteer program and role comes with its own set of training requirements. Talk with your local staff partner if you’re interested in getting involved with additional programs, and s/he will set up a time with you to determine which additional roles may be the best fit.

Is there a time commitment for which I’m required to volunteer?
There is no minimum time commitment to volunteer, however check your program’s volunteer position description on the Prospective Volunteers page and talk with your local staff partner to get a sense of how much time is recommended or needed for your role of interest. No matter how much time you have – whether it’s one day a month or a few hours a week – we will work with you to find a volunteer role that satisfies your interests and is compatible with your availability. We simply ask that you follow through with any volunteer commitments that you make, and notify your local staff partner or Volunteer Coordinator immediately if you’re not able to do so.

I know someone who is interested in volunteering. Where should I send them?
Encourage interested volunteers to call 1-800-227-2345, or contact their local American Cancer Society office directly. You can also direct them to the Prospective Volunteers page of www.ACSMissionTraining.org so that they can learn more about all the opportunities available to them, familiarize themselves with the volunteer position descriptions, and download the appropriate volunteer application.

Am I covered under the Society’s liability insurance?
In general, when you are providing a service through your designated program, you are covered under the Society’s liability insurance as secondary coverage to your primary insurance policy (ex: all volunteers in Road to Recovery and all volunteers in Look Good…Feel Better must have their own insurance as required by California law).  It is also important to note that you are only covered if your volunteer activity has been scheduled and authorized by the American Cancer Society.  This is particularly important for Road to Recovery rides, Look Good…Feel Better patient sessions, Man to Man support/self-help groups, and Reach to Recovery visits.  Any activities that have not been scheduled in advance by the Society will not be covered by our insurance policy.

Volunteers must be out of active treatment for at least one year prior to beginning in any patient service role.  When is "active treatment" officially over?
The period of active treatment differs for every cancer patient.  It includes treatments such as surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and other medications that are mediating the side effects of treatment.  General rule of thumb is that active treatment is over once those treatments are stopped.  Keep in mind, however, that reconstructive surgery can be considered a part of active treatment, as there are numerous emotional side effects that come along with having and recovering from reconstructive surgery.  Staff and prospective volunteers should evaluate the volunteer's readiness to begin in the particular program on a case-by-case basis, keeping the 1-year requirement in mind as a guideline.  Also remember that prospective volunteers who are waiting for their 1-year out of active treatment can volunteer in other capacities.  To see additional ways that you can get involved with the Society, visit the Prospective Volunteers page.

Why can’t I give out my personal phone number to patients or caregivers?
Volunteers should not distribute their personal phone numbers to patients or caregivers, but should rather refer people to call the Society’s toll-free number, 1-800-227-2345, for future questions and needs.  Calling the toll-free number is the most efficient way for a patient or caregiver to get support whenever they need it, and sets a good boundary to prevent volunteer burn-out. The following are some additional reasons why volunteers should refrain from giving out their person numbers:
•    Creates a potential situation of dependency (patient/caregiver calling the volunteer at all times of the day or night), which can lead to volunteer burn-out
•    Doesn’t allow the patient/caregiver to speak with a trained Cancer Resource Specialist who can provide more comprehensive navigation assistance (financial resources, transportation, support classes, connect with community resources, etc.)
•    The volunteer may be on vacation, away from the phone, or dealing with their own personal issues and unable to service the patient or caregiver

What should I do if I get a direct call from a patient/caregiver in the community?
This is another reason not to give out your personal phone number! Thank the person for contacting you, and then refer them to the Society’s toll-free number at 1-800-227-2345.  Explain that they can call at any time (day, night, or weekend) and will be able to talk to a “live” Cancer Information Specialist immediately who can address their needs.  To protect your privacy in the future as a volunteer, you can dial *67 before calling a patient/caregiver, and this will block your phone number from being displayed on caller ID.  

Can I leave a message on an answering machine or with another person when I try to call a patient/caregiver?
Unless you know for sure that it’s OK to leave a message, err on the side of caution and do not leave one. Some people don’t share the news about their cancer diagnosis or related information with all members of their household, and we need to respect their right to privacy. If you get an answering machine, simply hang up and call back later. You may also leave a very generic message without identifying yourself as calling from the American Cancer Society.  If you are speaking to a third party and they ask if you want to leave a message, ask when the patient/caregiver will be back and call back later.

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