Program Information

Benefits and Support

Good Shepherd Volunteers offers ongoing support and formation opportunities throughout your time of service. While GSV does offer a broad range of support, it is up to each volunteer to take the initiative to utilize these supports as fully as they wish.

Benefits

GSV provides each volunteer with housing, health insurance, transportation, and a living stipend.

The AmeriCorps Educational Award

Some GSV placements have the AmeriCorps Educational Award Program (AEAP). GSV partners with Catholic Volunteer Network to offer this AmeriCorps award which is an educational award of $5,350 that can be used toward future education and/or paying off student loans.

For more information on the CVN-AmeriCorps program, click here >

Retreats

We provide several retreats throughout the year. These retreats offer an opportunity for personal and shared reflection. All of our volunteers are able to gather in one place, take a step back from their busy lives, reflect on their experiences, and take steps to challenge themselves to learn and grow.

Workshops

We offer several workshops such as Career Workshops, Grad School Workshops, the “Enneagram” Personality Test, and Communication/Conflict Resolution workshops. They aim to assist you both in community life and your work ministry.

Spiritual Direction

Each volunteer is given access to a spiritual director who can assist them in developing their spirituality. The spiritual director can meet regularly with the volunteer and assist the volunteer with questions, challenges, and new ideas for exploring their spiritual life. Because we recognize that each person has their own distinctive spiritual life and faith practice, this relationship allows for a one-on-one approach to each person’s unique background.

Community Support People

Each volunteer community has a Support Person who helps set community goals and develop a common vision. This Support Person is usually a former volunteer. They help the community hold themselves accountable to their goals and values, and challenge them to be open and honest with each other.

Work Supervision

Each GSV has a Supervisor at their placement responsible for overseeing the work of the volunteer, helping them achieve performance goals, and assisting them in their professional development. They meet regularly with the volunteer for individual support, and they also connect the volunteers with training opportunities when applicable.

GSV Staff Support

The purpose of GSV staff is to make sure that each GSV volunteer gets the most out of their overall experience with GSV. We are here as a resource to accompany volunteers through challenges at their work site, community, personal and spiritual life and to offer an overall support before, during, and after each person’s GSV year.

Graduate School Scholarships

GSV is partners with graduate schools who offer full or partial scholarships to GSV Volunteers who complete their year of service. Carnegie Mellon University’s H. John Heinz III College will award scholarships to all former GSV Volunteers in the School of Public Policy and Management and the School of Information Systems and Management. They will also select one of the Good Shepherd Volunteers each year to receive a full-tuition scholarship. More information [here] (insert document). Boston College School of Theology and Ministry will award generous scholarships to all current and former GSV that are admitted into one of their degree programs. They will also select one of the Good Shepherd Volunteers each year to receive a full-tuition scholarship. More information [here] (insert document).