Empowering Children Bay Area (ECBA)

Mission Statement

ECBA recruiters trains and places older adults (50+) in elementary school classes to build relationships and foster literacy fluency.

About Volunteer Opportunities

Describe the Tutoring or Mentoring Opportunity

ECBA’s tutors work with 1st-3rd grade students in public elementary schools in the Bay Area. We match you with two children (or more if you have the time) and you build a relationship twice a week for thirty minutes with each child. This becomes the “carrot” that makes the child want to engage in our literacy fluency tutoring. We utilize an evidence-based model that focus on fun games that relax the child and helps get past any fear or embarrassment they may have in needing help. Tutors report high levels of satisfaction with the program, and more than 80% return for many years of service.

Where does the interaction take place?

ECBA has many sittes across Marin, San Francisco, and even a few far flung ones in Redwood City and Sonoma’s Forestville.

• San Pedro Elementary School

• Laurel Dell Elementary School

• Sun Valley Elementary School

• Vallecito Elementary School

• Venetia Valley School

• Bahia Vista Elementary School

• Coleman Elementary School

• Hamilton School

• Yick Wo Alternative Elementary School

• Lawton Alternative School

• Monroe Elementary School

• Rosa Parks Elementary School

• Loma Verde Elementary School

• Glenwood Elementary School

• Forestville Elementary School

Volunteer Parameters

1. Are there any special requirements regarding age, health, mobility of volunteers? 
   Yes, we seek volunteers over 50 years of age with a high school degree. English language fluency is also very important.

2. Does your vetting of volunteers include: 

   a. Fingerprints: Yes (we reimburse) 
   b. TB Test: Yes 
   c. Background check: Yes (we perform it)
   d. Interview: Yes
   e. Onboarding: Training on our structured session. We do a three hour zoom training, and follow up practice with your point of contact.

3. Do your volunteers need to be bilingual? How helpful would it be if they were? 
   No. It would be somewhat helpful.

4. Is the volunteer opportunity episodic or continuous?
   Continuous for the school year with summers off

5. What is the time commitment?
   Twice a week for one hour each time as a minimum.

6. When does the opportunity begin and when does it end, i.e. is it tied to the academic school calendar?
   We tutor from September through May. Many tutors are placed throughout the year. Yes it’s tied to the school calendar.

7. Do you provide training for your volunteers?
   Yes, we train all our tutors personally.

8. Do you utilize teen volunteers? Would you if they were available?
   We do not utilize teens at this time.

How many volunteers does your organization currently utilize? 

Approximately 150

How many more would you need to have full capacity? 

San Francisco and Redwood City need more tutors. Marin has a great word of mouth recruitment and we would have to discuss which site you wanted to join.

Would you increase your volunteer offerings programmatically if you had more volunteers?

More funding would be needed to help schools provide cost share, and for hiring more support staff.

What would you like potential volunteers to know in addition to the above? 

Even if you can’t help out with your time, you can help us out financially (and see our cute new video) at Sequoialiving.org/kids