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Abstract:
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The main objective of this study was to answer the following question: What are the
factors that impact volunteer participation in California Department ofAging (CDA)
programs? There are many studies on volunteerism; however, with the exception of a
handful of studies, information specific to CDA program volunteers is sparse. Therefore,
the study also aimed to describe the current volunteers of CDA programs and their
specific contributions by incorporating questions about personal and environmental
factors associated with volunteering in general. This would help CDA assess whether it
is meeting its objective of involving community members of all ages and backgrounds to
participate as volunteers in their programs, as well as how to improve retention. Given
California 's rapidly aging population and the fiscal conditions in the State, volunteers
will remain an important component in sustaining these programs. Data was obtained through a web-based survey. Responses were collectedfrom
volunteers who participate in CDA administered programs across various regions of the
State. The main results of the study suggest that the most significant reasons for volunteerism
are related to the values individuals hold and their perception of the program quality
and effectiveness. The study also reveals that the demographic makeup of volunteers
who participate in these programs is generally not diverse. These results suggest that, to improve retention, programs should develop techniques
that acknowledge how the contributions of volunteers affect the quality and effectiveness
of these programs. However, given the relatively small sample of responses, further
research is needed to determine the full makeup of CDA volunteers. Therefore, CDA may find it beneficial to conduct a more comprehensive survey of its volunteers in the
near future. |
