This is a key position for the Afia Center Program. The program is run by AIDS Project Rhode Island, a division of Family Service of Rhode Island. The program is open at the Matthewson Street Church on Wednesdays and Thursday from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m.
 
The majority of the clients who come to the Afia Center look forward to the support of the community there, participating in group activities and having a hot meal. Clients also may participate in arts and crafts, creative writing or other artistic projects. The front desk volunteer would report to Pastor Aida, and the staff of the Afia Center. This is a position that requires the ability, comfort level and/or experience working with a diverse population of folks living with HIV. These clients may also be economically challenged, or be dealing with a variety of family, housing, medical, mental health or substance use issues. Because the program is located in a well known and respected church in Downtown Providence, there may be other members of the local community, such as homeless folks or visitors coming into the church during Afia hours. The volunteer may have to redirect non-Afia members to other services.

Responsibilities as follows:

* Maintain confidentiality for the group members.

* Maintain a primary location at the front desk of the lobby of the MSUMC during the Afia Program hours.

* Monitor the traffic coming into the Church, and determine who Afia members are. Only Afia members are to be admitted into the space designated for the program.

* Have some knowledge of the local services available to the homeless community, and have some ability to set limits and/or redirect folks to appropriate services.

* Have the experience and/or comfort level to be a reliable, stabilizing presence for the diverse and sometimes complex situations that arise during the course of the program.

* Have the ability to redirect and refer clients to staff members who express specific needs.

* A good comfort level to work with multi-ethnic/racial and multilingual population is always welcome.

* Reliable