Individual Volunteers
Strengthen community ties through a planned visit to a nursing home, assisted living facility or state school/center. The DADS Silver Lining program provides opportunities to visit once or build a relationship over time through multiple visits.
Identify your volunteering goals
The Silver Lining program provides many opportunities to connect.
As an individual volunteer, your goal may be to visit with an older companion OR you may want to develop a regular group activity at the facility.
If you have questions about how to set up and achieve your volunteering goals, please contact the activities director at the nursing home or assisted living facility you choose OR the community relations director, if you have chosen to volunteer with one of the state schools/centers.
Another common volunteering goal is to fulfill community service requirements. Typically, this goal is for the high school or college student who is enrolled in coursework requiring a specific number of logged hours.
Get started
Please follow these instructions for becoming a new Silver Lining volunteer.
- Decide if you want to volunteer at a nursing home or assisted living facility or a state school/center.
- Contact the volunteer coordinator or community relations director of the facility at which you want to volunteer.
- Complete the DADS Volunteer Application, Form 8653. Please be sure to check the Silver Lining option in the "Volunteer Interest/Background" section of the form. Please fax your completed volunteer application to 512-438-4829 or e-mail your completed application to Volunteerdads@dads.state.tx.us.
- If you have specific needs for your course requirements (e.g., documentation that verifies the number of community service hours) please contact DADS Volunteer and Community Engagement (VCE) at 1-800-889-8595.
Tell us your story!
Stories can focus on a Silver Lining event or project that you have created or hosted. We encourage everyone to share. If you would like to include photos, please contact VCE at 1-800-889-8595, as there are guidelines for permission on any photos submitted. So that we respect each individual’s right to privacy, please exclude any information that might identify specific people or locations, such as last name, the name of the location you visited or the exact address.
Click here to submit your story.
Volunteer recognition
Volunteers are recognized annually for their service contributions. DADS hosts an annual volunteer recognition ceremony in the early summer. You may be eligible for a DADS Vision Award, Length of Service Award or a certificate of appreciation, as well as other promotional volunteer incentives. Speak to either the activities director or community relations director at your volunteering location for more information on receiving volunteer recognition. These awards have specific criteria. Visit the Volunteer at DADS website for more information.
Updated: March 31, 2008