Alternative Community Service
As part of Volunteer Fairfax's commitment to promoting volunteerism, the Center administers the Alternative Community Service Program (ACS), which places a broad range of court-ordered clients in community service positions in lieu of a fine or jail term.
In 2008, nearly 900 clients completed more than 27,500 hours of service at more than 100 local nonprofit and public agencies. According to the Independent Sector, which values volunteering at $20.25 per hour, ACS clients contributed more than $558,000 to local nonprofits last year.
To learn more about the ACS program, download a printable brochure.
*IMPORTANT*
Beginning February 1, 2010, Volunteer Fairfax will begin charging a $10 missed appointment fee for Alternative Community Service Clients, both pre-trial and court referred, for each missed intake appointment unless the client calls at least 24 hours in advance of their appointment to reschedule or if they are more than 15 minutes late for their scheduled appointment in which case their appointment will need to be rescheduled. If by the third appointment the client does not show or is more than 15 minutes late, Volunteer Fairfax reserves the right to refer the case back to the referring entity.
In the case that a client is re-referred to Volunteer Fairfax, any previous missed appointment fees will be applied to the base fee.
The purpose of adding the missed appointment fee is to encourage clients to attend their appointments and shorten the wait time between the client’s referral date and the date of the intake appointment. This will allow clients to have a larger window of opportunity in which to complete their court mandated community service hours.
