Hours Commitment Policy

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Community Counseling & Crisis Center
110 South College Avenue, Oxford, Ohio
24-Hour Hotline: (513)523-4146, 894-7002, or 424-5498

We have observed over the years that far more people have met their commitments when they have had permanent hours (hours scheduled as a regular every-week time) than those who have done their hours in a variable way. The following policy is designed to ensure that the hours commitment will be met in a way that both keeps everyone practiced and sharp with their skills and sees to the filling of the schedule at the same time.

The Hours Commitment Policy

All Crisis Center counselors are required to put in a total of 60 hours per semester, which averages out to at least four (4) hours of phone coverage per week. Two of the four weekly hours must be scheduled on the Permanent Hours Schedule, as a regular every-week time (we recommend approaching this as if you are scheduling one more two-hour class). The other two (2) hours per week can be variable. In addition, at least one (1) overnight shift (midnight-8:00am) per Miami University semester, not including summer, is required – the eight (8) hours of the overnight counts toward your required total of 60. The minimum length of commitment is one year, which is defined as two Miami semesters (or one Miami semester and a summer) after you have completed training.

Also, if a counselor goes a total of four (4) consecutive weeks without doing any hours (and without contacting the Hotline Director), we will consider that counselor resigned. We added this because it appears to be a cumulative phenomenon – doing hours seems to breed more doing of hours and not doing hours seems to breed more not-doing of hours. It is important to stay with the commitment in a planned and regular way. We will continue to be very flexible and understanding if something has come up in someone’s life that is making it difficult to meet the commitment.

Answers To Common Questions About This Policy

	Being on the Permanent Hours Schedule does not mean that you cannot take a week off from your permanent hours from time to time. We understand that there are weeks that are more difficult than others to get in, and it is fine to take off a week when you need to. For example, after doing your overnight, you may choose to take the following week off. That will be fine. Just be sure to keep the Hotline Aides informed of when you will not be doing your permanent hours, and make sure you do not leave any last minute holes in the schedule.
	Do not be discouraged if someone has signed up for the hours you want. Double and triple coverage is desirable. If three people are all scheduled for the hours you want, you will THEN have to find different hours (but this should be rare).
	You CAN choose to put all 4 hours per week on the Permanent Hours Schedule – in fact, you are strongly encouraged to do so.
	Hours must be put on the Permanent Hours Schedule as soon as possible but by no later than the end of Week 2 of each academic semester. Try to come in some time during Week 1 if you can, but we understand that it is sometimes difficult with all the other demands on your time including arranging school schedule, living arrangements, etc.

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Copyright © 2002, 2003 Community Counseling & Crisis Center Last modified: 08/26/03

Copyright © 2002, 2003 Community Counseling & Crisis Center
Last modified: 08/26/03