Volunteers needed, training May 1 through May 10
Trauma Intervention Programs of Riverside County (TIP) is seeking every day caring citizens in the Coachella Valley to volunteer to support emergency responders in a variety of capacities. A TIP volunteer can be called to emergency scenes by local law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, and hospital personnel to comfort those who are traumatized. Volunteers provide emotional and practical support to people in a traumatic crisis, while enabling first responders to focus on their specialties at the trauma scene.
Those interested in volunteering will participate in 37 hours of instruction over eight days from May 1 through May 10 at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station. They will learn the skills to comfort families in the first few hours after a tragedy at the request of emergency responders. The skills learned can be applied in various scenarios such as after the death, suicide, or sudden illness of a loved one; helping emotionally traumatized victims of accidents; providing emotional and practical support to those who have been robbed, burglarized, or assaulted; helping disoriented older persons; and assisting those emotionally shaken by other crisis events.
“Many of our volunteers have supported us for many years, and find it rewarding to give their time to help others going through a crisis by providing the emotional level of support they need and may not have from anyone else,” said Magda Stewart, CEO of TIP Riverside County. “We offer an intensive training to prepare the volunteers to address numerous types of tragedies that they may be contacted to provide assistance.”
TIP is a 40-year-old nonprofit with 15 affiliates in the United States serving over 200 cities. TIP of Riverside County Chapter was established in 1993. It currently serves 13 jurisdictions, 8 public safety agencies, and 7 hospitals. TIP is working with several cities in the Coachella Valley further growing its Riverside County and Inland Empire services. For those interested in learning more about the program and the Palm Desert training, contact Magda Stewart at 951-698-2453 or MagdaCEO@tiprivco.org.
