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Trauma Intervention Programs of Riverside County is accepting applications for a volunteer training session that begins May 14 at the Palm Desert Police Department, offering residents the chance to join a network of citizen responders who provide emotional support to victims of traumatic events.
Trauma Intervention Programs, Inc. (TIP) is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1985 that works with local communities to establish volunteer programs embedded in the emergency response system. The organization has established 16 affiliates serving more than 250 cities.
When police, fire, or medical personnel respond to a tragedy, they call TIP volunteers to assist family members, witnesses, and bystanders who may be left without support in the immediate aftermath. Volunteers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
TIP volunteers are deployed following a range of traumatic events, including the death of a loved one from illness, suicide, homicide, or accident; violent crimes such as rape, assault, robbery, and intimate partner violence; crimes against property; and victims of fire, flood, or accident. Volunteers also assist those who are distraught, lonely, or disoriented and seeking immediate support.
Once on scene, volunteers provide emotional support, help arrange shelter, food, clothing, and transportation, accompany responders on family notifications, serve as a liaison between survivors and emergency personnel, and help connect victims with follow-up services and referral agencies.
TIP is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Services are provided to victims and their families free of charge and are funded through grants from local government, individual donations, and fundraising efforts.
The May training session will be held at the Palm Desert Police Department, 73705 Gerald Ford Drive, Palm Desert. All eight sessions are required for certification. The schedule is as follows: May 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; May 16 and 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; May 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The final session on May 22 runs until 10 p.m.
The nine-day training curriculum covers victimology, emotional first aid skills, working within the emergency response system, street smarts, dealing with death, and organizational policies and procedures. A $50 training fee covers training materials, food, and a Live Scan background check.
Prospective volunteers must pass a background check, provide a copy of their driver's license and driving record, have reliable transportation, and carry a smartphone with mapping capability. Once certified, volunteers are required to work three 12-hour shifts per month and attend one continuing education meeting per month.
TIP volunteers are community members of all ages and occupations. The organization notes that many volunteers have personal experience with traumatic events and understand the importance of immediate support from a knowledgeable and caring person.
A minimum of 10 participants is required for the training session to proceed. Interested residents can find more information at www.tiprivco.org or by emailing [email protected].