Are You Interested in Becoming a Volunteer?

Volunteer
Gibran Carter, MHSA Program Coordinator
(909) 784-3171
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Volunteer at Tri-City

The volunteer program at Tri-City provides opportunities for individuals to get hands-on experience in public mental health. Volunteers support the staff in a wide variety of duties. These duties will vary depending on the department. The four programs that a person can volunteer with are:

• The Wellness Center
• Peer Counseling
• Community Navigators
• Therapeutic Community Gardening (TCG)

Please see the descriptions of each program below as well as the benefits and requirements to become a volunteer at Tri-City. If you are interested in volunteering please click here to fill out an application.

Benefits of becoming a volunteer

• Hands-on experience
• Job training skills
• Preparation for workforce
• Add to your resume
• Personal Growth
  
• Potential employment
• Discount tickets to area attractions

Qualifying Requirements

• Background check
• Fingerprints
• Drug screen
• TB test
• Must be 16 and over

Required Trainings (provided by Tri-City)

• MHFA (Mental Health First Aid)
• CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention)

Volunteer Opportunities

Wellness Center

The Wellness Center is a hub of community activities that promote recovery, resiliency, and wellness for people confronting mental health issues. Staff located at this site, including peer advocates, family members, clinical staff, and others, provides a range of culturally competent, person – and family-centered groups, workshops and socialization activities designed to promote increasing independence and wellness for people of all ages. For more information about the Wellness Center, click here.

Peer Counselor

The Peer Support Program is available to TAY (Transitional-Aged Youth) ages 16-25, adults ages 26-59 and seniors (60+ years) within the Tri-City service area. Volunteer counselors receive specialized training and on-going weekly supervision and support from TCMHC clinical staff members. These volunteers meet individually with counselees and/or in groups to provide support. Groups focus on providing support and creating opportunities for members to engage in projects that serve their communities and other wellness activities. For more information about the Peer Support Program, click here.

Community Navigators

Tri-City’s Community Navigator Program consists of highly trained individuals who specialize in linkage and referral to local resources. This mission critical program has been structured for the purpose of helping people gain access to the services and support they need, both formal and informal. Community navigators regularly visit the following settings (among others):

• Community organizations
• Emerging and well established health and mental health programs
• Law enforcement agencies
• Schools
• Courts
• Residential facilities
• Local NAMI chapter
• Self-help groups
• Client advocacy groups

For more information the Community Navigators, click here.

Therapeutic Community Gardening (TCG):

Horticulture therapy is the process of using plants, gardening, and the innate closeness humans feel towards nature as direct tools of intervention in programs of therapy and rehabilitation. Although horticulture therapy is regarded as a still emerging mental health treatment model, its usage and practice in early forms can be traced as far back as the times of ancient Egypt. During weekly program groups, TCG clients are allowed the opportunity to plant, maintain, and harvest fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other crops for therapeutic purposes and symptom management. Through group gardening exercises as well as team discussions / activities, TCG clients also have the opportunity to engage with peers and develop positive social relationships with others in the community. Other program activities include cooking classes (centred on meal preparation with harvested crops), games, field trips, and horticulture workshops.

“At risk families” (parents / caregivers who are enduring emotional, bonding, or communication difficulties with their children)
Young adults (16 – 25)
Military veterans
Adults 26+

For more information on Therapeutic Community Gardening, click here.

For more information on our volunteer process, please download our volunteer brochure click here.

Click here to fill out our volunteer application.