Are you interested in becoming a part of the Suitcase Clinic, but are unable to take Health and Medical Sciences 98/198 during either the fall or spring semester? Consider attending our day-long Summer Training Session, which will be held on June 23rd from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM in 122 Barrows Hall. This will be hosted in order to train new volunteers to staff our three drop-in centers in the city of Berkeley. You will be fully qualified to volunteer upon the completion of the training session, with experience commensurate to that which would be gained through HMS 98/198. You will be expected to volunteer as a caseworker at our three drop-in centers within the city of Berkeley at least four times upon the successful completion of this training regiment. No reservations are required in advance; simply show up on June 23rd and you will receive all the requisite briefing and documentation. Keep updated by reviewing our website, www.suitcaseclinic.org, and you optionally subscribe to our volunteer mailing list, through which you will receive regular updates about our organization, by sending an email to majordomo. Leave the subject field blank, and place this single line in the body of the message:
subscribe sc-volunteers
An agenda of the training is as follows:
- Introduction to the Summer Training
- Background
- Caseworker training
- Suicide Information
- Substance Abuse Information
- Domestic Violence, Child Abuse and Rape
- Security Training
- Small group practicing of caseworking
- Importance of the reader
- Session evaluations
If you have any questions, please email Courtney Hernandez at court.
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The Suitcase Clinic has been awarded third place in the Bears Breaking Boundaries Competition under the Open Ideas subdivision for our Mental Health Project. The contest received over 100 submissions, and Karandeep Samran’s successful proposal has landed our organization a $2,000 grant.
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The following quotes were compiled for the 2007 Service Provider Appreciation Dinner to honor all of the Suitcase Clinic’s graduating seniors:
Continue reading ‘Farewell quotes for graduating seniors’
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In response to the retirement of our faculty sponsor, Dr. Alan Steinbach, quotes were collected from many generations of Suitcase Clinic volunteers. They can be read below:
Continue reading ‘Farewell quotes for Dr. Alan Steinbach’
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Join the Joint Medical Program and Suitcase Clinic community in a celebration of Alan Steinbach’s years of service upon the occasion of his retirement. Come prepared with stories and comments so you can participate in our “roast” of Alan. If you are unable to attend but wish to share a story or comment about Alan to be read that evening, please send it to %20jmp.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007, 5:30pm - 9:30pm
The Berkeley Yacht Club, 1 Seawall Drive, Berkeley, CA
(510) 642-5479
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There is now a funding bill for SB840, called SB1014. Keep updated on this via this link.
SB840 itself is headed to Senate Appropriations next Monday, May 14th. By early June, maybe the 8th, it will be on the Senate Floor. Subscribe to SB840 updates via this link.
If you have been searching for that opportunity to catalyze interest and build momentum on your campus, here is what you can do: California Physicians Alliance is requesting that we compose hand-written, personal appeals to senators. CaPA did this very well two years ago, with the 400+ letters subsequently generated helping to push SB840 as far as it went. If you want to do this, let Parker Duncan know at pduncan, and he can send you the resources you need to hold a “Letter Luncheon” in about one hour!
ENVISION Universal Health Care
http://onecarenow.org/
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CaPA (California Physicians Alliance) is sponsoring a speaker training, led by Don Bechler, on Saturday, May 12, in West Berkeley. It should be both a great way to hone lobbying skills for California’s Universal Health Care Bill SB 840, and a great opportunity for public speaking and health advocacy work in general. CaPA is hoping to get more students involved. Several JMP students have flown to Boston, Philadelphia, and Santa Monica to have such trainings, but we’re lucky to have a training for free in our own town when we’re finished with classes.
Full Care For All, For Life, For Less
http://www.onecarenow.org/index.html
Continue reading ‘Training for Universal Health Care’
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In the spring of 2007, five students enrolled in UC Berkeley’s Undergraduate Business Administration 105 course conducted research into the organizational behavior of the Suitcase Clinic, authoring a 17-page document reporting their conclusions. Their study provides a valuable perspective on the structure of our community. You can read their report here. This study complements an earlier UGBA 105 report, authored in the spring of 2005, entitled “Strong Weak Culture - A Study of the Suitcase Clinic”, which can be read here.
Portions of the study can be read below in a search engine-friendly format: Continue reading ‘Spring 2007 UGBA 105 Study’
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History:
- 1999; discussions of Youth Clinic being established
- 2000; Shawn Mattison received a grant and used the money to start and fund the suitcase clinic. Run by dedicated undergrads, with quarterly Advisory Board meetings to discuss progress and change. Toff mentioned that clients needed legal help.
- Youth needed legal representation, not just advice. Osha became involved. Steinbach’s daughter got out of death penalty appeals and into Youth legal work.
- The clinic was originally started out moving around, and then decision came about to find a site to create a social model clinic – not at all like general clinic: model of general didn’t work for the homeless youth: needed to be more casual, pets, fun, music, etc. and St. Marks fulfilled this desire – funkiness of the alley and stairs was a positive
- Students began foot-washing service, an entirely Suitcase Clinic idea that has become key to the clinic. The CoCA position was invented, modeling referral-based social work. The mission was a Harm Reduction Social Model – Youth were largely unaware of services; by forming positive relationships with students they would learn about services and reduce risk of harm. Serving food was a serendipitous decision, but contributed to the social atmosphere. Community was formed, especially because of key members. Relationships and case-working were the primary goals – if people communicate and hang out it leads to services. Architecture reflects this; Music, drawing, chess, books, etc. in the center of room – services against the wall.
- Hope got involved because of her passion for youth and common interests, proving acupuncture and substance abuse services and supported by other grants. Hope’s role is very important, acting as the present adult for the clinic.
- Alan’s role has been in the background and with the class.
Continue reading ‘Youth Clinic End of Semester Meeting’
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