Want to get involved with the Suitcase Clinic, but were unable to take the HMS course? Come to our summer training series to receive the training necessary to become a caseworker. After completing the three mandatory sessions, you will be able to volunteer at any of our three drop-in centers.
The trainings will be held over two consecutive Saturdays, June 14 & 21, from 9 AM to 1 PM, location TBA. In addition to attending both mandatory classroom training sessions, you must also shadow a caseworker at one of our three drop-in centers (on either June 16 or 17) in order to successfully complete the training series.
Please check this website after June 1st for more information, including the location of the training series.
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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:
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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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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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15 people present
• Check-in
• Announcements
o Sam and Karl
• From Dinners Group in class
• Potluck next week at General
Continue reading ‘Minutes from PC meeting on 4/11/07′
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The Youth Clinic will be open next week, Dec 18, but will be closed the following two weeks, Dec 25th and Jan 1st. Thanks to all the volunteers who came despite it being finals week.
Youth clinic was understaffed. It will likely be understaffed next week as well, so all you volunteers, please come help! Several clients who broke one of the clinic policies were asked to leave the clinic. We were a little late on the new early closing time of 9:30pm. Thanks to all the Americorps who came and made the place run. The doctor saw many clients.
Continue reading ‘Youth Clinic Update for 12/14/06′
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The General Clinic will be open on 12/12/06 and 12/19/06, and thereafter will be closed until reopening on 1/9/07.
The Women’s Clinic is currently closed, and will reopen on 1/8/07.
The Youth Clinic will be open on 12/18/06, and thereafter will be closed until reopening on 1/8/07.
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Everything went well. We had a safety awareness pre-briefing and volunteer sign in sheet. Youth Connect is coming up on Dec 4 and we don’t have clinic that day, so everyone should go to Youth connect from 1:00 0 5:00 PM at YEAH, on University at Grant. We got a bunch of supplied; mostly clothing and some blankets. It is great that Iris went to the Co-ops for us. At debriefing we brought up the issue of a strict versus flexible age cap. It will be brought up at PC to get the opinion of some of the older volunteers.
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This week went well. There were few clients compared to the last while, and many left early. Many volunteers left early as well.
Please remember, class credit is not recieved if one does not stay for debriefing. And clean up is hard if you are understaffed.
Continue reading ‘Youth Clinic Update for 11/7/06′
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In the Spring of 2006, a Joint Medical Program student named Marcela Smid wrote a thesis in partial satisfaction for the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Health and Medical Sciences in the Graduate Division of the University of California at Berkeley. Titled “‘Help me!’ and ‘Leave me alone!’ - The Pregnancy Experiences of Telegraph ‘Street Kids,’” this study thoroughly explores the decision-making processes surrounding pregnancy which are experienced among young homeless women and their partners in the city of Berkeley. This impressive document makes extensive reference to interviews conducted and data collected at the Suitcase Clinic’s Youth Clinic, and represents a crucial piece of scholarship on our organization’s mission and efficacy. Writing it was in itself an act of empowering the underserved, and Marcela has contributed richly to the Suitcase Clinic’s body of literature.
The entirety of the study can be read below in a search engine-friendly format: Continue reading ‘“‘Help me!’ and ‘Leave me alone!’ - The Pregnancy Experiences of Telegraph ‘Street Kids’”’
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