Dear Applicants,
Many of you have been asking the same questions so here are some of the responses. If you send me emails with questions that are posted here I will not reply to those emails.
If I can’t make either day of the June training how can I make it up?
-You can’t make up either day. You must attend both days or wait for the July training tentatively set on July 11 and 18. If there is no July training, you have other opportunities to apply in the Fall and Spring semesters. Those dates will be announced during the 1st week of the semester.
Can I volunteer without training and come on a drop in basis?
-NO, you absolutely cannot come to clinic without proper training for many reasons such as safety issues.
Is summer training equivalent to the semester course in terms of being able to volunteer?
-Yes, summer training will cover the same training you need for clinic. The semester course however covers much more material in depth related to homelessness.
How long can I volunteer after the training?
-You can volunteer whenever and however long you want. There is no time-limit or expiration to your training.
What kind of training does the Suitcase Clinic give?
-Many of you might think that the Suitcase Clinic does clinical work, but that is really not the case. The Suitcase Clinic does mostly caseworking, this is where each volunteer works as an advocate for our clients, whether that is during clinic or outside of clinic. If you are looking for clinical work then this is probably not the best fit, but we do have work that relates to that since we have medical services as well as partnering with other groups in Berkeley. The training you will receive is about a variety of topics related to homelessness, how our clinic runs, what our services are, safety training, social benefit programs, supportive housing, and much more. You can do much more than just volunteer at our clinic if you decide to come. We are a group of students who engage in more than just providing acute health services for the homeless and low income families. We strive to provide preventative care and overall mental health. Thus, you can engage in and create your own projects. If you are interested in this aspect I would suggest taking the course during the semester.
Can I waive the fee? What if I don’t have the money the first day?
-No the fee is mandatory. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR MONEY THE FIRST DAY OF TRAINING. You can pay in cash or write a check to the SUITCASE CLINIC. If you do not have your money you cannot take the training. 100% of the fee will help fund the clinic as well as your caseworker manuals.
Will I have a spot for sure if I RSVP?
-We will accept as many as we can for summer training. So far there’s 30 people and we have 50 spots allotted so far.
What are the requirements?
-We haven’t decided all the requirements yet. You will find out during the day of the training
s planning to host a bike workshop this summer, which will entail fixing up used bikes to give away. In order for this to be successful, we are hoping to obtain at least 10 donated bikes, along with various bicycle parts.