Trauma Intervention Volunteer

TIP of Greater Portland is currently recruiting volunteers to participate in our next training academy in June 2022.

TIP volunteers are citizens of all ages and occupations who have a deep desire to help others. Many of the volunteers have been through a traumatic experience themselves and realize the importance of immediate support from a caring and knowledgeable person.

Are you passionate about helping others? Would you like to make a difference in people's lives? Become a Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) Volunteer!

To be a TIP volunteer, it takes...

Generosity, a willingness to give your time to others

Understanding, because their lives might be very different from your own

Empathy, an ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes and feel what they must feel

Compassion, to truly care about making someone else's life better

Patience, because the process doesn't always go as smoothly as it might

Dedication, to stick with the call and see it through

We are an all-volunteer, non-profit, public benefit corporation serving the communities of Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, Cumberland, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth, Gorham, Scarborough and Windham. TIP volunteers are specially trained citizens who are available 24/7/365 to be called upon by emergency responders (police officers, firefighters, paramedics and hospital personnel) to assist family members, witnesses, and other bystanders in the first few hours following a traumatic event wherein victims and survivors often feel hopeless, confused, and in emotional shock.

Victims and survivors are often confronted with circumstances and situations for which they are totally unprepared and they often feel devastated, alone, and overwhelmed. The emergency responders on scene must focus on their job duties and responsibilities during a crisis and are not able to provide the immediate support victims and survivors need. TIP volunteers are able to provide that much needed immediate emotional and practical support to those they are called to be with.

TIP volunteers are dispatched at the request of police officers, firefighters, paramedics and hospital personnel to assist:

• family members and friends following a natural or unexpected death.
• victims of crime including rape, assault, robbery, and burglary
• victims of fire
• disoriented or lonely older persons
• persons involved in vehicle accidents
• persons who are distraught and seeking immediate support
• family members of a person who has completed suicide

What Do TIP Volunteers Do?

• provide emotional support
• help arrange for shelter, food, clothing, and transportation
• notify family and friends
• serve as liaison between the victims and emergency and hospital authorities
• help arrange follow-up services
• provide information and referral to appropriate agencies for ongoing assistance

Volunteer Requirements:

• Drivers license with working vehicle and cell phone.
• Must live in Greater Portland or the surrounding area.
• Maintain a working cell phone, internet access and an email account
• (you must have frequent access to internet and email to be a Volunteer).
• Personal GPS Navigation System for routing to calls.
• Attend mandatory monthly CE Meetings which are held the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
• Complete fingerprinting and criminal background investigation.
• Provide a DMV driving record printout (available online through each states website).
• Provide a copy of auto insurance declarations page reflecting current coverage.
• TIP volunteers will be scheduled for 3 "on call" shifts per month for 12 hours each shift, 7am-7pm OR 7pm-7am. You provide your availability for the month and 3 of those dates are scheduled for your shifts.

There are opportunities for couples to volunteer, train together, and go out on calls together. However, as two volunteers - they would be responsible for registering for a total of 6 combined shifts, and at least one person would have to respond to a call during each of those times.