CAP Has Volunteer Opportunities!

Front Desk Volunteer - Qualifications and Expectations

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us at the Community Acupuncture Project. We value and appreciate our volunteers' time and talents. Please review our general expectations for volunteers and specific requirements for the Front Desk position.

• Commitment: It takes a lot of work from us to train volunteers. Our commitment to train you must be met with your commitment to volunteer for 6 months. 

• Confidentiality: Anything that relates to a patient's information, condition, or treatment is confidential, and all volunteers agree not to share any of this information with anybody.

• Timeliness and Reliability: Volunteers commit to regular weekly or bi-weekly shifts, being punctual and giving proper and timely notice of any unavailable shifts.

• COVID protocols: At CAP, we are indefinitely keeping our masking policy in place and expect volunteers that are not only willing to follow this mandate by wearing a mask at all times while in the clinic, but is also confident enough to uphold and communicate this and any other COVID protocols with any patient that enters the clinic.

• Friendliness: At the front desk, you represent CAP. As you interact with patients, you serve as CAP's voice. You are the first to meet our patients. Your interaction will set the tone for their overall experience. Our goal is for everyone to feel comfortable and accepted once they enter our doors.

• Compassion: Our Front Desk volunteers need to be empathetic and comfortable with interacting with individuals who may express sickness, exhaustion, sadness, or pain. While patient interactions are usually positive, occasional negative experiences should not be taken personally, as everyone is trying their best.

• Computer and phone literacy: While training is provided, our volunteers must have basic computer skills and ability to handle phone calls and patient inquiries as these are key duties in our clinic.

• Attention to detail: You will be keeping track of money and recording payments. It is very important that you are precise so that someone else doesn't have to figure out and fix your mistakes. 

• Desire to receive regular acupuncture treatments: We want volunteers who love to get acupuncture and who love CAP! Volunteering is a great way to receive free treatments. 

• Boundaries: To ensure integrity and maintain focus on patient care, romantic involvement between acupuncturists, volunteers, patients, and affiliated parties is discouraged and clear boundaries are expected. 

  Still reading? Great! Please take a moment (or even a couple of days) to consider the expectations and whether you will make a good Front Desk Volunteer. If so, please email us at buriencap@gmail.com with CAP VOLUNTEER in the Subject line and the information under step 2 on the next page. We will get back to you ASAP.

Thanks so much for being part of our community!

Becoming a Volunteer: The step by step process

1. If the Front Desk Position doesn't suit you, we have other volunteer opportunities available in laundry, graphic design, outreach, bookkeeping, social media, marketing, video editing, technology support, and cleaning. Feel free to inquire about current needs in these areas.

2. Send us an email at buriencap@gmail.com with "CAP VOLUNTEER" in the subject heading. We will get back to you ASAP. 

In the email include the following:

• Tell us why you would like to volunteer

• Tell us your interest and experience with community acupuncture and CAP

• Tell us what experience you have that would make you great at Reception. 

• Tell us your general availability [current priorities include weekend and afternoon shifts]

• Let us know how you plan to maintain a 6-month commitment. We make a big commitment in order to train you, so we need to know that you will be able to honor the six month minimum commitment.

3. If we agree that you have the experience, background, and love for CAP to volunteer here, we will schedule a time for you to observe someone at the reception desk for 2 hours. For this, you will get a free acupuncture treatment. This will not be part of your six-month commitment.

4. Are you still interested after seeing the incredible amount of warmth, connection, focus and detail that are crucial to this job?  If we feel that you are ready to take this on, you will be contacted to train with current front desk volunteers and practitioners for 6-8 hours over a few weeks until you both agree that you are ready to start.

For each day of training, you will be given a free acupuncture treatment token* to use when you'd like. This will not be part of your six month volunteer commitment.

5. Ready, set, go! Now you are volunteering! We expect a six-month commitment working at least once every week. Here is our benefits table:

• 5 hour or more shift every week = 3 free treatment tokens

• 4 hour weekly shift = 2 free treatment tokens

• 3 hour weekly shift = 1 free treatment token

*Free acupuncture treatment tokens earned by volunteers are non-transferrable to other CAP patients, family, or friends and do not expire.

Still have questions? Contact us at buriencap@gmail.com

THANK YOU! LOVE, CAP!