Log in

Crisis Response Team in need of volunteers

Posted 6/10/21

Fountain Hills Crisis Response Team is looking for volunteers.

The organization, under the umbrella of Fountain Hills Fire Department, was created to make an impact on people’s lives during an …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

Crisis Response Team in need of volunteers

Posted

Fountain Hills Crisis Response Team is looking for volunteers.

The organization, under the umbrella of Fountain Hills Fire Department, was created to make an impact on people’s lives during an emergency.

Crisis Response Team members are trained volunteers dedicated to providing immediate crisis intervention and on-scene emotional support during and after a traumatic event.

There currently are some 30 volunteers, but one of the team leads, Viree Byrne, said more are needed.

“We have people from all walks of life, from different backgrounds, with different experience,” she said.

She said volunteers need not have experience in a medical field or have a first responder background.

“The training is very thorough, and regardless of your experience, you will learn how to help in these crisis situations,” Byrne said.

Volunteers may be asked to help out at the scene of a sudden death, traffic accident, structure fire or other incidents as requested.

At the crisis scene a two-person team will focus on the emotional and social needs of an individual or family while the emergency personnel attend to their specific assignments.

Crisis calls can range from minutes to hours depending on the specific needs of the individual or family. Volunteers must pass a background check and must live in Fountain Hills. Winter visitors are welcome to participate.

The organization asks volunteers to commit to either two, 24-hour shifts or four, 12-hour shifts per month.

“There are many, many days that we don’t get any calls,” Byrne said. “But a person signs up for the shifts just in case.”

Each call is performed by a two-person team. Volunteers are contacted by a dispatcher, and they go to an incident together. Fire personnel also assist with the crisis team.

Those interested in the program should contact town Volunteer Coordinator Kimberly Wickland at kwickland@fh.az.gov or 480-816-5108, or call Crisis Team Coordinator Tom Aiello at 480-482-9098.