Orientation

Last Saturday, I went to the volunteer orientation. After going to it, I am interested to experience serving the underserved. From what I gathered from the instructor, serving at community centers calls for extra caution, vigilance, and understanding different from what I typically would use on a daily basis. Patient confidentiality is extremely important, so I must be careful with what and where information is disclosed when I am conversing with others. Also, personal items should be looked after vigilantly as well. In addition, though in a case where the patient has a problem that I know how to assist with, it is important to not automatically lend a hand, but to ask for medical assistance from the medical staff instead. Hopefully, I will officially be present at Gulfgate Health Center this Saturday morning!

A Place for Me!

I will be volunteering at Gulfgate Health Center every weekend. Hopefully I will have much to write about! I do plan to continue volunteering if I end up enjoying it there.

Finally a reply!!!

I was never able to contact the lady on the contact list for the Harris County Health Centers, but when I tried another, she was so quick to answer! My volunteer application is actually being processed right now. Fingers crossed!

The Pains of Trying to Lend a Hand :(

The process of finding a place to volunteer has unfortunately made me feel a bit officious, not needed..

So it has been weeks now since the day I emailed the volunteering locations, only to find out that one of them is not accepting volunteers at this time, while the other has yet to respond! I'm a bit bummed that I am not getting quick responses from the Harris County Health District. It has become my only choice. My only free days are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays this semester, and on Mondays and Wednesdays, I do not have free time until 3pm! I was really hoping I could volunteer at San Jose but I cannot simply because of the fact that I get out of class too late.

Anyways, even though HCHD has not replied, I have decided to fax my application. Then, it seems I would need to wait some more to receive an "invitation to the orientation, pass a criminal background check" (yikes! just kidding!), "schedule an interview with the Volunteer Coordinator, and submit proof of a negative TB skin test". Joy!

I am very much hoping that this first post will be my ONLY depressing post of my experience. I am VERY excited to get started!