Basic Crisis

Volunteer and Staff Training

White Bird’s Basic Crisis class offers volunteers the opportunity to explore issues of mental and emotional health by responding to residents of Lane County through the 24-hour crisis hotline. In addition to making a valuable contribution to our community, volunteers can gain professional experience through direct service practice, clinical supervision, and ongoing mentorship.

The initial Crisis course runs for approximately ten weeks and is offered during each Spring and Fall. Building on the experience of the New Volunteer Training, it pairs a weekly three-hour educational component with six hours of service practice.

Topics include:

  • persistent mental illness,
  • substance abuse,
  • ethical dilemmas,
  • crisis intervention strategies, and
  • humanistic counseling theory.