AHP is the sum of all the people who work here: more than 100 full- and part-time paid employees, clinical trainees, and 200 volunteers. We are psychiatrists, clinical social workers, psychologists, counselors, trainers, editors, writers, researchers, fundraisers, and financial and administrative professionals. Without this mixture of skills, levels of commitment, and types of compensation, we would not be able to accomplish as much as we do.
Common to all of these AHP contributors is the wealth of experience, insight, creativity, and energy that they all bring to AHP’s mission. Consider joining AHP as a volunteer:
Volunteer as an HIV Test Counselor
AHP relies on volunteer support. To ensure that our volunteer staff thrive, we provide extensive training and ongoing supervision to enable them to do this important and sensitive work.
For more information please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Devin Posey at 415-502-6105 or [email protected].
Download the Volunteer Application
Volunteer Counselors learn how to:
- Conduct HIV risk assessment
- Practice client-centered counseling, including appropriate prevention education and risk reduction support,
- Make referrals to community resources to assist clients beyond our scope of work.
Volunteer Counselors also have the chance to participate in street outreach and to work at special events such as street fairs.
Volunteer Phlebotomists conduct finger stick, venipuncture, and other specimen collection and basic laboratory procedures. Phlebotomists may also be called upon to assist with any medical emergencies that may arise.
For both Counselors and Phlebotomists, AHP requires a one-year commitment of at least two three- to four-hour shifts per week. Success in this program requires good skills working with people, knowledge of HIV, and sensitivity to populations most at risk for HIV infection.
Test Counselors must pass the California Basic Counseling Skills Training.
Phlebotomists must have one year of phlebotomy experience and current California phlebotomy certification, CPT 1.
Volunteer as a Support Group and Workshop Facilitator
AHP relies on volunteer support to help expand our ability to serve as many people as possible. To ensure that volunteers are successful, we provide training and supervision by our professional mental health staff.
Simply put, AHP’s support groups and workshop programs would not be possible without the help of our volunteer facilitators.
For more information or an application, please contact Jay Newberry, APCC at [email protected].
A cornerstone of AHP’s emotional support services for nearly 30 years, the Peer Support Group program is staffed by trained volunteers who serve nearly 100 HIV-positive clients during weekly support groups. AHP support groups meet at various times throughout the week and last between 90 minutes and two hours. Both daytime and evening groups are available. Peer volunteers paired with staff clinicians also conduct a range of specialty support groups targeting specific topics such as gay and bisexual men in recovery, HIV and aging, LGBTQ people living with cancer.
Volunteers also assist staff conducting periodic workshops addressing HIV prevention issues and topics such as dating, relationships, sex, and body image.
AHP volunteers routinely report that they get as much from volunteering as group members get from participating. Volunteer facilitators undergo an intensive weekend-long group facilitator training, participate in monthly volunteer facilitator consultation groups, and have access to the support of clinical staff at all times. Group facilitator trainings typically occur in the fall.
AHP seeks individuals with a passion to help members of the HIV and LGBTQ communities. We especially encourage HIV-positive people, queer women, people of color, and members of the transgendered community to apply. AHP has a special need for volunteers with daytime availability. AHP asks all volunteers who successfully complete the facilitation training and who are then placed in a group to make a one-year commitment.
