Dear Christine,



For those of you who have already reached out to see about volunteer opportunities - AWB thanks you! As promised, here is our latest update:

AWB and IHAN (Integrative Healers Action Network) have been working together since the 2017 Tubbs Fire in Sonoma County and continue to do so to support those affected by the CA Wildfires in LA County. By working together, we have a potential opportunity to work inside American Red Cross shelters in LA County. However, although IHAN is in contact with the American Red Cross regarding this potential opportunity to operate within their shelters, the many moving parts during this acute stage make it uncertain if this pathway will materialize. Even if the opportunity with the Red Cross does not work out, setting up at a firefighter basecamp is another possibility.

However, in order for AWB volunteers to potentially work with the Red Cross or at a firefighter basecamp, we need to fall under IHAN and all volunteers need to complete and have the following:

• Using Google Chrome, complete the IHAN Volunteer Registration Link. Please note that the form is only compatible with Google Chrome, so be sure to use this browser. Additionally, make sure to indicate that you are part of AWB on the IHAN volunteer registration form. 
• A background check is required to work with IHAN and their partners. IHAN will send an email to you from Asurint (the company they use to run background checks). The email will ask for basic information so a background check can be done. The background check is $6. AWB will reimburse you.
• Besides the two requirements above, all volunteers will need to have:
• Completed AWB Training - If you have not completed an AWB training class, we will send you our AWB Emergency Training. Please contact Christine Cronin at christine@acuwithoutborders.org if you need to receive this training.
• In order to treat, you need an active CA acupuncture license AND current malpractice insurance. 

If you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering and providing administrative support—even if they are not a healthcare professional—please encourage them to fill out the IHAN Volunteer Registration Link. Administrative assistance is vital to ensuring our clinics operate smoothly and effectively.

Our most successful clinics are those that are set up in locations where people are already seeking safety and shelter, such as evacuation centers or basecamps. By offering acupuncture and other healing modalities in these spaces, we can create meaningful moments of relief and recovery for those affected.

Please reach out if you have any questions. Christine Cronin, AWB Executive Director, can be reached at (619) 847-9613 (cell or text) as well as by email at christine@acuwithoutborders.org.

Thank you for your continued support and for the incredible work you do. Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of those impacted by this crisis.

In community and in the spirit of service,

Jenny Harrow-Keeler, IHAN Executive Director and 

Christine Cronin, AWB Executive Director