What is Volunteer Surge?
Volunteer Surge is a program created to train citizen volunteers and to coordinate their assistance with civil organizations and professional healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis.
What is the goal of this project?
Volunteer Surge aims to train and deploy a million volunteers to address and ultimately help eradicate the virus.
Why is this important?
As the virus spreads, the number of people infected increases and the growing shortage of healthcare support becomes more critical. Rotarians — people of action — can have an impact on millions of lives globally, as we have done for decades.
How are volunteers trained?
The free, online training program will become available on the American Red Cross website during the week of March 30. Any adult can take this training, as no healthcare background or knowledge is required. You will need access to the internet and a Mac, PC, tablet, or smartphone.
What is the training like?
The scenario-based, easy training is made up of a series of videos, exercises, and checkpoints and can be completed in 20 to 40 hours.
At the completion of your training, you will be asked how you would like to apply your new skills. You will be matched to organizations registered with ADP WorkMarket software and the Salesforce Health Cloud.A possible set of opportunities may include:
● Video Chat or Phone Support — from the safety and comfort of your home, any time of day:
○ Testing Follow-up
○ Post-Discharge Follow-up
○ Vulnerable Senior Follow-up
● In-Person (Field) Support — if you’re willing and able to play a safe, hands-on role:
○ Drive Through Testing Staffing
○ Social Service Agency Home Visits
○ Prison Volunteer Assignments
○ Hospital Volunteer Assignments Project:
How can Rotary clubs help?
We need to demonstrate an immediate, measurable interest in this project. We achieve this by recruiting as many Rotarians, clubs, and districts as quickly as possible in order to promote global endorsement and adoption by Rotary International. Then we must turn this interest into action, and ensure that these potential volunteers train and participate in the program.
Can friends, family, colleagues, and other organizations participate?
Yes! As Rotarians, our social and professional networks are strong. Please use these networks to seed interest in Volunteer Surge. Rotary can be a leader in helping recruit a million volunteers, from Rotarians to friends of Rotary!
Does this training mean I’ll become a Certified Nursing Assistant?
In this time of increasing unemployment, some Rotarians have asked if this CNA training will result in a CNA credential. It will not. However, the training will provide you with 70-80% of the knowledge necessary to become a professional Certified Nursing Assistant — and it’s free!
The creator of Volunteer Surge adapted online courseware he had developed for Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) training that was endorsed by the American Red Cross in 2019. The enhanced training now educates volunteers about the support of COVID-19 patients. Volunteer Surge is working to train volunteers faster than the virus can spread.
How did Rotary become involved?
The creator of Volunteer Surge spoke with a Rotarian friend in the Lamorinda Sunrise Club within District 5160. Their conversation prompted the involvement of a group of Rotarians who, in 2019, had created the non-profit Global Impact Group, to bring technology to Rotary, non-profits, and enterprises for social impact. The Global Impact Group drew immediate interest from Rotarians in Districts 5160 (CA), 6900 (GA), and 6960 (FL). Based on this enthusiasm, the Global Impact Group contacted Rotary International.. RI’s Executive Management team in Evanston was impressed by the Volunteer Surge Project and the strong Rotarian, club, and district grassroots interest. RI moved rapidly and has endorsed Volunteer Surge for all of Rotary.
What’s next?
Visit Volunteer Surge and sign up.
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