• Home
• About Us
  • ENews
• Our Programs
  • CareTeams
  • Shanti
  • Housing
• Volunteering
  • Forms
• Events
• Donations
• Contact

Multifaith Works CareTeams offer people of all faiths a common volunteer experience by providing practical support and friendship to people living with HIV/AIDS and those in recovery. Both volunteers and CarePartners  (clients) report tremendous benefits through their involvement on CareTeams.

The Need

Although many people living with HIV/AIDS have benefited from new medical treatments, others continue to live with debilitating side effects from potent medications, along with isolation and fear. As part of our compassionate response, Multifaith Works recruits and trains volunteers for CareTeams.

What is a CareTeam?

A CareTeam is a group of 4 - 7 volunteers who provide practical, emotional, and spiritual support to a person or household affected by HIV/AIDS and/or chemical addiction. Volunteers come to the program as individuals or might be based out of civic groups, academic institutions, spiritual communities, or the community at large. Our volunteers range in age from 16 to 85 and represent diverse cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and life experiences.

Working as a team, each volunteer can make a difference in the life of a person with HIV/AIDS although her/his individual time commitment may be limited. Together we accomplish more collectively than any of us would working on our own.

 

What do CareTeams do?

Each CareTeam is matched with an individual or household living with HIV/AIDS referred to as a CarePartner. CareTeam members form relationships with their CarePartner and do the things compassionate friends do. CareTeam activities depend on the needs of the CarePartner and abilities of the volunteer. At the core, CareTeams build supportive relationships with their CarePartners by listening to them, offering encouragement, renewing interest in life, and establishing meaningful personal connections. Support may include phone calls, transportation to appointments, sharing coffee or meals, celebrating birthdays and holidays, childcare, light housework, sending cards, or help with moving.

Mutual Support for CareTeams

All potential volunteers attend a one day training on HIV/AIDS, addiction, and the values of compassionate care. After the training, Multifaith Works' staff facilitate team formation meeting for volunteers joining the team. Each CareTeam meets once a month for planning, sharing, and mutual support. Representatives from each CareTeam meet monthly with Multifaith Works' staff to discuss team activities, issues, and concerns. CareTeam members often report that serving people with illnesses and working with other team members brings them personal satisfaction, blessings and rewards.

 

 

Current CareTeams

There are currently 47 Multifaith Works CareTeams serving 84 CarePartners, including men, women, and teenagers:
 
   

All Pilgrims CT Ballard Interfaith CT Beacon House CT Bellevue First Cong. UCC CT Beighle House CT Belltown CT Broadview UCC CT Capitol Hill Interfaith CT Capitol Hill Interfaith #2 CT Casa Luis CT Central District CT Christ Church/St. Stephens CT Dalton House CT Deep South CT Eastside Ecumenical CT Edmonds/Everett CT First AME CT Hill House CT Holy Spirit Kent CT Lake Burien Pres. CT Lake City CT Liberation Ministries CT

Northgate CT Queen Anne UMC CT Renton Meth./Pres. CT Richmond Beach CT Roxbury CT Seattle Black Pride CT Shoreline CT Shoreline #2 CT Snohomish CT South End Saints CT St. James Cathedral CT St. Madeleine-Sophie CT St. Stephens Episcopal CT St. Therese CT St. Therese #2 CT St. Vincent Interfaith CT The Y’s Twentysomethings CT University Temple UMC CT Wallingford UMC CT Wedgwood CT

  
Be sure to check out other Multifaith Works Volunteer Opportunities and the next scheduled Volunteer Training. For more information, please call 206.324.1520 x226 or email bertram@multifaith.org.