In partnership with Portland State University, the Friends Program is a virtual social program that aims to reduce social isolation and improve communication among survivors. The program also provides experience for students keen on improving their knowledge of real life experiences in our community of survivors.
Brain Injury Survivors are paired with PSU Speech and Hearing Sciences Undergraduate and Postbac students as conversation and social partners. The survivors and student volunteers are matched for compatibility and similar interests by program leads from PSU and BIC-NW.
The program criteria includes adults only who are open to meeting new people, have the ability to access the internet, and are agreeable to 2-4 conversations per month for an hour. Interactions happen via facetime, zoom or phone. There is a required mutual agreement to avoid illegal drug and alcohol use or influence during conversation time, and an understanding that this is not a romantic or therapeutic relationship and does not involve monetary transactions.
Upcoming Dates:
Recruitment happens twice a year. Stay tuned for the 2025 Program Registration
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Please Note:
Meetings are done virtually or via phone and are agreed upon between the survivor and the student volunteer. Times and days are variable.
Sometimes a caregiver, family member, or friend may be needed/involved initially to assist in setting up routines, and potentially needed for translation until the student gets used to the survivor’s speech and the survivor has gotten some practice with the computer.
Contact:
Dawn at
DawnMc@bic-nw.org
503-208-4533 (general BIC-NW line)
Who should come?
- Anyone with an ABI
- Family
- Friends
- Caregivers/Support persons
Participants should have visual tolerance of a computer screen or the ability to hear for phone conversations.
What to bring?
- Yourself and a support person if needed (for virtual meetings)
- An internet Connection
- Access to an electronic device (e.g., computer, phone)
- Comfort needs while on Zoom/FaceTime call
- Other materials as arranged in advance per mutual interests (e.g., art supplies/recipes & ingredients, whatever creative plan the conversation pair decide upon). Or just plan to chat!
- Sometimes a family member/carepartner needed for to assist with communication and/or initial setup.
Do I need to register?
Yes! Registration is limited. Please reach out to Dawn at DawnMc@bic-nw.org
Hopeful registrants will be required to have an intake interview with the program managers. Student volunteers will need to complete an online application and submit references which are then checked by the program managers.
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What:
2 to 4 one-hour Virtual Social conversations between an ABI survivor and a PSU student volunteer across a 6-month time span.
Where:
Virtually via Zoom, FaceTime, or phone.
When:
As determined by the conversation pair, 2 to 4 times a month across 6 months.
Accessibility:
These are virtual meetings. Ability to tolerate screens or hear conversations on the phone is required.
Use of a care partner may be needed for initial set up.