Lane County Trauma Intervention Program Marks Three Years, Seeks New Volunteers

Three years ago, the Trauma Intervention Program of Lane County dispatched its first volunteers to help strangers through the worst moments of their lives. Since then, the nonprofit has responded to more than 275 calls, assisted over 800 residents and maintained a 100 percent response reliability rate, according to Eugene Weekly's reporting on the program's milestone.

TIP volunteers are trained civilians, available every hour of every day, who are called to scenes by law enforcement, fire, medical and hospital personnel. They respond alongside first responders to sudden or unexpected deaths, industrial accidents, sexual assaults, overdoses, violent crimes and other traumatic incidents, providing what the organization describes as "emotional first aid" to victims, families, witnesses and bystanders. According to TIP of Lane County's website, the program's presence also "lowers the stress level of emergency workers and helps them focus on the details of their job."

The human weight of that work comes through in the testimonials the program has collected. "The volunteer from TIP was so valuable to me and my daughter when my husband passed suddenly," one client wrote on the program's site. "Thank you for providing this to our community." Volunteer Isaacson, quoted in Eugene Weekly, put it plainly: "I can't imagine not doing it. It's easily the most rewarding work I've ever done, probably will ever do."

Director Bridget Byfield says the experience resonates deeply with those doing the work. "The TIP volunteers, almost every single time, come back saying, 'It was an honor to be there,'" she told Eugene Weekly.

Now TIP is looking to grow its ranks. The organization's spring Training Academy launched today, March 12, at the Eugene Police Department, 300 Country Club Road in Eugene. Training runs through March 15 and will be followed by additional sessions the week after. The academy is open to people of all backgrounds who can pass a background check; no specific professional experience is required. Eugene Weekly notes this is the first training opportunity the program has offered since May 2025, when it had previously reached volunteer capacity.

A county media release quoted by KMTR described the stakes simply: "By ensuring those who are emotionally traumatized in emergencies receive the immediate assistance they need, TIP volunteers make an invaluable contribution to the health and well-being of Lane County."

Byfield is also looking beyond Lane County's borders. She told Eugene Weekly she hopes to see TIP expand into Linn Benton, Lincoln or Deschutes counties, pointing to TIP Northwest's growth from Portland into Hood River, Multnomah and other Oregon counties as a model. She added that she would like to see call volume increase in Lane County to ensure no survivors or traumatized people go without support.

The program's second annual Heroes with Heart Awards are scheduled for May 2, 2026.

To sign up for the Training Academy or donate to TIP of Lane County, contact Byfield directly at bridget@tiplanecounty.org or (541) 286-6416, or visit TIPLanecounty.org.