In 1995 the Senior Volunteer Patrol began at the Ramona Sheriff's Substation. The unit is staffed entirely by volunteer seniors 50 years and older. It is designed especially for senior citizens who want to serve their community through safety and service programs. In 2006 the Senior Volunteer Program donated 8,602 hours to the community of Ramona.

Services offered are:

• Make vacation home security checks
• Visit the homebound (You Are Not Alone - YANA)
• Enforce handicapped parking regulations
• Assist with traffic control when needed
• Patrol neighborhoods, shopping centers and the community in general, in vehicles clearly marked as part of the SVP program

Some of the SVP volunteers serve on the Elder Abuse Prevention Team. The Elder Abuse Prevention Team was formed in 2004 at the request of Lieutenant Kain of the Ramona Sheriff's Substation. It was modeled after the only other existing program in Fallbrook.

The objective of the Elder Abuse Prevention Team is to provide long term follow up care on cases referred from Adult Protective Services. This helps prevent re-referral to APS since they only do crisis management.

Cases may be followed up on for a few days or long term. The majority of the cases are self neglect, where clients are living alone without the support of family or friends. We find our elders in all stages of poor environment, with needs for transportation, medical care, food and the basic necessities of life. The Team provides general case management services for their clients.

New senior volunteers are always welcome. They are asked to spend a minimum of six hours per week performing a variety of duties either at public service offices or in the field patrolling communities and shopping centers, checking on homebound persons or other assignments.

A Senior Volunteer Patrol applicant must attend a formal training academy. Academy training includes CPR, first aid, public relations, sexual harassment, chain of command, rules and regulations, radio procedures, safe driving, map reading, crime prevention, traffic control and patrol observations. Also covered are procedures for doing security checks of homes and businesses, report writing, parking enforcement, and the YANA (You Are Not Alone) program.

Because SVP members have access to confidential and sensitive information, all SVP applicants are subject to a background screening process. This includes a computer check of driving and criminal history as well as an oral interview.

If you would like to volunteer for the Senior Volunteer Program or avail yourself of any of their services please call the Ramona Sheriff's Substation at (760) 789-9157.