The Volunteer Initiative Program (VIP)  is a program of the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County.  VIP matches interested community members with volunteer and internship opportunities throughout Santa Cruz County Government. VIP was started in 1984 as a partnership between the County of Santa Cruz and the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, and is fully funded by the Board of Supervisors.  We work with all County departments including the District Attorney’s Office, the Health Services Agency, the Human Resources Agency, Law Library, Parks and Recreation, Personnel, Probation, and the Sheriff’s Department.

VIP volunteers offer a wide range of services that include helping with juvenile diversion, providing tutoring to children, researching cases for the District Attorney, gathering information on crime victim impacts, or aiding children who struggle with mental illness. Volunteer positions are available to anyone ages 18 and over. Internships are an ideal way to gain skills, update your resume, and help County government serve our community. Many interesting internships exist within County departments, and we do our best to find or create a position where you will gain valuable experience in accordance with your area of study.