Hartley works with Yolo County HIV Case Manager Melanie Boyle to match buddy pairs. They try to match buddies with similar hobbies and interests, taking into account client profiles and volunteer preferences. An extensive training program for volunteers is provided by the Sacramento AIDS Foundation. The training program deals with death and dying, AIDS resources, spotting trouble, role-playing and setting boundaries. It is supposed to teach the volunteers to emotionally handle any situation they may face in their volunteer experience.
Buddies then spend a few hours a week providing support for their match.
The clinic prefers that volunteers make a one to two-year commitment because of the time it takes to get to know each other on a personal level. Bud Hubert, a volunteer buddy, has been with his match for three years now. Over time, the pair developed an extremely personal relationship. Hubert is now able to offer support on many different levels, from everyday decisions to times of crisis. Hubert believes the most important aspect of the match is to have someone who will always be there and who will accept them unconditionally.