Acupuncturists Without Borders Field Service Programs

Since 2005, AWB has been developing and coordinating numerous field service programs that offer trauma-informed treatments and practitioner training in local communities. We've responded to dozens of natural and human-caused disasters both in the U.S. and internationally. Our work extends across the U.S. with essential workers, veterans, survivors of violence, and homeless communities. Additionally, we've partnered with local organizations in Nepal, Mongolia, Haiti, Greece, Israel, Palestine, Mexico, and many other countries to create sustainable programs that support people affected by acute, historical, and intergenerational trauma. Here is a glimpse of where AWB is currently operating "in the field."

  • Farmworker Support

    AWB is a member of the CARE Collaborative (Colectivo CARE), where we offer trauma-informed care for Central California farmworkers and their families. These individuals often face challenging living and working conditions, exposure to toxic pesticides, and a lack of access to quality healthcare due to their undocumented status. Our services include acupuncture, cupping, massage therapy, and chiropractic care, provided at bimonthly mobile clinics. These services are offered in partnership with the Center for Farmworker Families and Salud Para la Gente clinic in Watsonville, CA.

  • Mexico Border Project

    At the Justicia en Salud Clinic in Tijuana, Mexico, AWB works closely with the Parteras midwifery group to provide integrative reproductive healthcare for refugees and people seeking asylum from poverty, disasters, and violence. We offer weekly acupuncture treatments for clinic patients and ongoing acupuncture training for the midwives. In collaboration with the Mayway Corporation, we have also added Chinese herbal formulas to the clinic’s extensive indigenous herb pharmacy.

  • Refugee Support in Ukraine, EU, UK

    After the war in Ukraine began in 2022, AWB established extensive support for refugee communities in the United Kingdom and the European Union. We've trained numerous teams to deliver local services, particularly in Poland, where the majority of Ukrainian refugees currently reside. In addition to this, AWB supports acupuncturists inside Ukraine who provide treatment for soldiers and veterans suffering from physical and emotional war-related injuries.

  • AWB Greece

    Since 2016, AWB has been working in Greek refugee camps and with community social service organizations to support displaced people from Afghanistan, Syria, and Africa. AWB-Greece offers acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and herbal medicine at mobile clinics and educational events. This work is carried out in partnership with local refugee support organizations throughout Athens.

  • The Haiti Program

    AWB continues to support community acupuncture circles in Haiti. These sessions are held weekly by local practitioners who were trained by AWB following the devastating earthquake in 2010. Since then, Haiti has endured additional natural disasters, political instability, and extreme gang-related violence. Now more than ever, the need for trauma-informed care in local communities is absolutely essential.

  • Puerto Rico

    Since Hurricane Maria, AWB has sent multiple teams to assist and train local practitioners in delivering care to remote Puerto Rican communities impacted by hurricanes and earthquakes. We continue to support ongoing community acupuncture circles offered by our Puerto Rican colleagues.

  • Palestinian Practitioner Training

    Since 2014, AWB has trained numerous Israeli acupuncturists. Currently, our focus is on providing ear seed and ear acupuncture training to health professionals in Palestine, where there are few acupuncturists and extremely high rates of trauma.

  • US Disaster Relief and Community Service Clinics

    AWB is always prepared to support disaster relief responses in U.S. communities through training, supplies, and project mentoring. Over the past 18 years, AWB-trained teams have provided thousands of treatments for stress and trauma reduction in communities affected by floods, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes, as well as communities impacted by violence and mass shootings. We offer these services through short-term relief projects and assist in the development of long-term community service clinics, coordinated by local practitioners.

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Become an AWB Sponsor

AWB does not work alone!

Our goal with sponsoring partners is to create mutually beneficial collaborations – helping your organization thrive and achieve its objectives – while together we create more capacity for healing trauma in the world. If you are interested in becoming an AWB Sponsor, please email Christine Cronin.