Volunteer opportunities

Please note:

There is a waiting list for many evening and weekend positions.  More immediate placements are usually available for weekday mornings and afternoons positions, especially in the outpatient clinics.

Child Life/Patient Play

Outpatient Clinics: Volunteers interact with patients and siblings in busy outpatient waiting areas.  Activities include art projects, games and reading books.  The majority of weekday volunteer opportunities are in these areas.  Weekday mornings and afternoons

Infant/Toddler Care: Supervised by a child life specialist, volunteers work one-on-one at the bedside with infants and toddlers 0-3 years of age, providing positive interaction and helping with feeding and play. Weekday mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends

Family Life Center: Volunteers assist the child life specialist in facilitating a playgroup and/or interacting one-on-one at the bedside with inpatient children ages 4 - 11 years and providing emotional support to patients and families. Evening volunteers also rotate duties on the Ambassador Parent amenities cart; they interact with families to orient them to the hospital, provide them with information, address their needs and concerns and offer items from the amenities cart. Weekday mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends

Teen Lounge: Volunteers assist the child life specialist in facilitating group activities in the teen lounge that are developmentally and emotionally appropriate for teens 12 years old and up. They also provide one-on-one beside visits with teen patients. Afternoons, Evenings and Weekends Child Life Outpatient Clinics: Volunteers assist the child life specialist in facilitating play with patients and siblings, and providing emotional support to patients and families. Weekday mornings and afternoons

Hematology/Oncology: Volunteers interact and play with children of all ages in inpatient and outpatient playrooms. They facilitate age appropriate playgroups or see patients on an individual basis at the bedside. Weekday mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends

Emergency Department: Volunteers provide play opportunities for children (primarily siblings of patients) in the Emergency Department waiting room area. Weekday afternoons, evenings and weekends

Art Activity Cart: Volunteers visit inpatient units with the activity cart, offering arts&crafts activities to patients and families. Volunteers also do art activities with children 18 months and older at their bedside. Weekends only

Pre-Surgery Program:

A nurse conducts this program, which prepares families whose children are scheduled for an upcoming surgery. Volunteers assist the nurse as s/he orients the family and patient and addresses any anxiety they may have. Volunteers set up and facilitate a medical play session with children to help them work through their fears or anxiety. Saturdays 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Tutoring

Under the direction of the School Services Coordinator, volunteers work with inpatients assisting them with their school work. Weekday mornings, afternoons and evenings

Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy/Orthotics

Volunteers assist the staff in providing developmentally appropriate activities for patients between exercise sessions, returning and cleaning toys and equipment, restocking supplies, and providing clerical assistance to staff. Weekday morning and afternoons

Nursing Assistant

Pre and Post Surgery: Volunteers play with children as they await surgery; they also stock supplies, run errands, and escort family members to waiting areas. After surgery, in the post-anesthesia care unit, where the nurses watch patients until they are stable, volunteers assist the nurses by transferring the stable children to their floors, stocking supplies, and/or running errands to lab, central supply, and pharmacy. Weekday mornings, afternoons and evenings

Emergency Department:

Volunteers assist nursing staff in a non-medical role. Duties include stocking supplies, changing sheets in holding rooms, assisting with holding procedures, and transporting patients.  Evenings and Weekends

Urgent Care Unit:

This unit, near the emergency department, is used primarily for less acute types of problems. It is staffed by one MD, one RN, one clerk and one volunteer. The volunteer helps with simple procedures, stocks supplies, goes back and forth to ER for meds or supplies and helps keep the kids occupied in the waiting area with play activities. Evenings and weekends

Inpatient Nursing Units:

Volunteers assist staff in a non-medical role with providing care and support to patients and their families. Duties range from playing with children, holding infants to answering phones and stocking supplies. Weekday mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends

Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Child Psychiatry Assistant: Volunteers assist staff by helping patients with the daily tasks of living or in classroom or waiting room settings. Weekday mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends

Kohl's House

Volunteers assist house manager in the hospitality and upkeep of the facility which provides low-cost housing for families undergoing a child's transplantation. Groups also can help by providing an evening or weekend meal for the families. Weekday mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends

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