Here’s a sampling of volunteer opportunities, subject to availability:
Patient Care
Work with patients, families (including siblings) and staff in an effort to maintain normalcy for the hospitalized patient. Support is given primarily in the Play Room/Activity Rooms within a patient care area, including Critical Care, Hematology and Oncology, Medical Surgical and Orthopedics Rehabilitation. Activities center around playing games, painting, coloring and other special projects. Volunteers need to be friendly, able to cope with serious illnesses and willing to spend time at the end of the shift cleaning and disinfecting toys in the playroom.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Assist staff with infant care and provide supplemental services, adding to the comfort of patients and families while also providing clerical assistance, stocking equipment and doing errands throughout the Hospital.
Translation Ambassador
Provide translation services from Spanish to English and vice versa, concerning non-medical issues to monolingual Spanish-speaking families and patients during hospitalization or clinical visits.
Surgery Ambassador
Serve as a liaison between families and surgery staff to keep families apprised of the child’s status. Assist and monitor the waiting area while maintaining a pleasant and orderly atmosphere. Provide information about the Hospital environment and services to the families of those who will be inpatients.
Visiting Ambassador
Provide information and assistance to families at Rady Children’s. Ambassadors also determine the level of satisfaction of parents and help parents link up with Hospital resources.
Schoolroom
Assist teachers in providing educational activities for children in the Hospital.
Speech
Assist in the Early Intervention Program for children with communication disorders, including speech, language and hearing impairments. Provide assistance within a group setting under direct supervision of staff. May assist in the preparation of materials for the individual and/or those in group therapy.
Information Desk
Greeter Provide information and directions in a gracious and welcoming manner to all who enter Rady Children’s at the two main entrances.
Office Support
Perform various clerical functions within Hospital departments including filing, copying and computer data entry.
Diversionary
Activities in Outpatient Waiting Areas Offer diversionary activities to those waiting for appointments. Volunteers may offer artistic projects.
Helen Bernardy Center for Medically Fragile Children
Provide activities such as arts and crafts projects. Assist the staff during special outings, which may include attendance at musical events, Special Olympics practices, swimming and bowling programs, baseball games, horseback-riding and ice-skating, as well as therapeutic recreational programs.
Alexa’s Playc in the Autism Discover Institute
Provide diversionary play for the children, prepare teaching materials and maintain a safe, orderly environment. Activities occur in the classrooms or in the outdoor play area.
Physical and Occupational Therapy
Provide support services to staff in maintaining an optimal therapy and working environment.
Diversionary Arts Activity
Assist in reducing stress and promote healing by planning and providing diversionary activities for patients and families in designated areas of the Hospital.
Pre-op Party
Assist staff in providing pre-admission information and orientation to patients and families who are scheduled to have surgery at a future date.
Kids in Court
Assist staff in preparing children to testify in court, thus enabling them to control and master the court experience as well as to testify effectively.
Canine Care
Escort Facilitate the visit of the Canine Therapy dog and owner. Prepare required paperwork for authorized visits and escort the dog and owner through the hospital to visit patients according to the program’s official protocol.
The Healing Arts Program
The Healing Arts Program at Rady Children's provides volunteer opportunities for trained professionals in art who can make a commitment of least six months.
The Program is funded by grants from private donors supporting the Healing Environment for inpatients and children who are treated in the various outpatient clinics. This is a fun and uplifting experience for patients in the areas of music, visual art and storytelling.
Artists, musicians and storytellers interested in volunteering for the program can download and complete this volunteer application.
If you have other questions, please contact Bob Davis, Healing Arts Program Coordinator at 858.576.1700, ext. 5296, or the Rady Children's Human Resources Department at 800.869.5627.