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NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital

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Overview

NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital volunteers provide vital assistance to our patients, families and healthcare professionals. Throughout the Hospital, volunteers can be found lending a helpful hand by running errands, providing information to parents whose children are in the emergency room or undergoing surgery, welcoming patients and families to the Child Life playrooms, organizing toys and play materials, or visiting on the units. Volunteers can assist with children in the clinic waiting areas, serve as role models in the literacy programs and offer our families much needed comfort and support.

Please note:

• The Deadline for Summer Applications is March 31st
• Volunteers must commit to 150 hours of service
• Summer Volunteers commit to 120 hours of service within 6-8 weeks
• There are limited spots available for weekends & evenings
• We will contact you only if you will be invited in for an interview

Volunteer Opportunities

Child Life. The Child Life Program at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital is a therapeutic play and activities program. It is designed to reduce the emotional impact of illness and hospitalization on children and their families. Members of the professional Child Life staff are trained in child development, psychology, education and other closely related fields. Child Life staff addresses some of the special needs of hospitalized children and adolescents by providing age-appropriate and therapeutic play activities which foster continued growth and development. The assistance of Child Life volunteers is vital to meeting this goal. Volunteers can welcome patients and families, provide toys, arts and crafts activities, play games with patients and be a companion when one is needed. Under the direct supervisor of a Child Life Specialist, volunteers can play with children both in the playroom, at bedside and in Same Day Surgery department.

Hours available: Weekdays, Weekends, Evenings. Must be at least 18 years old.

Clerical. This opportunity offers the chance for a volunteer to become a valuable member of a department team. Volunteers will provide much-needed general office assistance at the direction of departmental staff. Duties may include answering telephones, filing, data entry or light typing, labeling, running errands, etc. Pleasant personality and accuracy are important. Opportunities are available in various settings: clinics, nursing units, doctor office, administration etc.

Hours available: Weekdays 9 AM - 5 PM.

Community Literacy Volunteer. Community Literacy Volunteers will have a dual role as an ROR (Reach Out & Read) and HEAL (Health Education Adult Literacy) volunteer. They will promote emergent literacy by following the guidelines of the ROR Model as they read aloud to children in the waiting room of ACN sites and they will also work to help improve the health literacy among our patient population by engaging patients' caregivers in a dialogue to discuss the various issues in health literacy (i.e. understanding med. labels, measuring liquid meds and adhering to medical instructions).

Hours available: Weekdays 9 AM - 5 PM. Must be at least 18 years old & pursuing pre-medical or public health studies. Spanish fluency is preferred. The age limit for Reach Out & Read (separate from HEAL) is 17 years old.

Pediatric Emergency Department. With genuine concern and compassion, volunteers in the emergency department provide emotional support to the patients and their families in the waiting room. Volunteers liaise between patients, families and clinical staff, and are trained in various methods of interaction with children such as one-to-one or group readings, board games, activities, drawing, etc.

Hours available: 10 AM - 12 AM, Monday-Sunday. Must be at least 18 years old.
Hours available: Weekdays 8 AM - 6 PM

Family Advisory Council. The Family Advisory Council is a group of 30 parents, Hospital staff, and faculty who work together as equal partners to make the Hospital a better place for children and families. If you are interested in learning more about the Family Advisory Council or how you can join go to: http://childrensnyp.org/mschony/family-advisory-council.html

The Family Resource Center, centrally located on the first floor central of the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NY and the Sloane Hospital for Women, provides a warm, quiet and inviting place where families may conduct computer research on issues facing their children. It is staffed with a full time Health Librarian, who will manage the center and assist families with research requests on diagnoses and other health and hospital related issues. Information on other resources is also available at the center. The volunteer will assist the family Resource Center Librarian as well as patients and families in navigating the amenities available in the FRC (computers, fax/copy, etc.) In addition, volunteers may deliver information packets to designated patient/family rooms.

Hours Available: Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm. Must be at least 21 years old.

Gift Shop. The gift shop is looking for friendly, pleasant volunteers, who are able to stand for prolonged periods and could help put away stock, check and price new merchandise, stock gift cart, and tag samples for display.

NYPgreen Sustainability Volunteer The primary responsibility of the NYPgreen volunteer is to support NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's goal to be to create the safest and healthiest environment for our patients, staff, and community while conserving resources for the future, raising awareness and encouraging participation in these efforts. The volunteer will assist in the education of employees on sustainability, support the work of the Sustainability Council, and prioritize opportunities for sustainability efforts. The ideal candidate is a self-starter able to collaborate effectively to develop plans and work independently to generate results.

Available hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm. Must be at least 18 years old.

Occupational/Physical Therapy. Volunteers assist therapists with follow-up phone surveys, appointment confirmation and patient registration. They greet patients upon arrival, and assist therapists with a variety of tasks such as setup/cleanup of the treatment area, organizing materials, assisting with treatment groups, folding towels, sheets, and gowns.

Hours available: Weekdays 9 AM - 5 PM.. Must be at least 18 years old.

Outpatient Areas. Many patients who come to Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital for testing or outpatient treatment are dealing with difficult illness. The process can be stressful for patients and family members. Volunteers work in Outpatient Areas such the Diagnostic Imaging Suite, Oncology Clinic, Cardiology Clinic and Infusion Center. They play a key role interacting with patients and staff. They will supervise the play area on the unit and coordinate activities with children who are waiting in this area. Volunteers will also serve as liaisons between staff in the testing area and families in the waiting area - bringing information on patient status when needed.

Hours available: Weekdays 9 AM - 5 PM. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. The ICU provides care to our most vulnerable patients and families. Volunteers offer respite/relief to caregivers and one on one care to patients. They also facilitate provision of services such as food and access to resources to support them. Volunteers will lend a listening ear and a supportive heart to family members in need.

Hours Available: Weekdays 10-4:30pm. Must be at least 18 years old and have experience in a health care setting.

Pediatric Psychiatry. NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital offers one of the largest child and adolescent psychiatry programs in the country, providing specialized diagnostic, therapeutic, and crisis intervention services to several thousand children annually. The Child Psychiatry Division also provides a full complement of services at specialized outpatient clinics that address disruptive behavior disorders, child anxiety and depression, pervasive developmental disorders, and psychotic disorders. The Child Activity Volunteer, under the supervision of the staff psychologist, will spend time with pediatric psychiatry patients in the waiting areas conducting therapeutic play activities and reading aloud.

Hours available: Weekdays 3pm-7pm. Must be at least 18 years old.

Rejuvenate You Wellness Program. Family members of patients in the hospital are often in need of comfort and support themselves. The Wellness Program, a program sponsored by the Family Advisory Council, is designed to provide support and respite to family members of patients at the hospital. Volunteers will staff the center and assist with program set-up, facilitate provision of services (food, massage therapy), provide support and comfort to center visitors, and assist visitors in accessing resources to support them. Volunteers will lend a listening ear and a supportive heart to family members in need.

Hours available: Wednesdays 12:30 PM - 4 PM. Must be at least 18 years old.

Sibling Program-Charna's Kids' Club. Charna's Kids' Club is a special place for siblings (age 5-12) of patients at the hospital. Siblings can interact with peers and participate in activities that create a safe place for expression and social support including: creative play, including art, crafts, music, drama, dance, structured group games, activities, free play time, homework help and special events. Volunteers will assist in preparing and implementing recreational activities for the siblings of inpatient children. They will be trained in the special needs of siblings with a sister or brother in the hospital. They will also provide individualized attention and collaborate in the maintenance of a playful and safe environment.

Hours available: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 4 PM - 8 PM, Sunday 11 AM - 2 PM. Must be at least 18 years old.

Sloan Hospital for Women: Ante & Post Partum Units. Volunteers are trained to visit expectant and new mothers to assess their needs and to provide a warm welcome environment.

Hours available: Monday through Sunday – although training must be completed during working hours. Must be at least 14 years old.

Special Needs Clinic. The Columbia Presbyterian Special Needs Clinic is a comprehensive mental health clinic that provides mental health services for HIV positive infected and affected children and their adult relatives. The clinic provides a broad array of services including not only clinical care by a multidisciplinary team, but also case management services. An integral part of the unit of care is the Learning Center which provides advocacy for patients in the public schools and remediation on site. The Learning Center is currently seeking volunteer tutors to provide homework help and academic remediation to the clinic's children. This is a great opportunity to work in a supportive environment where educators, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists work together to meet the needs of children. As a tutor you would work very closely with your supervisor to create an educational plan which meets the needs of your student.

Hours available: Monday through Thursday 3:30pm-7pm. The commitment is to the end of the school year.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or have any questions, please feel free to contact the Learning Center Director, Christine Dufresne, MSEd at (212) 305-8722 or via e-mail at chd9043@nyp.org.

Wilma's Studio Art Program. "Wilma's Studio" is an art program that brings artists to the hospital weekly to work with children in a creative setting. Children in the Pediatric Oncology and the Pediatric Neurology Clinic paint, sculpt, build and draw with the encouragement and guidance of specially trained artists. These weekly sessions offered in clinic waiting rooms engage patients and their parents and siblings in meaningful self-expression, improving the entire clinic experience. Volunteers will assist the artist's and engage children in the process of artmaking. Although certainly welcomed, no previous art experience is necessary. We require an ability to be flexible, patient, and attentive to children's needs in the midst of a very busy clinic environment.

Hours available: Oncology Clinic Mondays 10am-3pm, Neurology Clinic Tuesdays 1pm-4pm. Must be at least 18 years old.

Turn 2 US Elementary School Based Mental Health Promotion & Prevention Program. Turn 2 US is a unique partnership between NewYork- Presbyterian Hospital Public School128/Public School 4 and Derek Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation. We provide year long services to students, parents & school staff. We offer a 5-week summer program starting in July for approximately 40 students. The volunteer, in collaboration with Turn 2 staff, will be responsible for supervising and mentoring students as well as leading a small activity group Activities can be modified to the skills and talents of the volunteer and serves to promote physical activity, cultural arts, or new skills/talents.

Hours Available: Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm. Must be at least 18 years old.

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