Volunteering

Volunteering Options

Volunteer Greeters - This is a wonderful opportunity to help brighten the day of people entering the Medical Center. You can be the friendly face that welcomes our guests and helps them get to their destination. This is a primary focus for the University of Illinois Medical Center; one our patients and their families sincerely appreciate. Special skills required for this area include good communication and good listening capabilities. If you are bi- or multi-lingual, this is also a benefit, but not necessity.

Pediatric Volunteer - Help children facing medical challenges get through their daily routine. You can be the person that holds their hand as they go through a test or play a game with them while they wait for the medicine to work. In any event, children and parents alike will greatly appreciate your selflessness and kindness. These volunteers work with our Child Life Program and have a full-time person assigned to work with them.

Baby Cuddlers - Research has shown that infants who are held demonstrate greater growth, physiologic stability and have shorter hospital stays than infants denied that opportunity. Since critically ill newborns are frequently hospitalized for an extended period of time, parents find themselves emotionally and physically torn between their desires to visit with their infants and other life responsibilities. The Cuddler Program uses trained volunteers to handle, hold, rock, and cuddle stable infants as they convalesce from premature birth or other illnesses.

Reach Out and Read - Volunteers read to children in the pediatric clinic waiting room while they are waiting to see the healthcare providers. This serves two important purposes for families. First, volunteers provide a positive, nurturing experience with books at a time when children may need comfort. Second, books and stories provide new ideas, amusement, and a window into a wider world at a moment when children might otherwise find themselves with few distractions from the anxieties of waiting and wondering what the doctor's appointment will bring.

SurgiCenter - Many times, family members face anxiety and stress while waiting for their loved ones to receive medical care. Volunteers in our SurgiCenter provide extra care to these people by being the link between them and the SurgiCenter staff. They also provide reading material, directions, and some transport services. Volunteers interested in this area should be at least 18 years of age. It is also helpful to have knowledge of basic medical terminology.

Pastoral Care - Pastoral Care Services are available to meet the spiritual needs of University of Illinois Medical Center patients and their families. Chaplains are available as a resource for the following services:

• Spiritual and emotional support
• Administering the sacraments, such as holy communion or the sacrament of the sick
• Ethical decision-making assistance on issues such as advanced directives.
  Although most volunteers in this area are ordained clergy, there are also two areas in which lay people can help. Catholics that would like to bring Holy Communion to patients should check with their church to learn about the 12-hour training program. Any others who would like to be available to sit with patients and their loved ones while they pray, read the holy scriptures to them, or just be there to listen, need only be interviewed and trained by the hospital chaplain. In either case, volunteers in this area must have good listening skills and must not use this as a means to proselytize to hospital guests.

Physical Therapy - This is our most competitive volunteer position. The basic requirements are you must be at least 18 years of age and currently studying Physical Therapy at a university. Here you will work directly with Licensed Physical Therapists and earn credits toward fulfilling your volunteer PT Hours. If you would like to join this area, you should first contact the volunteer office to schedule an interview.

How to Volunteer

1. Contact Volunteer Services either by calling 312-413-1945 to request the brief application.
   
2. Mark your calendar and plan to attend one of the upcoming Volunteer Orientations, where you will learn in detail about the various volunteer opportunities at the University of Illinois Medical Center. You will also review basic policies and procedures. All orientations are held at 3 p.m. in Room 1136 of the Medical Center.
   
3. At orientation you will be asked to sign up for a basic health screening. Once we've ascertained a clean bill of health, you're ready to get started.

Requirements for Becoming a Volunteer

• At least 16 years of age with a valid form of identification
• Agree to serve a minimum of 45 hours within the next year
• Pass a basic health screening (Tuberculosis, Mumps, Measles, Chicken Pox)
• Sign a statement for a drug-free workplace and a confidentiality agreement

Volunteer Recruiting / Retention

We are always looking for new volunteers and for ways to praise and support those who are active. In order to get the word out, we need people to make phone calls, pass out flyers, stuff envelopes, write for our newsletter, and much more! If you have good marketing and communication skills, this would be a perfect way for you to help.

Fundraising

Like many volunteer programs across the country, the University of Illinois Medical Center's Volunteer program is always looking for additional resources to fund current and future programs. Our existing projects include, but are not limited to: setting up a library of books for our patients, securing new toys for the Child Life Center, and getting clothing for new babies. For all of these projects, we need to raise money, get sponsors, and get equipment. If you have experience in fundraising, event planning, or like to talk on the phone, your help is needed. Please contact the volunteer office for more information and to begin supporting these important projects.