Traditional volunteer placements such as patient cuddlers, before or after school support for our children in residence (helping them get to the bus or off the bus and back to their rooms), and physical therapy patient transporters are available for adult volunteers and college-aged students. The majority of volunteers serve at our facilities in Mountainside, Toms River, and New Brunswick although we welcome volunteers at all of our locations. Most volunteers in traditional placements serve 10-12 hours per month in 2-3 hour shifts and are expected to serve at least 50 hours yearly.
Professional Partners is our highly individualized volunteer program that matches community professionals with hospital-based sponsors in non-clinical departments. These volunteers apply their skills and talents to a broad range of departments and projects and work directly with their in-hospital peers and colleagues in such areas as research, writing and training. Work can be done at any of our locations, or “virtually” from home or office. For those seeking greater volunteering flexibility and wanting to build or extend their experience in the health care setting, a professional partnership with Children’s Specialized Hospital can be an ideal fit. Specific projects are developed in consultation with hospital staff and time commitments vary depending on the project(s) and timelines.
Special Events: For those who enjoy the excitement of special events, we offer a program of “episodic volunteering”. Volunteers are needed throughout the year for such activities as holiday decorating, walk-a-thon support, fund-raising programs, event assistance and more. Join the team and you’ll receive periodic e-mails about upcoming activities and how you can help. NOTE: Accelerated screening and orientation are provided for individuals who want to confine their volunteering to special events. The process of becoming a volunteer at any of our sites is rigorous and requires a commitment of time and effort. The process is designed to ensure the safety of our patients, families, staff and volunteers and is required and monitored by The Joint Commission and NJ Department of Health. Personal interviews are conducted with all candidates to explore their talents and experience in light of hospital goals and needs. Once a placement is suggested (and prior to on-boarding) candidates will be required to successfully complete an initial medical screening, two tuberculosis tests, and an orientation program. All adult volunteers are also subject to a background check completed at our expense by an independent agency. Please note that the entire process from application to arriving for training can take 3 weeks. To apply as a volunteer, please complete the following materials: