Volunteers are an essential part of the Phoebe H. Stein Child Life Program at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM). We are always seeking creative, motivated and dependable volunteers, 16 years of age and older, who enjoy working with infants, children and teens.
There are many ways to contribute your time at CHAM, including:
- Organizing playroom groups for games, art, music, video games and more
- Engaging in bedside visits with individual patients for crafts and games
- Reading and playing with young children
- Cuddling infants
- Coordinating teen activities
Volunteer hours are available all days of the week from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and some evenings.
To volunteer and interact with patients, you must be over 16 years old; however, there are many ways to become involved and help support the children. For example, book drives, gift card drives and bake sales can help raise funds in your school or community centers for toy and art supply purchases. Community service hour letters can be provided upon completion of a fundraising event.
Application and Requirements
Individuals who are interested must fill out a pre-screening form and schedule an interview with our Program Supervisor. After the interview, you will receive a full application and medical form. Along with the pre-screening form, these must be completed and submitted to the main volunteer office. Approval may take four to six weeks after submission of all documents.
Students must commit to a minimum of 100 hours, volunteering once per week.
Adults must commit to a minimum of 200 hours, volunteering once per week.
For corporate, community and college volunteer groups, there is a separate screening process, please contact Program Supervisor for details. Groups will work in collaboration with Child Life staff as visitors during scheduled playroom times. Volunteers provide arts and crafts supplies to use with patients and must commit to two to ten visits per year.
For information on volunteer opportunities, contact:
Program Supervisor
Ingrid Ordonez Street
Phone: 718-741-2556
E-mail: iordonez@montefiore.org