Volunteers serve as important links between Seattle Children’s and the community. Through their work, volunteers come to understand the mission and vision of Children’s. They take what they learn back to their families, places of work, and neighborhoods.
Volunteer service falls into two major categories:
- Direct patient contact
- Limited or no patient contact
* Evening and weekend shifts are available.
Direct Patient Contact
Volunteers may assist in providing appropriate activities for patients and offering comfort and support to parents.
Some of the areas where Children’s direct patient contact volunteers may assist include:
- Child Life Inpatient Playroom
- Child Life Outpatient Playroom
- Emergency Department
- Physical / Occupational Therapy
- Speech and Language Services
- Surgery Center – Phase II Recovery
- Therapy Pool
Child Life Inpatient Playroom*
Minimum Age: 16
Mature, enthusiastic, caring, and reliable volunteers are needed to assist in the Child Life Playroom. Volunteers must be able to interact and engage with children of all ages.
Volunteers play with children in the inpatient playroom and in patient rooms. They also help maintain toys and play supplies for all areas.
(Minimum 6-month commitment)
Child Life Department Outpatient Playroom
Minimum Age: 16
Assist in supporting the Ambulatory Care Clinics. Mature, self-motivated, organized volunteers are needed to provide fun, purposeful activities for children waiting for their clinic appointment(s).
Volunteers also help maintain the toys and play supplies in the Playroom; checking for safety, and cleaning on a regular basis.
Emergency Department*
Minimum Age: 18
Volunteers support patients, families, and hospital staff by running errands, transporting patients, escorting families, entertaining patients and siblings in the waiting area or exam room, and cleaning and replenishing toys.
Volunteers may have opportunities to observe some medical procedures when appropriate.
Physical / Occupational Therapy
Minimum Age: 18
Volunteers transport patients from their rooms to their therapy appointments and then back to their rooms when therapy is finished.
They also keep patients company between therapies, run errands for the office staff and therapists, help file charts, and handle other tasks as needed.
Volunteers who are pursuing a career in either Physical or Occupational Therapy may apply for the Student Volunteer Bonus Program. As a volunteer in the Bonus Program you will be assigned to a specific therapist to observe patient treatment.
Speech and Language Services
Minimum Age: 16
Volunteers provide a wide variety of services in support of patients and therapists. They create treatment materials, duplicate and assist in development of educational materials, file charts, tabulate data, play with patients while parents are attending feedback sessions, file patient charts, and assist in implementation of department process improvement initiatives. Scope of services is dependent on the volunteer's skills and dependability.
Volunteers who are pursuing degrees in Speech Pathology and have completed a minimum of 50 hours of service in the department, may be eligible to observe patient evaluation and treatment sessions with our providers.
Surgery Center – Phase II Recovery
Minimum Age: 16
Support patients and families while they are in recovery by providing blankets, videos, toys and juice. Assist the hospital staff by running errands and collecting and returning charts and pagers. Set up wheelchairs for discharge and escort families as needed. Clean recovery rooms and prepare and label surgery packets.
Therapy Pool*
Minimum Age: 16
Have a splashing good time volunteering in the therapy pool! This is an opportunity to work directly with patients and families.
Limited or No Patient Contact
Volunteers also provide invaluable support in non-patient care areas.
Some of the areas include:
- Central Service
- Clerical and Office Support
- Family Resource Center
- Greeter / Guide Services
- Materials Management
- Messengers
- Retail Sales Gift Shop and Thrift Stores
Central Service*
Minimum Age: 14
Restock shelves with medical supplies. Deliver medical supplies and equipment to all areas of the hospital and other patient care supply related activities.
Clerical and Office Support*
Minimum Age: 14
Assist the staff with clerical and office duties in clinical and administrative departments. Opportunities are open to volunteers who would like to gain office experience and learn new skills in a hospital environment.
Duties may include filing and collating, answering phones, using office machines and word processing.
Family Resource Center
Minimum Age: 21
We are looking for enthusiastic, caring volunteers to greet families, answer questions, assist with family support programs and help staff with various projects in the Family Resource Center. (Minimum 6 month commitment)
The Resource Center is a place for families to relax, read, and learn about child health issues including growth and development, parenting, nutrition, safety and specific disease topics.
The Resource Center also provides parent massages, coffee, tea, books, magazines and a computer workstation. Twice a day, volunteers are needed to take our Coffee Cart out to families on our inpatient units.
Greeter / Guide Services*
Minimum Age: 14
Welcome and direct people, escort patients and families, respond to visitor's questions, deliver patient gifts, distribute wheelchairs and more.
Materials Management*
Minimum Age: 14
Travel throughout the hospital delivering equipment and supplies vital to the day-to-day operation of the hospital. Help keep the hospital hallways and entrances clean and clear of equipment. Prospective volunteers should be able to push or pull a minimum of 50 pounds, to motivate themselves and be able to perform multiple tasks at once.
Messengers*
Minimum Age: 14
A great way to learn your way around the hospital. Delivering flowers and gifts to patient areas, collecting and distributing wheelchairs, pick-up and delivery of charts and other equipment, and dozens of other in-hospital errands.
Messengers also assist with various projects in the volunteer office such as bulk mailings and other fun stuff!
Retail Sales Gift Shop and Thrift Stores*
Minimum Age: 16
A perfect job for persons with retail background, those interested in a business/retail career or those who love to shop! Volunteer opportunities are available at the Children’s Hospital Gift Shop or at one of our community Thrift Stores.
Other Opportunities
Children’s may also have volunteer opportunities in the following areas:
- Dental Clinic
- Dietary / Nutrition
- Education / Tutors
- Grounds Department
- Hospital Auntie / Uncle
- Inpatient Psychiatry
- Laboratories
- Orthotics / Prosthetics
- Pastoral and Spiritual Care
- Speech and Language Services
Note: Some of these positions require volunteers to have a specific number of service hours and experience before being eligible. Age restrictions apply.
Contact Us
Phone: 206-987-2155