General information

Yale-New Haven Hospital
Volunteer Opportunities

Established in 1933, Yale-New Haven Hospital has one of the oldest organized hospital volunteer programs in the country. The hospital's 1,500 volunteers contribute more than 83,000 hours of service annually.

Energetic volunteers of all ages and skills are needed. Volunteers are generally asked to give a minimum of four hours a week for at least six months. There are a variety of volunteer roles to fit individual time schedules, abilities and interests. Volunteers may work directly with patients or choose work behind-the-scenes.

Youth Program

Yale-New Haven Hospital has a long history of collaboration with area colleges and universities. College students may participate in a variety of assignments and volunteer throughout the academic year. Students considering a career in health care will find volunteer experience to be helpful in solidifying career choices.

In the summer, Volunteer Services offers exciting opportunities for students who are able to volunteer for the summer months only. Many positions are available with direct patient contact or in patient support areas. Space is limited.

Please note that the 2009 Summer College Volunteer Program at Yale-New Haven Hospital is filled.

To receive information, please complete this form or contact Volunteer Services, (203) 688-2297.

Community Volunteers

Non-student adult volunteers provide stability to the volunteer program throughout the year by assisting in Guest Relations, Patient Support, Parenting Support and Pediatric Support. To receive information, please complete this form or contact Volunteer Services, (203) 688-2297.

Current Positions

Guest Relations

• Ambassadors greet, escort or transport patients and visitors (by wheelchair) throughout the hospital.
• Atrium Gift Shop assistants help customers with purchases and keep the inventory up-to-date.
• Family Liaison Services provides information and support to families in the surgery and intensive care waiting areas.
• Information Desks welcome visitors, assist with directions and provide general information about the hospital to guests.
• WELL Tour Guides show expectant parents the hospital's facilities, services and admission procedures before the birth of a child. Evening shifts are available.

To receive information, please complete this form or contact Volunteer Services, (203) 688-2297.

Patient Support

Trying to understand and cope with the challenges that arise during a hospital stay can be difficult. Patient Support volunteers help patients, families and friends address concerns, answer questions and attempt to make the experience as comfortable as possible for everyone.

• Book Cart volunteers visit patients with a cart of reading materials.
• Elder Horizons allows volunteers to work on units with geriatric patients, days or evenings.
• Emergency Department volunteers support patients and families in the Emergency Department waiting areas, and also assist staff by running errands and helping with a variety of tasks. Volunteers are needed in both the adult and pediatric departments.
• Heart Center volunteers who have had experience as cardiology patients provide peer-to-peer support to patients facing surgery.
• Reiki volunteers are certified Reiki practitioners who provide this gentle, hands-on energy healing technique to patients.
• Off-site volunteers assist staff by providing high quality, positive customer service that exemplifies warmth, caring and courtesy to patients and their families at our Shoreline Medical Center in Guilford and at Temple Surgical Center in New Haven.
• Snow drivers transport hospital personnel to and from the hospital during severe snow storms. A four-wheel drive vehicle is required.

To receive information, please complete this form or contact Volunteer Services, (203) 688-2297.

Cancer Support

In the Medical-Oncology Clinic, volunteers are a vital element of the care that the patient will receive, providing information, hospitality and support through a variety of programs. Volunteers need not have personal experience with cancer but more importantly a desire to help individuals who do.

• Navigator volunteers help "navigate" the new patient and their family on their first appointment day. Greeting, providing information and answering questions, they serve as a liaison between the patient and the physician team.
• Patient Aide volunteers provide suppport to patients and their famillies. They assist the treatment center staff in providing hospitality, conversation and a warm, caring environment.
• Greeter volunteers are the ambassadors of the Medical-Oncology Clinic, where they assist individuals as they arrive and depart, provide directions and escort patients and visitors as needed to other areas of the facility.

Parenting Support

The inevitable challenges of parenting can tough to face without the right resources. Parenting Support volunteers can help parents learn more about parenting and teach important skills to children from birth to 5 years old.

Bright Beginnings FAMILYREAD® Group is a parent-child literacy program that brings together parents for a 10-week group experience of exploring reading and positive parenting through selected children's books. To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Familyread®, contact Rene Visser, LCSW, (203) 688-8574.

Nurturing Connections is a volunteer telephone support program for first-time mothers. English and Spanish speaking volunteers are encouraged to apply. To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Nurturing Connections, contact Anita Bonilla, BSW, (203) 688-8165.

Nurturing Parent Group is a weekly parenting support group covering a wide range of parenting related topics. An educational children’s group for children birth to five years is held at the same time. This program meets for 24 weeks on Thursday evenings, 5:30-7:30 p.m. To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Nurturing Parent Group, contact René Visser, LCSW, (203) 688-8474.

Pediatric Support

While medical care is an essential part of any child's treatment, we believe the support our volunteers offer at Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital to our patients and their families are an integral part of their care.

• Reach Out and Read volunteers read to children in busy outpatient areas, days only.
• Schoolage/Adolescent Unit volunteers interact with patients and families, providing age-appropriate activities.
• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit volunteers support patients, families and staff.
• Pediatric Library volunteers offer pediatric patients a book from the library cart; volunteers retrieve and stock library books as needed.
• Sib Shop allows volunteers to interact with the brothers and sisters of pediatric patients, playing games and participating in activities.

To receive information, please complete this form or contact Volunteer Services, (203) 688-2297.

Return to the YNHH general information page

Last revised: Nov. 3, 2009 (dh)

Home page URL: http://www.ynhh.org

All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.