Maybe you’re a student or professional who wants to learn more about the field of medicine. Or maybe you’re a retired senior or stay-at-home parent who would like to get more involved with your community. Regardless of your age, occupation, or background, volunteering at Children’s Nebraska can be a wonderful and rewarding experience.
We have volunteer opportunities all over the hospital, including:
- Assisting in playing with children and providing support for family members
- Assisting at the Children’s Hospital information desk
- Staffing the gift shop
- Visiting with families in the surgery waiting area
- Taking on special projects, such as helping with events
Please note that our greatest need for volunteers is weekdays during business hours. Only limited evening or weekend placements are available.
Whatever your area of interest, you will be helping to support our mission to improve the life of every child.
Becoming A Volunteer
There are two programs for volunteers: one is for adults, and the other is for teens, called Teen Connection. The first step toward becoming a volunteer in either program at Children’s is to fill out an application. Applications are available online or by calling the Volunteer Services Department at 402-955-4010.
Print and Send Your Application
Volunteer Application – Adult / College
Volunteer Application – Teen
Adult Volunteers — For Volunteers Age 19 And Older
After submitting an application, please:
- Wait to receive a letter from Volunteer Services, and then you will be contacted for an interview.
- Provide a letter of recommendation.
- Complete a health screening with the employee health department. This screening consists of two appointments that must be attended within a required amount of time. You will be provided with health screening forms during your initial interview. Be sure to bring these forms to your initial employee health appointment.
- Pass a criminal and adult/child abuse background check. Your Social Security number is required to perform the background checks.
If you are approved for a volunteer position, you will be invited to attend a new volunteer orientation session, as well as any additional required training sessions. The application process can take 4 to 6 weeks to complete from the time of the initial interview.
Volunteering With Teen Connection
If you’re looking for a great place to build skills and get professional experience, you’ve come to the right place. Our Teen Connection volunteers learn a lot, make new friends, and have fun in a secure and compassionate environment.
We accept and orient our new Teen Connection Volunteers in groups several times a year, primarily in the summer and fall. As a result, we usually have a waiting list to get started in the program.
After submitting an application, you will be contacted by Volunteer Services for an interview when openings occur in the program. At that point, you must:
- Provide a letter of recommendation.
- Complete a health screening with the employee health department. A parental or guardian consent is required to conduct the health screening. This screening consists of two appointments that must be attended within a required amount of time. You will be provided with health screening forms during your initial interview. Be sure to bring these forms to your initial employee health appointment.
If you are approved for a volunteer position, you will be invited to attend a new volunteer orientation session, as well as any additional required training sessions. The application process can take 4 to 6 weeks to complete from the time of the initial interview.
Teen Connection volunteers will be asked to purchase a uniform shirt from Children’s Nebraska.
Family Advisory Board Volunteer Opportunities
Family Advisory Board
Children’s has invited parents to join our team, as advisors, since 2008. This group helps support and guide efforts to deliver the highest standard of family-centered care throughout our organization.
KIDS Nebraska
KIDS Nebraska is an advisory group created for kids, adolescents, and teens who are focused on understanding, communicating and improving medicine, research and innovation for all children.
KIDS stands for “Kids and Families Impacting Disease through Science,” a global consortium of children’s advisory groups. It operates within the International Children’s Advisory Network, Inc. (iCAN).
Young people ages 10-18 and living in Nebraska and western Iowa are invited to apply. They do not need to have experience as patients at Children’s or any existing medical conditions.
For more information and the application, visit our KIDS Nebraska page.