Volunteer at Blank Children's Hospital - Des Moines
Volunteer Opportunities at Blank Children’s Hospital
Volunteers at Blank Children’s Hospital truly make a difference for our patients, families and team members. Volunteers are needed in areas that range from the playroom, clinic, patient rooms, clerical and gift shops.
Volunteer assignments can be arranged on a schedule that suits you. All volunteers must go through a screening process prior to joining the team.
Volunteer Requirements
- Must be 18 or older and not enrolled in undergraduate or graduate school
- Placement interview and orientation
- Volunteer handbook review
- State of Iowa background check
- National background check (if applicable)
- Health screening
- Annual flu vaccination
- Tuberculosis (TB) test
- Currently enrolled in college
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Placement interview and orientation
- Volunteer handbook review
- State of Iowa background check
- National background check (if applicable)
- Health screening
- Annual flu vaccination
- Tuberculosis (TB) test
- All dogs must maintain certification and registration in Therapy Dogs International, Inc.
- Each dog must pass the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen Test (CGC) and have a temperament test for suitability to become a Therapy Dog.
- Multiple dog TDI certification is required for volunteers who wish to bring more than one dog on visits.
Adult Volunteer
We have opportunities in patient care areas and non-patient areas such as the gift shop, family waiting rooms, clerical support, and more. A typical volunteer assignment is once a week for 2-4 hours and can be arranged on a schedule that suits you. We ask our volunteers to make a six-month commitment.
College Student Volunteer
We have opportunities to support patients, families and hospital staff in a variety of areas, including our patient comfort cart program, pediatric and adult emergency departments, hospital elder life program (HELP) and more. A typical volunteer assignment is once a week for 2-4 hours. We ask our volunteers to make a two semester commitment.
The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) at Iowa Methodist works with nurses, doctors and other health care professionals. HELP volunteers receive special training and education to provide activities and services to assist in keeping patients engaged and active. We are looking for several volunteers to join the HELP team at Iowa Methodist. A 6-month commitment is required.
College students interested in volunteering in the Emergency Department need to be pursuing a degree in a medical-related field. Examples: Nursing, PA, Medicine. Weekday and weekend placements will be for shifts from:
- 11:00am-3:00pm
- 4:00pm-7:00pm
- 7:00pm-10:00pm
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
Animal assisted therapy is available for patients and families during their stay. We understand the unique bond between humans and animals and how it can enhance a positive attitude and assist in the healing process.
Animal Assisted Therapy volunteers are required to commit to visiting our facilities a minimum of once per month. A typical volunteer assignment is once a week for 2-4 hours and can be arranged on a schedule that suits you. We ask our volunteers to make a six-month commitment.
Upon evaluation by the animal assisted therapy program volunteer trainers, the animal must demonstrate behavior that it: is reliable; is controllable; is predictable; inspires confidence in the person s/he is interacting with; and the animal actively solicits interactions with people and is accepting and forgiving of differences in people's reactions and behavior.
Handlers must demonstrate they are reliable, confident, and natural in their interactions with people and animals; have control of their animal; inspire confidence in the person they are interacting with; and actively engage in interactions with people and accept and forgive differences in people's reactions and behavior.
Contact UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Volunteer Services
| Hospital Campus | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Blank Children's Hospital, Iowa Methodist Medical Center and John Stoddard Cancer Center Volunteer Services | (515) 241-6414 |
| Iowa Lutheran Hospital Volunteer Services | (515) 263-5227 |
| Methodist West Hospital Volunteer Services | (515) 343-1645 |
| Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Janessa Weightman | Executive Director, Volunteer Services | Janessa.Weightman@unitypoint.org |
| Mindy Brightman | Office Manager, Volunteer Services | Melinda.Brightman@unitypoint.org |
| Maci Andersen | Volunteer Coordinator, Iowa Lutheran Hospial | Maci.Andersen@unitypoint.org |
| Caroline Baker | Volunteer Coordinator, Iowa Methodist Medical Center and John Stoddard Cancer Center | Caroline.Baker@unitypoint.org |
| Maria Gifford, CNP | Volunteer Coordinator, Blank Children’s Hospital and Iowa Methodist Medical Center | Maria.Gifford@unitypoint.org |
| Sheri Vining | Volunteer Coordinator, Methodist West Hospital | Sheri.Vining@unitypoint.org |