Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children? Do you reside in New Jersey and seek a fulfilling volunteer opportunity? Children’s Specialized Hospital, a renowned healthcare system dedicated to children with special needs, offers a variety of volunteer programs that allow you to contribute meaningfully. Among these, the Cuddle Care Program Nj, specifically the Patient Cuddler role, stands out as a uniquely heartwarming experience.
Children’s Specialized Hospital operates across multiple locations in New Jersey, each offering distinct volunteer opportunities tailored to different interests and skill sets. Whether you’re drawn to recreational therapy, social programs, or gaining insight into therapeutic practices, there’s a place for you to make a valuable contribution.
Recreational Therapy Volunteer Programs
Recreational therapy plays a crucial role in the holistic development and well-being of children in long-term care facilities. As a volunteer in these programs, you’ll directly assist children in engaging in play and recreational activities, fostering a positive and stimulating environment.
Mountainside Long Term Care Facility
Located within the Children’s Specialized Outpatient Center at Mountainside, this facility offers several avenues to engage with children:
- Evening Recreation: Join the evening fun by assisting children with various play activities during their open recreation time. This is a fantastic opportunity to bring joy and laughter into their evenings.
- Patient Pal: Become a buddy to a resident, providing assistance with homework and creating valuable socialization opportunities. Your companionship can make a significant difference in their academic and social lives.
- Open Playroom: Help create a vibrant and engaging atmosphere in the playroom by assisting children with diverse play activities during open recreation periods.
- Room Buddy: Offer bedside engagement for residents who may have limited mobility. Engage them in play and socialization activities right in their rooms, providing personalized attention and care.
Toms River Long Term Care Facility
At the Children’s Specialized Long-Term Care Center in Toms River, you can contribute to the children’s afternoon and evening recreational experiences:
- Afternoon/Evening Recreation: Similar to the Mountainside program, assist children with a range of play activities during open recreation time, bringing energy and fun to their afternoons and evenings.
New Brunswick Inpatient Facility
The inpatient facility in New Brunswick presents a unique and deeply rewarding volunteer opportunity centered around infant care and interaction:
- Evening/Weekend Recreation: Extend the recreational fun into evenings and weekends by assisting children with play activities during open recreation time.
- Open Playroom: Focus on our youngest patients by assisting infants and toddlers with age-appropriate play activities in the open playroom setting.
- Patient Cuddler (Cuddle Care Program NJ): This is the heart of the cuddle care program nj. As a Patient Cuddler, you will provide crucial comfort and interaction by rocking and holding infants who need extra attention. You’ll also engage in one-on-one play with toddlers and preschool children within the unit. Please note, volunteers for this role must be 21 years of age or older. This program directly addresses the emotional and developmental needs of young children in a hospital setting, offering a deeply meaningful volunteer experience.
- Recreation Room: Support the staff in organizing and running patient activities in the recreation room. Assist with games, crafts, sports, music, and special events, contributing to a lively and engaging environment.
- Room Buddy: Similar to other locations, provide bedside companionship and engagement for patients, facilitating play and socialization activities within their rooms.
Activity Connection Programs
Beyond facility-based programs, Children’s Specialized Hospital also offers community-based social programs designed to promote inclusion and engagement for children with disabilities.
Social Programs in the Mountainside Area
- Adaptive Aquatics: Provide one-on-one support to participants in swim activities, ensuring their safety and engagement in the water.
- Friday Night Fever (out in the community): Accompany and supervise individuals with disabilities (ages 13-21) during social and recreational outings in the community, fostering social skills and community integration.
- Play Group: Facilitate connections between young children and their caregivers through engaging play-based activities.
- Social Club: Offer direct guidance to children in developing appropriate peer-to-peer social interactions, helping them build crucial social skills.
- Teen Night: Supervise and assist teenagers with disabilities (ages 13-21) during social and recreational activities, creating a fun and supportive environment for peer interaction.
Social Programs in the New Brunswick Area
- Adaptive Aquatics: Provide individual support to participants during swim activities, ensuring safety and maximizing their enjoyment and participation.
- Friday Night Fever (out in the community): Offer assistance and supervision to individuals with disabilities (ages 13-21) during community-based social and recreational events.
- Social Club: Guide and support children in developing positive and appropriate social interactions with their peers.
Social Programs in the Toms River Area
- Teen Night: Provide supervision and support for teenagers with disabilities (ages 13-21) during social and recreational activities, fostering a sense of community and belonging.
Therapy Observation
For students and volunteers interested in pursuing therapy-related careers, Children’s Specialized Hospital offers observation opportunities across various locations: Bayonne, Clifton, East Brunswick, Egg Harbor, Hamilton, Mountainside, Newark, New Brunswick, Toms River, Union, and West Orange.
These positions provide invaluable exposure to the therapy fields by assisting therapists with non-therapeutic duties in:
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Speech Language Pathology
Programs in Somerset
- Pediatric Feeding Disorders Intensive Program: Ideal for those interested in Psychology, Child Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis, or working with children with autism or developmental delays (ages 15+). Assist with clinical and support tasks as appropriate for your role.
- RUCARES Program: Volunteer in the Severe Behavior Program, supporting therapists with tasks such as preparing materials, data collection, and clerical duties. Volunteers in this program do not work directly with patients. This is a great option for individuals with research skills or software programming expertise, with potential opportunities to conduct research under supervision.
Other Opportunities
Beyond program-specific roles, general volunteer opportunities are also available:
- Clerical Office Assistant
- Lobby Escort (Union and Toms River West locations)
- Summer Camps & Special Events
Ready to make a difference? Apply Today to start your volunteer journey with Children’s Specialized Hospital.
For any questions regarding volunteering, please reach out to the Volunteer Services Department at [email protected].
