Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children? Children’s Specialized Hospital, a renowned healthcare system in New Jersey, offers a wide array of volunteer opportunities to contribute to the well-being and development of young patients. Whether you are interested in recreational therapy, social programs, or gaining experience in therapy fields, there’s a place for you to lend your skills and compassion. Notably, for those with a special nurturing touch, our cuddle care programs in NJ, particularly the “Patient Cuddler” role, provide a unique and heartwarming way to support infants and toddlers in need of extra love and attention.
Recreational Therapy Programs: Bring Joy and Play
Recreational therapy plays a vital role in the healing process, helping children engage, socialize, and simply enjoy being kids. Children’s Specialized Hospital has several locations where you can volunteer within recreational therapy programs:
Mountainside Long Term Care Facility
Located within the Children’s Specialized Outpatient Center at Mountainside, this facility seeks volunteers for several enriching roles:
- Evening Recreation: Engage with children during their free recreation time, assisting with various play activities to create a fun and stimulating environment.
- Patient Pal: Become a buddy to a resident, offering assistance with homework and creating valuable socialization opportunities through games and conversation.
- Open Playroom: Help facilitate play in the open playroom, guiding children through different activities and ensuring a safe and joyful space.
- Room Buddy: Provide bedside engagement for residents who may not be able to leave their rooms, bringing play and social interaction directly to them.
Toms River Long Term Care Facility
At the Toms River Long Term Care Facility, part of the Children’s Specialized Long-Term Care Center, volunteers are needed to support afternoon and evening recreational activities.
- Afternoon/Evening Recreation: Similar to the Mountainside program, assist children in play activities during open recreation periods, contributing to a positive and engaging atmosphere.
New Brunswick Inpatient Facility and Patient Cuddle Care Programs NJ
The New Brunswick Inpatient Facility offers a variety of volunteer roles, including the particularly rewarding Cuddle Care Programs Nj opportunity.
- Evening/Weekend Recreation: Support recreational activities during evenings and weekends, ensuring children have fun and engaging experiences outside of therapy sessions.
- Open Playroom: Focus on our youngest patients – infants and toddlers – by assisting with age-appropriate play activities in the open playroom, fostering early development and joy.
- Patient Cuddler (Cuddle Care Programs NJ): Here’s where you can directly participate in cuddle care programs NJ. This special role involves providing comfort and interaction to infants in need of rocking and holding. Patient Cuddlers also engage toddlers and preschool children in one-on-one play sessions. Please note: volunteers for this role must be 21 years of age or older to ensure the safety and well-being of our youngest patients. This program is a cornerstone of our cuddle care programs NJ initiative, offering crucial emotional support.
- Recreation Room: Assist staff with organizing and running patient activities in the recreation room, including games, crafts, sports, music, and special events, broadening the range of therapeutic recreation.
- Room Buddy: Similar to other locations, provide bedside companionship and engagement for patients through play and socialization, especially beneficial for those with limited mobility.
Activity Connection Programs: Building Social Skills
Beyond recreational therapy within hospital facilities, Children’s Specialized Hospital extends its reach into the community with Activity Connection Programs, designed to enhance social skills and community integration.
Social Programs in the Mountainside Area
- Adaptive Aquatics: Assist participants one-on-one in swim activities, ensuring their safety and engagement in the water, promoting physical activity and inclusion.
- Friday Night Fever (out in the community): Provide supervision and support for individuals with disabilities (ages 13-21) during social and recreational outings within the community, fostering independence and social interaction.
- Play Group: Facilitate connections between young children and their caregivers through structured play activities, supporting early childhood development and caregiver networks.
- Social Club: Offer direct guidance in appropriate peer-to-peer social interactions within a club setting, helping individuals develop crucial social skills and friendships.
- Teen Night: Similar to Friday Night Fever, supervise and assist teenagers with disabilities (ages 13-21) during social and recreational activities, promoting peer relationships and community involvement.
Social Programs in the New Brunswick Area
- Adaptive Aquatics: Offer the same valuable one-on-one support for participants in swim activities, ensuring safety and maximizing engagement.
- Friday Night Fever (out in the community): Extend community-based social opportunities to individuals with disabilities (ages 13-21) in the New Brunswick area.
- Social Club: Provide essential guidance for developing social interaction skills in peer settings within the New Brunswick community.
Social Programs in the Toms River Area
- Teen Night: Bring the Teen Night program to the Toms River area, offering social and recreational opportunities for teenagers with disabilities (ages 13-21).
Therapy Observation: Explore Healthcare Careers
For students and individuals considering careers in therapy, Children’s Specialized Hospital offers observation opportunities across numerous locations: Bayonne, Clifton, East Brunswick, Egg Harbor, Hamilton, Mountainside, Newark, New Brunswick, Toms River, Union, and West Orange.
These positions allow volunteers to assist therapists with non-therapeutic tasks, providing invaluable insight into the fields of:
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Speech Language Pathology
Programs in Somerset: Specialized Support
In Somerset, a unique program seeks volunteers with specific interests:
- Pediatric Feeding Disorders Intensive Program: Assist with clinical and support tasks suitable for interns. This is an excellent opportunity for those interested in Psychology, Child Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis, or working with children with autism or developmental delays (ages 15+).
- RUCARES Program: Volunteers in this Severe Behavior Program support therapists with tasks such as preparing materials, data collection, and clerical duties. Volunteers do not work directly with patients. This program is ideal for those with research or software programming skills, under the supervision of doctoral-level behavior analysts.
Other Opportunities: Diverse Ways to Contribute
Beyond program-specific roles, Children’s Specialized Hospital also needs volunteers for:
- Clerical Office Assistant
- Lobby Escort (Union and Toms River West locations)
- Summer Camps & Special Events
Apply Today and Make a Difference
Ready to volunteer? Take the first step and Apply Today to join the dedicated team at Children’s Specialized Hospital.
For any questions about volunteering, please reach out to the Volunteer Services Department at [email protected]. Your compassion and time can bring smiles and support to children and families in need, especially through heartwarming initiatives like our cuddle care programs NJ.
