Please review the In-Hospital Volunteer Opportunities below to consider what best suits you.
In-Hospital Volunteer Opportunities
Become an ICU baby Volunteer. We would love for you to get involved in a way that is meaningful and enjoyable for you. ICU baby partners with the Volunteer Services Departments of Holtz Children’s Hospital and South Miami Hospital to execute ICU baby’s in-hospital volunteer programs.
Volunteers must have special clearance to enter the NICU. Training and screenings conducted by South Miami Hospital and Holtz Children’s Hospital are required to become an In-Hospital ICU baby volunteer. In order to participate, volunteers must:
- Be 21 or older,
- Be able to make an annual commitment of volunteer hours, and
- Get an annual flu shot.
NICU PARENT MENTOR PROGRAM | BEDSIDE SUPPORT
(Screenings Required)
ICU baby invites individuals with NICU experience of their own to become a NICU Parent Mentor to offer current NICU parents much needed social emotional support. NICU Parent Mentors volunteer their time to enter the NICU to deliver NICU Packs and offer support to families at their baby’s bedside. NICU Packs are presented weekly to all families with babies whose expected NICU stay is three weeks or more. During the visit, volunteers review the contents of the bag with the families and answer any of the families’ questions, serving as a critical resource for them.
Delivering ICU baby’s NICU Packs allow volunteers to present NICU families with a gift from the community and to offer bedside support during a very challenging time. During the NICU visit, volunteers will also offer snacks to all parents who are spending time with their babies in the Unit. Mentors also deliver transportation assistance stipends to qualifying families and reinforce the use of ICU baby’s NEST materials.
Can’t join us in the hospital, click here to learn more about how to be a Tele-Support NICU Parent Mentor and volunteer to provide NICU parent support outside of the hospital.
SUPPER OF SUPPORT
(Screenings Required)
ICU baby hosts monthly dinners for all families with a baby in the NICU at South Miami Hospital and Holtz Children’s Hospital. The supper is served by volunteers in a conference room in the hospital so that families can briefly leave their babies side for a warm meal. The Supper organically turns in to an informal support group as families have the opportunity to speak with other NICU families who are going through a NICU journey of their own.
NICU experience is encouraged, but not required, to become a volunteer for this program. Volunteers must also be available once a month on the designated evening of the Supper. Dates of the meals will be provided privately.
CUISINE & CRAFTS
(Screenings Required)
ICU baby’s Cuisine & Crafts lunches are hosted for all families with an admitted baby in the NICU. ICU baby volunteers serve NICU family members a catered lunch and assist them as they paint an art craft for their baby.
The lunch is held in a conference room outside of the NICU and allows family members a much needed break from the stressors of the NICU.
Some family members chose to paint quietly using the time as a mental break, while others talk openly about their NICU experience with the others who can directly relate to what they are going through.
Volunteers serve food and drinks and help to facilitate the craft and conversation. NICU experience is encouraged, but not required, to become a volunteer for this program.
Dates of the meals will be provided privately.
ICU READ
(Screenings Required)
ICU baby’s ICU Read Program brings volunteers from the community to the NICU to read to babies who are not being visited. Many parents are unable to visit their baby often because they work, live far from the hospital, have other children at home or encounter other difficulties getting to the NICU. Serving as an ICU Read volunteer is a rewarding way to contribute to the wellbeing of NICU babies, providing them with the comfort of a soothing voice in their parents’ absence. Research has also shown that reading to a baby at this early stage benefits language and brain development.
The ICU Read schedule will be released in August 2023. Please be aware that ICU Read occurs during weekday, daytime hours, not in the evenings or on weekends.
Have questions? Please email us at volunteer@icubaby.org.