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Thank You for Your Interest in Volunteering!

We are truly grateful for your willingness to volunteer with us! Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital (MWPH) has two campuses where you can make a meaningful difference. Our main campus, located in the Mt. Washington neighborhood of Baltimore, is easily accessible just off Northern Parkway. We also have a satellite campus at the UM Capital Region Medical Center in Largo, MD.

 

Volunteers typically commit to a 2-hour shift once a week, though additional shifts may be available depending on the area of service. Your time and dedication will have a lasting impact on the lives of the children and families we serve.

 

Thank you again for considering this rewarding opportunity!

Child Life Volunteers: Provides therapeutic development and rehabilitation through play with the patients. Volunteers work with the therapists in three different areas:

  • School Aged and Adolescent/Meyerhoff Unit: children ages 2-18 – (Baltimore campus only)
  • Infant and Early Childhood/Pakula Unit: newborn to age 3 – (Baltimore campus and Largo campus)
  • Day Program Playroom Assistants - (Baltimore campus only)
  • Child Life Summer openings: A limited number of Summer positions are available for those students only able to work between May and August and provide at least 10 hours of service a week. The applicants are screened beginning in March.

Requirements of Child Life Department Volunteer Positions:
These rewarding positions focus on helping each child reach their growth and development milestones. Each program requires significant orientation and training. The following outlines the duties and responsibilities of these positions:

  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Requires a minimum of 100 hours a year of service, typically 2 hours a week.
  • Ideally, volunteers will provide a two-hour commitment on the same day and time, each week for one year. The consistency allows us to plan your time so you can be fully engaged with each child and assist our staff with an important rehabilitation activity. (We understand circumstances may require you to change your time commitment and we work to ensure you are able to find the right schedule for you.)
  • You must be able to lift up to 25 pounds.
  • You must be able to get down on the floor and have strong balance and support to interact and play with the children.
  • Extensive training is provided to work with our medically fragile children. You may care for a child who has an active illness. Part of our training teaches you how to use personal protective equipment (gown, gloves, and mask) to keep you and the child safe during your visit.
  • Each child is unique and special in their own way. You may be assigned a child that is not as responsive as another child, but will benefit from the same care, nurturing and attention.
  • In addition to your time with the children, you will also be needed to assist with toy washing, documentation of visits and picking up after play.

Nursing Department Volunteers: Provide support to our smallest patients. Shifts are in two-hour increments and the needs are 7 days a week, 6 am - 10 pm.

  • Cuddlers - cuddle, swaddle and rock our babies to soothe and comfort them when their parents or caregivers cannot be with them. These positions provide enormous support to our nursing staff as well as the infants. Volunteers do not feed, diaper or bathe infants. (Baltimore and Largo Campuses) 

Requirements for the Cuddlers:

  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Require a minimum of 100 hours of service a year, 2 hours a week.
  • Ideally, volunteers will provide a two-hour commitment weekly. Our online scheduling allows for a variety of options to volunteer.
  • Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs.
  • You may care for a child who has an active illness. Part of our training teaches you how to use personal protective equipment (gown, gloves and mask) to keep you and the child safe during your visit.
  • Volunteers also assist with folding and straightening of our linen and clothing closets.

What does the process to become a volunteer entail?

1. Use the link apply to submit your electronic application

  • On the form you will be asked to select up to three areas of interest, in which you would like to serve in order of preference. We do everything we can to accommodate those requests. Only positions with openings will appear.
  • Please note that due to the high demand for cuddler positions in Baltimore, this role will not appear on the application. If you're interested in this position, please indicate your interest in the "Please tell us more about you" section. However, please understand that we cannot guarantee that these requests will be fulfilled.
  • Tell us about your availability. We know schedules change, however this information helps us to determine the best fit. 
  • Share your "why". What makes MWPH the place you would like to provide volunteer service?

2. Once the application has been submitted, you will receive a follow up email with instructions on completing the pre-hire forms with a deadline that is typically three weeks from your submission date.

To facilitate questions about the volunteer application and health information requested, you will be able to sign up for one of two weekly zoom calls with staff to address your concerns on the application form. 

*Due to the volume of applicants, anyone who does not meet the deadline to submit their paperwork will be removed from the process. We understand life events occur and we will work with you to extend dates should the need arise as long as you communicate with us. 

3. The final phase of the process is to be interviewed by the department in which you will serve. The interview helps determine your fit for the position. The entire process takes approximately, 4-5 weeks. 

4. Once you have gone through the interview process, an orientation schedule will be determined based on your availability.

 

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