Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Tutoring Inpatient Unit Volunteer
Unit Description
The main task of volunteers in this unit is to supervise hospitalized children pre-school to high school age and help inpatients and day students keep up with coursework from our setting or their home schools.
Volunteer work typically consists of assisting as a behavior manager in small group situations (e.g. the elementary classroom, music, or activities) with children who display a variety of psychiatric disorders, working individually with students on assignments, providing basic instruction on a range of subjects, supervising use of computers for instruction or during free time, and helping with crafts and games during activity times.
The Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatient Tutoring Unit is a demanding unit. It is important that volunteers always come to their scheduled volunteer time because the teachers depend on the extra help in the classroom. The psychiatric diagnoses of the students are quite varied, and volunteers must be able to handle different, pressing situations. Additionally, volunteers should show personal initiative to find tasks and jobs to be done when there is down time, and those with special skills (foreign language, mathematics, history, composition, etc.) are highly desired.
Training
All prospective volunteers will attend large group orientation, where they will receive general University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics information. Volunteers will also attend small group orientation to receive training and information about the unit, as well as a tour of the area.
Uniform
The dress code for this unit is a Volunteer Services polo, khaki pants, and closed-toe shoes. Shirts are available for purchase at Wild Rose Gifts (Main Entrance Lobby) Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Volunteers must follow the professional appearance policy, which includes wearing the volunteer badge at all times.
Hours Available
Volunteers need to make a semester-long commitment and be willing to work for at least two hours, preferably three hours, once a week or for one hour several days a week. Volunteer hours are scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Areas of Study Best Suited
This unit is well-suited for anyone majoring in any pre-health sciences field, particularly psychology, but volunteers interested in becoming teachers or majoring in child development may also find it particularly rewarding. It is also a great fit for anyone who enjoys spending time with children and wants to help make their experience at the UI Hospitals and Clinics a positive one.