Many middle-school age kids want to put in service hours for church or school, but may not know where to turn.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare needs volunteers and has tasks middle-school-age kids can take on with the right supervision.
St. Elizabeth’s new Volunteer Partner program is a win-win.
Volunteer Partners creates an opportunity for 12- and 13-year-olds to volunteer with a parent, grandparent or guardian. Youth partners work alongside adult partners in select roles; adult partners (21 and up) also are able to volunteer solo.
The program pairs the adult and younger volunteers for shifts at St. Elizabeth gift shops and information desks.
Erin Pittman, lead volunteer coordinator for St. Elizabeth Healthcare, said the need of some middle-schoolers for service hours was among the catalysts for the program, but that the hope is that these volunteers’ involvement doesn’t stop when the last box is checked.
Twelve- and 13-year-old volunteers can graduate into roles with more responsibility typically filled by teens, Pittman said, including in the areas of emergency, nursing, therapy services and surgical areas.
“It can be a stepping stone to other opportunities,” she said.
Pittman said 37 percent of St. Elizabeth’s teen volunteers from the summer of 2017 elected to stay on.
At the same time, Pittman said, the hope is that adult volunteers who sign on to supervise a youth’s service might decide to continue on in those roles, or move to a volunteer position filled exclusively by adults, such as pastoral care.
“We see this as potentially a wonderful byproduct of this program,” Pittman said.
Want to sign up? Here’s how it works:
- Click here to fill out online applications (there are separate applications for youth and adult volunteers).
- Review and fulfill the medical requirements and required immunizations and/or records.
- Call to schedule a placement interview at the location at which you are most interested in working: Edgewood (859-301-2140), Florence/Grant (859-212-5375) or Fort Thomas/Covington (859-572-3166).
- Partners will be interviewed and placed as a pair. Youth volunteers cannot work without their adult partner.
St. Elizabeth asks for a minimum 20-week commitment to volunteer service. Those interested can apply anytime throughout the year.
