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Volunteer Services
Types of Volunteers
Individuals
Groups and Organizations
Junior Volunteers
Interpreters
Special Event Volunteers
Individuals
 Individual volunteers are vital to the
success of the Harris County Hospital District. Volunteers provide a number of
services for patients and their families. Volunteers have supported the Harris
County Hospital District since January 1, 1966.
To become a volunteer you must:
- Fill out a Volunteer Application
- Pass a criminal background check
- Be invited to attend a General Volunteer Orientation
- Schedule a brief interview with a Volunteer Coordinator
- Show proof of a negative tuberculosis skin test within the last year
- Receive a security badge
Each year volunteers are invited to our
annual recognition event, holiday activities and the annual Texas Medical Center
Salute to Volunteers. Volunteers also receive the newsletter Hearts@Work.
Groups and
Organizations
Members of organizations and groups volunteer with the Harris County Hospital
District throughout the year. Sometimes they volunteer their time by holding a
Baby Shower or Toiletry Drive.
Each month, Tejas Auxiliary members assemble
hundreds of baby bags, which include infant blankets and clothes. They deliver
350 bags to Ben Taub Hospital every two months.
St. Martin's Episcopal Church volunteers their time by
donating baby blankets every other week to Ben Taub General Hospital.
 The Caring Critters Animal-Assisted Therapy
program is a non-profit, all volunteer organization in Houston. The program was
created to enhance the daily living of clients by providing opportunities to
interact with animals in a positive, nurturing environment. Caring Critter
Volunteers visit Ben Taub and LBJ hospital every other Saturday of the month.
We are always looking for corporate and group
volunteers. We would love to add your organization to our list of outstanding
group volunteers. Here are just a few of our special project groups:
- First Presbyterian Church
- Tejas Auxiliary
- Caring Critters
- Cuddling Care Ministries
- First Methodist Church
- St. Martin's Episcopal Church Blanket
Project
- Westbury High School
- MacArthur High School
- Forest Brook High School
- Springwoods High School
Junior Volunteers
 The Junior Volunteer program welcomes youths
ages 14-17, due to the sensitivity and level of responsibility required of our
volunteers. Junior Volunteers can participate in most of the same
volunteer positions as adults. The only placements not available to junior
volunteers are the Emergency Center, Pediatric Emergency Center and the Newborn
Nursery. This is a policy of the Volunteer & Guest Services Department established for the
well being of our young volunteers.
Volunteer Interpreters
Because many of our patients do not speak
English, volunteer interpreters are in high demand to assist patients and
medical staff in communicating with each other. Language barriers pose
many difficulties when medical staff and patients need to relay crucial health
information to each other.
Volunteers who wish to be interpreters must be at least 18 years of
age, fluent in Spanish medical terminology and will be tested on their
written and verbal interpretation skills through our Interpreter
Services department. A test grade of 87 or above is considered a
passing grade. Those meeting the requirements will be given a special
identification badge to wear that identifies them as a Volunteer
Interpreter. Upon receiving the badge, the volunteer interpreters are
paired with a staff interpreter for a three day training.
Special
Event Volunteers
-
 Knitting/Crocheting baby
items
-
Sponsoring baby showers for babies born at
the hospital
-
Making lap covers for wheelchair bound
patients
-
Making armrest pillows for recovering breast
cancer patients
- Collecting books and magazines both in
English and in Spanish
- Sponsoring art supply shower for children's
Activity Area
- Making bereavement gowns for babies that are
still-born or pass away while in the hospital
- Sponsoring shower for personal care items to
give to hospitalized patients
 Please feel free to present any ideas that
you feel would benefit our patients!
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