Frequently Asked Questions

You must be at least sixteen years of age to be a volunteer in the hospital on your own. However, after bringing back volunteers due to the pandemic we have a significantly large wait list of volunteer applicants that are under eighteen. The Family Volunteer Program is also wait-listed at this time. The Family Program pairs a parent or guardian with their 13-17 year old teen as a pair. Please check back for updates as to when we will be accepting applications for these age groups again.

For part-time residents, participating in our community events is a perfect way to help the children and the hospital. You register for the events that fit your schedule. There are no interviews or training requirements. A Health Screen is not required. Volunteering in the hospital requires training and a commitment to a same-time, same-day schedule of 3 to 4 hours per week for a minimum of about six to eight months. Therefore, community events are the best way to participate if you are only visiting the area for a few months. Return to the Volunteer page and visit Get Started to learn more about both programs and register.

Volunteers are required to wear business casual attire. Shorts, sleeveless shirts, and open toed shoes are not permitted. The dress code will be reviewed in more detail in your orientation training.

In-hospital volunteers at Phoenix Children’s are assigned individually to areas for their service. You can certainly carpool if you’re assigned to the same day and time as your friend! Please discuss it at the interview. Community events are different. Often we have friends and groups that participate together. Some groups participate in the events as a team-building activity.

You will need to show immunization records for measles, mumps, and German measles (all part of the MMR vaccine). Also, chicken pox (Varicella) and Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (all part of TDap vaccine) and a recent flu shot (influenza). A tuberculosis (TB) test will be provided if you have not had one recently. All of this will be reviewed with you in your interview prior to your Health Screen appointment.

You will be required to show immunity to measles, mumps, German measles and chicken pox. It is best if you have your immunization records, or physician records that document you had those illnesses.  Without them you will need a blood test, at your expense, to see if you are immune. If the blood work shows you are not immune, you will need to get the vaccinations at your physician’s office and provide proof to our Occupational Health Office before you can volunteer. All of this will be reviewed with you in your interview prior to your Health Screen appointment.

Several of our volunteer positions include contact with patients of all ages, from newborn to teens, and can sometimes include holding and/or feeding a baby. We do not have a specific Baby Cuddler Program.

Unfortunately, due to infection control and confidentiality guidelines only in-hospital volunteers may come into contact with the patients in the hospital. If you or any members of your group would like to become an In-Hospital Volunteer please visit the website to learn more. 

Groups can also help the hospital by volunteering with our Community events. Return to the Volunteer page and visit Get Started to register with the Community volunteer program. Groups can also apply to host a special event in our Child Life Zone.

Volunteers are assigned to shifts the same day and time of day each week. Changes can be made periodically (i.e. you had a job change or a change in your school schedule) However, frequent and/or weekly changes are not possible.

From the date you’re interviewed and placed in a volunteer position, the average time to complete all training (most of it is online), the hospital tour, and health screen is two to three weeks. At your interview ask how you can be most efficient with the orientation process and you may find it only takes you a week or two to complete!

If you have already registered your name with the Phoenix Children's Community Volunteer database, and then tried to apply to become an In-hospital Volunteer you may find the system prevents you from doing that since your email address is already on file with Phoenix Children's. If you have encountered this, follow this Tutorial to apply to the In-hospital program.

Groups can apply to host a special event in The Child Life Zone. Groups can also help the patients at Phoenix Children’s Hospital through our community events. Return to the Volunteer page and visit Get Started to register for the Community volunteer program.

Unfortunately, due to infection control and confidentiality guidelines only in-hospital volunteers may come into contact with the patients in the hospital.  If you or any members of your group would like to become an In-Hospital Volunteer please visit the website to learn more.

Yes, everyone in your group needs to register themselves with our Community Volunteer database before volunteering. Often, a member of a group will act as the point person and register their team members on their behalf.

Yes!  You can do both. You can register to receive information about upcoming community events. To begin the process to become a volunteer in the hospital or to become a Community volunteer, please return to the Volunteer page and visit Get Started to learn more about both programs and register.

Some events may have age restrictions. Usually it will be a fundraising event that includes alcohol, and volunteers that are minors would be excluded. If there is an age restriction it is usually included with the information about the event. If you have a question regarding age limits for a particular event please contact the dcovelli [at] phoenixchildrens.com (subject: Community%20Volunteer%20question) (Community Volunteer coordinator).

Yes, you must be enrolled in college for the fall semester.

You must be 18 years of age by the start date.

Typically, the college students in the Summer program volunteer three shifts per week for two to four hours per shift during a specified number of weeks during the Summer. Training and Orientation are scheduled on specific dates. Remember, if you are 18+ years of age you can always enroll to volunteer in the regular Phoenix Children’s In-Hospital program.

Yes! We need volunteers to go with each Paws Can Heal team on their animal assisted therapy visits. The volunteer escorts are a critical part of the Paws Can Heal Program. They help keep our patients safe, gather data on all therapy visits and help the team assist the patient to achieve treatment goals. All prospective volunteers must become a Phoenix Children's In-Hospital Volunteer. Visit the website to learn the requirements to join.

Watch a short video about our animal assisted therapy volunteer escorts!

First, you and your pet become nationally registered as a therapy animal team. Our Paws Can Heal therapy animal teams are nationally registered and have 6 to 12 months of experience as a therapy animal team in a healthcare setting.

There are several national organizations that evaluate and register therapy animal teams. They will test you and your animal. Your pet will need to be calm and predictable, pass basic obedience skills tests, and be comfortable in a variety of settings and environments. Phoenix Children's recognizes the following registration organizations:

• Pet Partners
• Alliance of Therapy Dogs
• Intermountain Therapy Animals

Once you have six to twelve months experience as a registered therapy animal team, your next step is to become a Phoenix Children's In-Hospital Volunteer. Visit the website to learn the requirements to join, which usually takes about two to three weeks to complete.