Children's Hospital of Orange County

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CHOC Hospital Volunteer Program

Male and female volunteers posing in resource center

There is no greater reward than making a difference in the life of a sick or injured child.

CHOC volunteers generously dedicate their time to help us provide the very best pediatric care in Southern California. Since 1964, the volunteer programs at CHOC Hospital in Orange and CHOC at Mission Hospital, and multiple off-site locations, have provided vital assistance to our patients, families, and staff.

We are currently looking for compassionate, enthusiastic people who are committed to making a difference in not just their own lives, but also the lives around them. We thank you for your interest in volunteering with us!

Below are examples of current volunteer opportunities. For more information on our program, please visit our Requirements tab.

Please note, our volunteer program does not offer short term, summer, job training, internship, practicum, or medical shadowing volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer Opportunities

CHOC assigns volunteer roles based on the current needs of the organization along with the volunteer’s availability, interests and skill sets.

Currently, our highest needs are shifts scheduled Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Evening and weekend volunteer roles are limited.

CHOC volunteer next to Choco

Our volunteers:

  • Greet visitors as they arrive
  • Escort families around the hospital
  • Assist in office clerical support
  • Help visitors and families in the Family Resource Center
  • Offer coloring and reading activities for patients in our waiting/lobby areas
  • Assess the comfort needs of families on the many units
  • Assist in discharging our patients
  • Assist our child life specialists in playrooms

One-day volunteer opportunities

Our program does not offer any type of one-day volunteer opportunities. Anyone interested in coming to visit our patients for one day to host a special event must receive approval by our Child Life department. Please visit our special visitor guidelines to learn more.

Minor/High school students

Our program does not offer in person volunteer opportunities for minors/high school students. You must be at least 18 years old to apply to our volunteer program. However, there are ways for minors/high school students to give back and get involved. Please see links below on some other ways for minors/high school students to get involved:

CHOC Pet Therapy Program

We are currently recruiting new pet therapy dogs at our Orange and Mission Viejo locations.  To be considered for our Pet Therapy Program, you must have a dog already certified under Pet Partners. Please visit our Requirements tab for details on the program commitment and onboarding requirements. If you have any questions or are interested in interviewing to become a Pet Therapy team, please email us your dog’s name, age, breed and a few recent photos to [email protected].  

Dogs not allowed into the Pet Therapy Program: Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios, Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Chow Chows, Doberman Pinschers, Staffordshire Terriers, German Shepherds, Wolf-hybrids, Mastiffs, Cane Corsos, Alaskan Klee Kais and Siberian Huskies, including any breed canine that has a genetic relationship to one of the listed breeds. No exceptions.

Mission Viejo Campus

Our Rady Children’s Hospital at Mission campus is located in Mission Viejo, on the 5th floor in Mission Hospital. Due to the smaller size of this campus, we have limited volunteer roles and shifts available. If you are able to meet our volunteer requirements and are interested in any of the following opportunities, please send us your availability for an initial phone call by emailing [email protected].

Please note that the opportunity to move forward with one of these roles is not guaranteed and will depend on current role availability as well as on our departmental capacity.

Child Life

Support patients, families and staff in an effort to maintain normalcy for the hospitalized patient. Activities center around playing games, coloring, and other distractions. Volunteers need to be friendly, able to cope with serious illnesses and willing to spend time each shift cleaning and disinfecting toys.

Emergency Department

Support Rady Children’s staff in the Mission Hospital ED by regularly rounding in the pediatric waiting room, providing comfort items and distractions, and responding to or communicating needs. Volunteers must have previous experience working/volunteering with children and/or in a similar setting. Ideal volunteers for this role will exhibit excellent customer service skills, and must always be alert, observant, and reliable.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Support NICU staff with tasks such as restocking, taking inventory, folding linens, and clerical support as needed. Depending on daily census, volunteers can also support with holding/cuddling infants. Previous experience with infants is preferred, as well as the ability to remain positive and quiet in a stimulating environment.

Ronald McDonald Family Room (RMFR)

The Ronald McDonald Family Room (RMFR) is an extension of the services of the Orange County Ronald McDonald House. The Family Room is a special place within the hospital, located between the ICU and Pediatric Units, where families can relax away from their child’s hospital room while still being just steps away from their child. Volunteers maintain the room, welcome families to the space, and offer resources, snacks, and warm and friendly support to families. Volunteers are needed for evening or weekend shifts.

About our Volunteers