Volunteering Requirements
Volunteers at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream are valued members of our team, bringing vital comfort and joy to those in our care. As a volunteer, you will have the unique opportunity to make a profound difference in the lives of patients and families, find personal fulfillment, and gain invaluable insight into the healthcare industry. Volunteers should be caring, compassionate, and committed to making a difference in patients' lives!
Volunteering requirements include:
- Must be at least 16 years old to volunteer (Junior volunteers are 16-17 years of age, Adult volunteers are 18 years of age +)
- 100-hour commitment per calendar year is required- no more than 4 hours per day.
- If you are volunteering for the junior program (summertime only), you must complete the 100-hour commitment between the months of July and August
- All applicants must complete an interview process. If accepted, we will begin to process your paperwork
- Volunteers must uphold the highest standards of professionalism, courtesy, compassion and respect for patient- and family-centered care
- Must attend a mandatory volunteer orientation and receive medical clearance; volunteers 18 and older must complete and clear a background screening
- We cannot accept photographs of volunteer applications or links of onboarding documents
- The onboarding process can take up to 6-8 weeks. Please submit all completed onboarding documents via email or in-person. The medical portion must be completed prior to submission and be signed/stamped by your physician. Do not submit partial applications as they will not be considered for review.
- All communication should be made by the applicant only, not a parent or guardian.
Application Deadlines - Junior Volunteers (16 and 17 years of age) are accepted for the summer program only- all forms must be completed and submitted by May 1st; anything submitted after that date will not be accepted. Adult volunteer applications are accepted year-round.
Volunteering Opportunities
We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities that can be customized to meet your needs and fit your schedule. Even if you are not sure about how you may fit in, we can help you choose an opportunity based on your background and experience.
Current volunteer opportunities:
- Clergy
- Clerical/Administrative assignments
- Emergency department ambassador
- Lobby ambassador/greeter
- Patient and family ambassador
- Inpatient unit ambassador
- Pet therapy (must be a certified therapy dog through Therapy Dogs International)
- Reading to patients
- Visiting with patients
- Caring Corner book cart rounds
- Community events
- Hospital events
Short Term Observer Program
- We no longer accept informal shadowing requests for high school, college, or medical students, or team member relatives and friends. However, if you are interested in observing, you must first secure a sponsoring physician. The sponsoring physician and/or Observer will need to contact the Volunteer Experience office at lijvsvolunteers@northwell.edu to start the process.
Observer Program Details:
- You may observe up to 60 hours within a 3-month period.
- Once approved, you will receive the necessary paperwork to complete the onboarding process.
- Onboarding takes a minimum of 6-8 weeks.
- We invite you to explore the many ways you can contribute to our patient experience as a volunteer. Your time, care, and dedication can make a world of difference for those we serve at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream. Join us today!