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< Volunteer Engagement

Volunteer at Arkansas Children's Northwest

Springdale

Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer at Arkansas Children’s Hospital Northwest! Volunteers are an important part of our team; they help support our mission of making children better today and healthier tomorrow.  Volunteers have the opportunity to support patients, families and staff through various roles and assignments. Applicant acceptance, available positions and placement decisions are based upon an interview process, not on a first-come, first-serve basis.  We encourage you to be thoughtful in the completion of all application materials.  

Volunteer Criteria

Please review the following statements. If any apply to you, there is a possibility that our program may not meet your goals as a volunteer.

  • I want to expand my social network.
  • I am looking for clinical experience and want to volunteer with physicians or nurses.
  • I hope this experience will help me through the loss of a loved one.
  • I hope to share my personal experience or faith with others.
  • I need to obtain hours for court-ordered community service.
  • I am “in between jobs” and am looking for something to fill my time.
  • I’m not willing to get an annual flu shot or other required immunizations.

If you fit these criteria we encourage you to consider supporting Arkansas Children's in other valuable ways.

Arkansas Children’s depends on volunteers to keep its promise of delivering unprecedented child health, defined and delivered.

We ask all adult volunteers to commit to one three-hour shift per week, at the same day and time, for a minimum of six months or 72 hours.  Weekday, evening and weekend shifts are available in most patient care areas. 

 

Volunteer Requirements

  • Submit an online application
  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Adhere to all Arkansas Children’s policies and procedures and Code of Conduct
  • Attend hospital volunteer interview and subsequent orientation (if accepted into the program) with Volunteer Engagement staff
  • Undergo a criminal background check
  • Provide required immunizations (if accepted into the program) Needed immunizations or tests can be obtained through Arkansas Children’s:
    • Two current 2-step TB (Tuberculosis) skin tests or one blood test
    • Current Tdap vaccine (Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis) within the past ten years
    • Annual flu shot
    • MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella), 2 doses on file to be fully vaccinated
    • Varicella (proof of vaccine OR history of Chicken Pox) History of Shingles or proof of shingles vaccine will also suffice. 
    • Pass a drug and nicotine test (test facilitated at Arkansas Children's Employee Health)

Arkansas Children’s volunteers are carefully screened, processed and placed in appropriate assignments in patient care areas, as well as non-patient care areas. The process for becoming an Arkansas Children’s volunteer takes time, but it is meant to ensure the safety of patients and families as well as the success of our volunteers.

For more information, please contact the Volunteer Engagement Office volunteerACNW@archildrens.org or 479-725-6986.

Become a Volunteer at ACNW

Help make a tremendous difference in the lives of our patients.

Apply Now

The ACNW Junior Volunteer Program offers service opportunities for high school students (ages 14-18), with preference given to applicants ages 16 and up. Arkansas Children’s depends on volunteers to keep its promise of delivering unprecedented child health, defined and delivered. As a junior volunteer, you help support our mission of making children better today and healthier tomorrow. 

To help determine the applicant’s readiness to participate as a volunteer at Arkansas Children’s, all communication is encouraged to be handled by the applicant directly. Please note that due to the growing popularity of these programs, there are a limited number of available positions. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed or considered. If invited to interview, applicants will be assessed on social skills, motivations for volunteering, and overall readiness to serve in a fast-paced environment that requires a high level of maturity.

    We are looking for junior volunteers who are:

  • true champions for children
  • interested in gaining experience in a hospital setting
  • looking for work-life experience that they can use in the future

    If you are interested in participating and are able to answer yes to the following questions, please read more about our programs and how to get involved below.

    • Are you 14 or older?
    • Are you able to commit to the time-requirements?
    • Will you be able to complete the program requirements? 
      • Complete online volunteer application
        • Provide references
        • Submit two personal reflection essays (Summer Program)
      • Attend an interview, if selected 
      • Attend mandatory orientation and training
      • Provide required immunizations (if accepted into the program, needed immunizations or tests can be obtained through Arkansas Children’s):
        • Two current 2-step TB (Tuberculosis) skin tests or one blood test
        • Current Tdap vaccine (Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis) within the past ten years
        • Current flu shot (School Year Program)
        • MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella)
        • Varicella (proof of vaccine OR history of Chicken Pox)
        • Pass mandatory drug test (at AC Employee Health and Wellness)
        Adhere to the rules and regulations

Junior Volunteer School Year Program

Interested in volunteering at Arkansas Children’s Northwest during the school year? This program offers ongoing volunteer placement in various hospital settings with the goal of improving the patient and family experience at Arkansas Children’s Northwest. 

School Year junior volunteers must commit to serving 36 hours between August-May. Due to staff supervision availability, very few night/weekend service opportunities will be available, so plan accordingly to serve any shifts during the week (Monday-Friday between 8:00am-4:00pm) or on school breaks to fulfill your hours. School approval for service during the school day will be required.

The application deadline to be considered eligible for the School Year program is October 1st. Any applications received after that will be reviewed on an as-needed basis.

Apply here and please be sure to note that you are a Junior Volunteer on your application. 

Junior Volunteer Summer Program Information 

This program offers a structured, two-week volunteer experience in various hospital settings, with the goal of improving the patient and family experience at Arkansas Children’s Northwest and introducing interested young adults to diverse careers and engagement opportunities in healthcare. 

Summer junior volunteers must be able to commit to the entire two-week session for which they apply, attending Monday-Friday each week in either June or July from 9:00am-12:00pm. Friday Lunch and Learn sessions offer special tours of the hospital as well as breakout sessions and speakers covering broad topics of operations within a healthcare system.

  • Session One: June 2-13, 2025
  • Session Two: July 14-25, 2025 

* The application window is closed for the 2025 Summer Junior Volunteer Program; no deadline extensions will be granted.

For more information, please contact the Volunteer Engagement Office at volunteeracnw@archildrens.org or 479-725-6986.

Project SEARCH® Arkansas: ACCESS® Initiative in partnership with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services and Arkansas Children’s Northwest welcomed its inaugural class in August of 2024. The program is for young adults, ages 18-35, with developmental disabilities. Candidates for the program must have graduated high school, received a GED or certificate of completion. Each year, up to 13 interns are accepted into the program and take part in three 10-week internship rotations on the Arkansas Children's Northwest campus in Springdale. The goal of the program is to help these individuals develop employment readiness skills, social skills, and soft skills to prepare them for meaningful, competitive employment within the surrounding community.

While interning at Arkansas Children's Northwest, interns have the opportunity to work with more than 10 different departments that are signed on to serve as an internship site. Upon completion of the nine-month program, Arkansas Children's Northwest Project SEARCH graduates receive follow-along services to help with the transition as they move to employment.

To learn more about the program or the application process please visit Project SEARCH Arkansas or contact our Arkansas Children's Business Liaison, Halley Hamon at HamonHG@archildrens.org.

Check out this video for more information

 

We have great opportunities available for organizations and groups who are interested in volunteering at Arkansas Children’s Northwest. Click here for more information or contact the Volunteer Engagement office at volunteerACNW@archildrens.org or 479-725-6986.