Adult Volunteer Program

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Stanford Health Care! Volunteers provide non-clinical assistance to patients, families, and staff. They also provide information and resources throughout the adult hospital and clinics. Individuals must be at least 18 years old to be eligible. Students who are 18 years old and in High School are eligible for the High School Program.  Due to the high demand, we are no longer accepting applications.  Please check back in July for updates.

Time commitment

We require a continuous six month commitment comprised of 1 shift per week (3-4 hour period), which equates to 100 hours within this period. Some volunteer placements require a 1-year commitment due to the training involved.  Individual volunteers are scheduled for shifts (on the same day and time) on a weekly basis; placements are assigned for the 6-month period. Please consider your schedule, school, work, family, etc. before making the commitment to volunteer.

In coordination with your availability, we try to accommodate your interests and talents, while keeping in mind the needs of our health care system. We do not place volunteers for internship, shadowing or observing positions. Volunteer hours do not qualify as "clinical hours".

Volunteering with children

Please contact the Volunteer Services department at Stanford Children's Hospital.

Volunteering in the East Bay

Please contact the Volunteer Services department at Stanford Valley Care.

How do I become a volunteer?

Please submit an application online. Once we review your completed application, we will contact you within a few weeks. Next steps include the following:

1. Group Interview: We schedule small group (3-5 individuals) interviews to explain our program, requirements, expectations, and roles within a 1 hour session. Individuals also provide information about themselves including motivation, interests, and availability.
   
2. Online Curriculum: After attending the group interview, individuals are emailed a link, user ID, and password to access the curriculum for completion. This step can take up to 6 hours.
   
3. Background Check: Individuals over the age of 18 must complete an online authorization for criminal background check. The information will be provided after the group interview.
   
4. Health Screening (TB test / vaccines): All perspective volunteers will need to bring their immunization record, titers may be drawn and/or additional vaccination may be needed.
   
5. Volunteer Orientation: After the 3 requirements (above) are completed, individuals attend a 2-hour orientation to review policies, C-I-CARE and additional program information.
   
6. ID Badge / Parking / Uniform / Logging Hours:  At orientation, information about picking up a badge, access to parking, uniform, and logging volunteer hours are discussed.
   

Placement and training – Following orientation, Volunteer Resources will assign individuals to areas discussed during group interview according to individuals' interest, availability, and the needs of the organization. Placements are not guaranteed in specific areas.

Volunteer opportunities

Volunteers are placed in over 125 areas of the hospital and clinics. Click on this link to access more information about each of the opportunities. The opportunities are indicated by location, then position.

Most volunteer opportunities include assisting patients and families around the hospital and clinics; providing information and resources; running errands; collecting wheelchairs; delivering goods to patient rooms, etc. Positions are located at the main hospital and off-site areas such as Blake Wilbur, Hoover Pavilion, Outpatient Cancer Center, Redwood City Outpatient Clinics and Byers Eye Institute.