Volunteer and Internship Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

We rely on our volunteers to make our program successful and we welcome your participation in a very important and rewarding service.

As a Safety Center volunteer you will have the opportunity to:

• Counsel parents and families about safety and injury prevention
• Provide educational material to families and answer questions
• Assist parents in the purchase of safety supplies to meet their needs
• Demonstrate the proper use of various safety devices to parents and families
• Participate in the design of safety displays and brochures.

Benefits:

• Volunteers receive free parking, Tri-Met tickets, or can ride the OHSU shuttle from PSU for scheduled shifts
  
• OHSU employee/volunteer discounts on various services, products, travel, sporting and cultural event tickets, etc.

If you are interested in volunteering, please review the Volunteer Position Description and Requirements.

Volunteer Description and Requirements

As a volunteer you will work under the supervision of the program coordinators and have direct contact with patients and families. You will have meaningful opportunities to participate in projects that will enhance your professional development, including situations of critical importance within an outpatient clinical setting. Through this exposure and on-site training, you will gain a working knowledge of the safety and injury prevention needs of the Safety Center's priority population (0-12 years).

Requirements: You must be at least 18 years of age and be able to:

• Communicate effectively with families, children and medical staff
• Exhibit a strong work ethic and good organizational skills
• Work independently and as part of a team
• Learn safety and injury prevention statistics, regulations, and tips (Experience in this field is not a prerequisite; training will be provided.)

Commitment: You must be able to commit to:

• Completing all required steps to becoming a volunteer through OHSU Healthcare Volunteer Services, including completing an application, interview, background check, 2-step skin tuberculosis test, any necessary immunizations, and required online trainings
  
• Working one four-hour shift per week for a minimum of six months (or two four-hour shifts per week for a minimum of three months) between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Attending quarterly evening training's and meetings

 To Apply:

Complete a Volunteer Application and indicate the Safety Center as your area of interest.  E-mail the Program Coordinator to let her know to look for your application.

Internship Opportunities

The Tom Sargent Children's Safety Center seeks committed, energetic and motivated graduate students for intern positions.

Prospective interns should be interested in community outreach and health promotion, and be self-directed, thorough, and possess outstanding communication skills. Interns will work under the supervision of the Outreach Coordinator and may have direct contact with patients and families.

Interns will have a meaningful opportunity to participate in a project that will enhance their professional development while exposing them to an issue of critical importance to public health. Through this exposure and on-site training, they will gain a working knowledge of safety and injury prevention and the specific needs of children ages 0-12 living in the Pacific Northwest. 

Benefits: Although this is an unpaid position, the following benefits are offered:

• Course credit, as available based on educational institution and major
• Reduced rate on annual Tri-Met pass
• OHSU employee/volunteer discounts on various services, products, travel, sporting and cultural event tickets, etc.

Requirements: Interns must be able to:

• Communicate effectively with families, children and medical staff
• Exhibit a strong work ethic and organizational skills
• Work independently and as part of a team
• Learn safety and injury prevention statistics, regulations and tips
• Complete all required steps to become an intern including completing an application, interview, background check, TB test and any necessary immunizations

Commitment: Interns must be able to commit to 10-20 hours a week (negotiable depending upon academic credit desired and project needs). Ability to attend some weekend and evening community outreach events may be necessary based on the focus of the chosen project.

Internship Focus Areas Currently Available:

(1) Evaluation, Research & Assessment

A previous MPH intern created a thorough evaluation plan for our center and services. We are moving forward with this plan and are seeking someone with research skills and an independent work ethic to coordinate its implementation.

(2) Safety for Children with Special Health Needs

One of our new initiatives for 2011-2012 is to improve our educational materials and safety product line for families with children who have special health needs. We are seeking someone with an interest in this population and the ability to perform a needs assessment, conduct focus groups, research current best practices and adapt/create patient education materials.

To apply:

Submit a resume and statement of interest to the Outreach Coordinator, Matthew Geraths (gerathsm@ohsu.edu).