Volunteers at Sheppard Pratt

Visit any department at Sheppard Pratt, from the clinical program, to the finance office, to the greenhouse, to the Forbush School and you will see volunteers at work. The quality of every patient's stay in enhanced by volunteer efforts, not just for the amenities, but for the basics of daily operations and daily care. As many as 250 volunteers may be found side by side with our doctors, nurses, teachers and other clinical support professionals any day of the week.

What brings volunteers to Sheppard Pratt? For some its the opportunity to interact with patient, joining them for walks and talks that directly aid the healing process. Others come to support the cause of the mentally ill in every way they can.

Sheppard Pratt offers unparalleled field experience for students interested in mental health care and related professions. The Health System's continuum of care offers experiences in a full range of clinical settings including inpatient units, partial hospitalization programs, group homes, vocational programs, outpatient counseling and community mental health centers and schools. Student interns actually work with patients under staff supervision and their performance is monitored and evaluated. Qualifying criteria must be met to participate in an internship.

The contribution of volunteers to Sheppard Pratt is so vital that we ask for no less than a three-month commitment. In return, we provide a thorough orientation to the hospital and ongoing training. Volunteers contributed 50,000 hours of service last year, but the degree of help they gave and personal satisfaction they received can't be measured.

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