Junior Volunteer Program
The Backus Hospital Junior Volunteer program
Our Junior Volunteer program gives young people the opportunity to explore careers in healthcare, as well as provide service to our hospital and our patients.
Our Junior Volunteers have much to offer, and the program provides the opportunity to learn new skills, develop new interests, and make new friends. If you enjoy the satisfaction that comes from helping others, you will enjoy being part of The William W. Backus Hospital Junior Volunteer Program.
The summer volunteer program is open to students from ages 15 - 18.
Applications must be received no later than April 1 for consideration. Each applicant will be notified by mail of his or her interview, which is held in May. Orientation is held the week after school is out. It is necessary that each of the two morning sessions be attended. We ask for a minimum of eight hours a week per Junior Volunteer. Uniforms need to be purchased.
We aim to make this program as meaningful as possible for Junior Volunteers, and encourage particpants to let us know if they are interested in a particular assignment. For example, if someone is interested in a career in Physical Therapy, that person may be placed in the Physical Medicine area. In exchange for transporting patients and running errands, the Junior Volunteer will be able to learn firsthand about this field.
One of the most popular areas is the Pediatric unit. The Junior Volunteers' presence -- plus story reading, drawing, etc. -- augments the hospital staff and is enjoyed by our younger patients.
Junior Volunteers provide service in many department, including Registration, Laboratory, Cafeteria, Medical Records, Same Day Surgery and the Business Office, to name just a few. New Juniors begin their duties as soon as they complete their orientation, and the program can carry on through the fall, winter and spring months, after school on weekdays, weekends, and holidays for those Junior Volunteers accepted.
If you have any questions about our program, please call Mary Rahaim, CAVS Director, Volunteer Services at 860-823-6320.
The Junior Volunteer Process
Our Summer Junior Volunteer Program is highly competitive. We receive many more applicantions than we have openings. Therefore, the Volunteer Office needs to receive all Junior Volunteer applications no later than April 1 to be considered for next summer’s program. Click on the link below to download an application.
Junior Volunteer Application
Adobe Acrobat Reader required.
Also Note: Jr. Volunteer Application is a fillable pdf form that you may type in the required fields and print out. Once you have typed in the required fields to complete the form, you will need to print it out before closing the file. You will not be able to save the form with your entered information, unless you own an advanced version of Adobe Acrobat (such as Adobe Professional or Acrobat Writer)
Thinking of applying to the summer program?
Application form
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Please complete the Junior Volunteer application form in full. [You may download it above.]
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Be sure a parent or guardian also signs this form. This gives the hospital permission to contact the teacher or guidance counselor you have chosen for your school reference.
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Attach a recent school photo or a copy of the photo.
- Return the form no later than April 1, 2008.
Vaccinations
For our health records, and to maintain the safety of our patients, please attach proof of:
- Your first and second MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccinations,
- and Varicella inoculation or date of disease, as explained on the application.
Applicant interviews
Applicants are interviewed by the Director of Volunteer Services with a parent or guardian present. Please feel free to ask any questions about the Volunteer program, and to provide any information about your interests. Please note that we have more applicants than openings.
Guidelines for volunteering
Applicants who are accepted into the summer program must:- Provide a recent PPD (a tuberculosis skin test), or sign a new parental permission slip at Backus in June.
- Attend an orientation session in June.
- Volunteer a minimum of one eight-hour day of service per week throughout the months of July and August.
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Not be away more than two weeks.
Recognition for Juniors
Junior Volunteers are recognized for their efforts at a program held at the end of the summer. Those reaching 100 hours of service are presented with gold pins. This is followed by the service bar for 500 hours, gold bar for 1000 hours, etc.
Those persons giving 2,000 or more hours will have their name engraved on a plaque that hangs in the hallway.
Also, the Director of Volunteer Services is available to talk to any Junior wishing to have a letter of recommendation for work or school.