Help Impact the Life of a Child
Why Volunteer?
The children we serve at The Children’s Center Utah are seeking the tools and skills to learn how to listen to adults, manage their emotions, play with peers, and succeed in school. By volunteering with us, you can positively impact a child’s development and mental health by assisting our Therapeutic Preschool Specialists in the Therapeutic Preschool Program, volunteering at events that support the work we all do here at The Children’s Center Utah, or even support our Therapeutic Preschool Specialists by cleaning toys and group rooms after hours.
We wouldn’t be able to help the many families and children here at The Children’s Center Utah without the support and dedication of our volunteers!
On the second Friday of every month, a group of explorers from Thanksgiving Point will join our Therapeutic Preschool groups. Their Learning and Engagement team will teach children about bugs, animals, dinosaurs, and more!
The Bennion Center at the University of Utah sent 20 volunteers for an MLK Day Service Project! Volunteers created Valentine's Day Sensory Boxes that will be distributed to the kids in the Therapeutic Preschool Program.
"Being a volunteer in the Therapeutic Preschool Program at The Children’s Center Utah provided me with the opportunity to interact with children who have unique needs and see the Therapeutic Preschool Specialists respond to each child with compassion and guidance. I gained many tools from the TPSs I worked with that I will be able to carry on into my future. The Children’s Center Utah deepened my love for working with young children and made me feel like I was really helping to make a positive difference in their lives!"
- Cedar, Volunteer
Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers from NCL for organizing and stocking our Family Store! This Family Store will benefit the infants, children, and families we serve at The Children's Center Utah by meeting their basic needs.
Our volunteers offer at The Children’s Center Utah the capacity to fully invest in the mental health needs and therapeutic strategies in our group rooms, while allowing the volunteers a chance to model healthy relationships and positive behaviors through interacting with the children. We hope The Children’s Center Utah is a good fit for both you and those we serve!
Please note: All volunteers must log hours and sign up for shifts on our volunteer management platform, Track It Forward. After filling out the Interest Form, the Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator will reach out to add you to Track It Forward.
Volunteer Opportunities
On Site
Therapeutic Preschool Volunteers
Therapeutic Preschool Program
Our Therapeutic Preschool Program Volunteers spend time playing with kids, reading books, playing games, reminding the children of group room rules and limits, and helping clean up after meals and activities. Volunteers are expected to model positive behaviors through language, behaviors, and interactions aligned with the evidence-based curriculum practiced in our Therapeutic Preschool Program.
Children receive treatment for three hours daily, either in the mornings (9:00 a.m. -12:00 a.m.) or afternoons (12:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m.). We provide transportation to get the children to and from our center. Children are usually in treatment for an average of nine months to a year. Family therapy is provided to each child’s family in order to help the family understand and follow their child’s treatment plan and make changes at home that support what the child is learning in the Therapeutic Preschool Program. Frequent monitoring of the child’s progress at home and at The Children's Center Utah is used to carefully track the child’s performance and make decisions about the length of a child’s treatment.
Details
Time commitment: Our group rooms run in the morning and the afternoons. We have six groups in the mornings and four in the afternoons. Volunteers are required to commit to at least one shift a week for a minimum of six weeks but are welcome to sign up for a full day or multiple days a week!
Shifts:
- AM: Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- PM: Monday through Friday 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Age Requirements: 16+
Onboarding Requirements: All Therapeutic Preschool Program Volunteers must attend a training and complete paperwork before they are able to volunteer.
Background checks: All volunteers must have a background check done through The Children’s Center Utah in order to volunteer in our classrooms. We will need you to provide a copy of an unexpired ID along with your paperwork. Volunteers over 18 years old must also participate in a fingerprint check.
Note: Volunteering in the TPP is generally reserved for individuals who are studying or have studied Psychology, Child Development, or related fields.
Toy Cleaning
Toy Cleaning
Our TPP group rooms provide a calm, clean environment to process emotions, work through behavioral challenges, and practice communicating feelings to develop their emotional regulation skills. For our groups to run smoothly, our Therapeutic Preschool Specialists need extra support in them clean and organized.
Volunteers can help support clients by cleaning and disinfecting rooms and toys!
Details
Shifts: The second Thursday of every month from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. or by appointment for groups.
Age Requirements: Any age, all minors under 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult.
Groups: This opportunity is great for individuals or small groups.
Onboarding Requirements: Fill out the Interest Form and the Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator will reach out.
Family Store
Family Store
Our Family Store is a donation-based program open to all families we serve. We accept donations of items such as diapers, toys, clothing, and personal care items and families in need can ‘shop’ the Family Store free of charge.
Volunteers play an essential role in keeping the Family Store stocked, organized, and accessible.
Shifts: First Wednesday every month from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Age Requirements: Any age, all minors under 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult.
Groups: This opportunity is good for individuals or small groups.
Onboarding Requirements: Fill out the Interest Form and the Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator will reach out.
Events
Events
Jewelry Luncheon
This fantastic annual event is a chance to treat yourself and the special women in your life while supporting the work of The Children’s Center Utah. The Annual Jewelry Luncheon is a sell-out event that highlights the work we do for Utah’s children, while giving our guests the opportunity to score some fantastic jewelry finds!
Volunteers staff the event, organize and label jewelry, and help with set up and take down.
Shifts: March 7, 2024. Shifts become available in February.
Age Requirements: Any age, all minors under 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult.
Groups: This opportunity is good for individuals or groups.
Onboarding Requirements: Fill out the Interest Form and the Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator will reach out. Jewelry Luncheon Orientation is required.
Shine Gala
The Children’s Center Utah annual fundraiser where donations provide hope and healing to young children and their families through comprehensive mental health care. The event features a silent auction, live auction, and an opportunity drawing.
Volunteers help set up, staff the event, and take down after.
Shifts: May 29 and 30 2024. Shifts become available in April.
Age Requirements: Any age, all minors under 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult.
Groups: This opportunity is good for individuals or groups.
Onboarding Requirements: Fill out the Interest Form and the Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator will reach out. Shine Gala Orientation is required.
Holiday Programs
During the month of December, The Children’s Center Utah hosts several events and programs including a Holiday Store where caregivers can access winter clothing and holiday gifts.
Volunteers are essential to running these programs.
Shifts: December each year. Shifts become available in November.
Age Requirements: Any age, all minors under 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult.
Groups: This opportunity is good for pairs or small groups.
Onboarding Requirements: Fill out the Interest Form and the Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator will reach out.
Off Site
Group Projects
Group Projects
If you and your group are interested in doing a one-time volunteer opportunity, we would love to work with you! This option is fantastic for corporate give-back days or volunteer agencies and can be completed off-site.
Volunteers can host donation drives, create games and supplies for our TPP, or work with TCCU on another project.
*This is a great place to start if you have a corporate volunteer project you are looking to participate in!*
Shifts: Up to group's schedule.
Age Requirements: Any age.
Onboarding Requirements: Fill out the Interest Form and the Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator will reach out.
At Home Projects
At Home Projects
A great opportunity for individuals who cannot make it to on-site opportunities. Volunteers can create felt board stories, file folder games, matching games, room “hunt” games or puzzles, or create an art project for our kids to do. Individuals are also welcome to create decorations or kits for holidays such as Valentine’s Day or Earth Day.
Shifts: Up to individual's schedule.
Age Requirements: Any age.
Onboarding Requirements: Fill out the Interest Form and the Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator will reach out.
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