Hello, my name is Gabriela and I am an IFJ this summer at Providence Center for Medically Fragile Children and Randall’s Children Hospital. I love working with children and with the support of the Moreau Center I am able to give my time to both of these amazing health care centers. Though I am not looking for a career in the medical field, I chose to work with children in hospital settings due to the amount of vulnerability that occurs. I am hoping to become a Child Life Specialist, which is a non-medical resource that really plays into the mental health aspect of being in a hospital.
I have been in the application process with both of these organization for over a month now, from applications to interviews to background checks and trainings, this has been a very detailed and organized process. Through this I have learned about all of the tiny but important details that go into working in a hospital setting. Being an IFJ is such an honor and I really hope that I can end this summer having built a community that will want me to continue volunteering into the fall. Just from the first initial people I have interacted with have been so excited and honest about the work they do, like Maddie the Child Life Assistant who will be my point person at Randall’s and Karen the volunteer coordinator/program director at Providence.
Here are links to the places I am volunteering if you would like to learn more:
http://www.legacyhealth.org/health-services-and-information/health-services/for-children-a-z/child-life-program.aspx
http://oregon.providence.org/our-services/c/center-for-medically-fragile-children/
I am excited to really hit the ground running come June 26th, which will include my last training at Randall’s before I am officially a volunteer and my first day at Providence.
Wish me luck!
-Gabriela