Health-Related Service Organizations
AIDS MINISTRIES/AIDS ASSIST OF NORTHERN INDIANA
Phone: (574) 234-2870 (South Bend)
Phone: (574) 293-9743 (Elkhart)
Website: www.aidsministries.org
Background: AIDS Ministries was started in 1989 by the North Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. The organization is currently working toward an ecumenical/community base. Located in South Bend, the agency serves north central Indiana with direct assistance and northern Indiana with educational and referral programs. The goals of the agency are five-fold: to provide access to community support, to provide assistance to those in need, to educate the public regarding the challenges facing the community regarding HIV/AIDS infection and prevention, to raise public awareness and advocate for the dignity and rights of those infected with HIV/AIDS, and to stimulate and collaborate with religious and other communities of care to build networks for education and support.
Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to give social support to individuals who are HIV+ by providing support and help (including light housekeeping, transportation, shopping, etc.) through the course of the illness. There is some need for office help and phone answering on the AIDS assist phone line. Also need assistance with data base input and statistical analysis. Internships are possible.
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Phone: (574) 234-0191
Website: www.stjoe-redcross.org
Background: Provides disaster relief, service to armed forces, first aid training, and more.
Volunteers: There are many, many ways to be involved at the Red Cross. Visit the website and click on the volunteer tab to see what is available.
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
Phone: (574) 257-9789
Website: www.cancer.org
Background: The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.
Volunteers: Please call your local office to see what opportunities are available for volunteers.
ASERACARE HOSPICE
Phone: 574-206-1875
Website: www.aseracare.com
Background: AseraCare Hospice, one of the nation's premiere providers of hospice care, serves patients in St. Joseph, Elkhart, and surrounding counties. Our mission is to share our passion for improving quality of life through innovative healthcare - one person, one family, and one community at a time. We believe hospice care affirms life. We exist to provide support and care for persons in the last stages of incurable diseases so that they might live as fully and comfortably as possible.
Volunteers: Direct/Companion Volunteers needed to provided emotional support. Typical duties might include: reading to a patient, playing music, reminiscing with a patient, or even simply just holding their hand. All training is provided and we are flexible with hours and training times; we will work around your schedule.
SISTER MAURA BRANNICK, CSC HEALTH CENTER
Phone: (574) 335-2410
Website: www.sjmed.com/sister-maura-brannick-csc-health-center
Background: Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center Chapin Street Health Center was established in response to the critical need for affordable health care for people who are unemployed, those unlikely to be eligible for government assistance programs, and the working poor. The clinic provides health services for individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare, do not have medical insurance, and cannot afford private health care.
Volunteers: With a limited staff the Health Center depends on volunteers to ensure the clinic runs efficiently. Working as a volunteer is an excellent opportunity to gain medical experience, and increase your knowledge and exposure to public health. The Health Center commits to assuring every volunteer a thorough orientation, a voice in the development of new programs, and an opportunity to contribute to the mission of the clinic.
HEALTHWIN SPECIALIZED CARE FACILITY
Phone: (574) 272-0100
Website: www.healthwin.org
Background: Healthwin is a county owned facility but it is not supported by taxes. It has 156 beds of which 32 are chronic hospital licensed beds, 33 skilled nursing and 91 intermediate care nursing home beds. The Supported Living Center provides life-long and transitional care for the brain injured. It is detached from the main facility and is licensed for seven residents. Healthwin provides services to a variety of chronically ill or elderly people and their families. It offers an alternative to patients in acute hospitals to receive comparable rehabilitative and skilled nursing services with successful therapeutic outcomes. Respite care is also available to provide temporary relief for caregivers.
Volunteers: Healthwin needs student volunteers to make weekly visits to patients on a one-to-one basis. They may also provide help for patients who have special needs, i.e. tutoring, reading, letter writing, etc. The volunteers' schedules can be arranged individually. An orientation will be provided to any new volunteers.
HEALTHWORKS! KIDS' MUSEUM
Phone: (574) 245-3655
Website: www.healthworkskids.org
Background: HealthWorks! is an interactive health education center located in downtown South Bend, focusing on changing a kids perspective of health. We cater to grades Kindergarten through 6th grade and are open to both school field trips and the general public.
Volunteers: Some positive changes have recently occurred at HealthWorks! regarding volunteer recruitment and the writing of volunteer job descriptions. One major change is using volunteers during the time a school or group field trip is present at HealthWorks!. This reassures volunteers that they will have interaction with kids on the exhibit floor. As a volunteer, you will "play" with local grade school kids in exploring the topic of health as they travel through our exhibit floor or participate in a theatrical classroom.
CENTER FOR HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE
Phone: (574) 286-1198
Website: www.centerforhospice.org
Background: Hospice is a home care program for terminally ill patients and their families. It takes a holistic approach through physical, psychological, social, and spiritual support to ensure that the patient's life is as comfortable, satisfactory, and pain free as possible.
Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to visit terminally ill patients in their homes. A commitment of 4 hours every one or two weeks is expected. Volunteers must complete 21 hours of training mandated by the state and have their own transportation.
MEMORIAL EPWORTH CENTER
Phone: (574) 647-7084
(574) 647-6495
Website: www.qualityoflife.org/epworthcenter
Background: Memorial EPWORTH CENTER is the inpatient psychiatric care division of Memorial Hospital of South Bend. Memorial has been the medical cornerstone of Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan for more than 100 years with a strong commitment to improving the quality of life for those in the region. At Memorial Epworth Center, we’ve combined the leadership support from Memorial Hospital with specially trained behavioral health specialists to build the leading community resource for inpatient mental health care in the region.
Volunteers: Please call for volunteer opportunities. All volunteers receive training.
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Phone: (574) 647-7084
(574) 647-6495
Website: www.qualityoflife.org
Background: Memorial Hospital of South Bend traces its roots back to 1894, when the Women's Home Missionary Societies of the Methodist Churches of South Bend founded Epworth Hospital and Training School. By 1901, the hospital had grown from three patient beds in a converted house to a 50-bed "modern" hospital - complete with a maternity room and an operating room - in the first building in South Bend designed specifically as a hospital. The name officially changed in 1945 to Memorial Hospital of South Bend. Today, Memorial serves as a 526-bed regional referral center for cardiac, cancer, childbirth, emergency medicine and rehabilitation services.
Volunteers: Memorial's mission, vision and values are embodied by the numerous volunteers who provide more than 1,000 hours of service each month. Volunteers play an integral role in nearly every department of the hospital, reassuring anxious families awaiting news after a surgery, greeting and escorting visitors and helping them find their way around campus, delivering flowers and mail to patients, or visiting with patients after surgery. Because there are so many ways to volunteer, please call us and ask to be connected to the volunteer coordinator so we can find the right placement for you.
MILTON HOME
Phone: (574) 233-0165
Website: www.themiltonhome.com
Background: Milton Home is a Meridian Health Care Facility that provides residential care for elderly people. It is located on Marion St. in South Bend and is committed to maintaining the quality of life of its residents by offering them a hospitable and stimulating environment.
Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to visit residents on a one-to-one basis. Groups are welcome to plan special events in consultation with the Milton Home staff.
MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION
Phone: (574) 259-9912
Background: The Muscular Dystrophy Association coordinates patient services for persons suffering from 40 different neuro-muscular diseases, the most common types being ALS, Mayasthenia Gravis, and Duchenne.
Volunteers: Volunteers are mostly on an as-needed basis, so time commitment is very flexible. Volunteers help with Labor Day telethon, general donation seeking, work as summer camp counselors, and assist with various events throughout the year. Volunteers may also be asked to visit families with family members suffering from muscular dystrophy.
PORTAGE MANOR
Phone: (574) 272-9100
Background: Portage Manor is a licensed, 144 bed, residential care facility owned by Saint Joseph County and located on the northwest edge of South Bend. It provides care for individuals and married couples who cannot care for themselves. Some residents are elderly while others suffer from debilitating disease or mental illness.
Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to pay regular visits to individual residents who have no family. Volunteers may also plan group activities or arts and crafts activities for Portage Manor residents.
SACRED HEART PARISH (Notre Dame)
Phone: (574) 631-4139
Volunteers: Parish Nurse Program: Volunteer opportunities for Saint Mary's Nursing students to gain clinical experience.
ST. JOSEPH REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Phone: (574) 335-2410
Website: www.sjmed.com
Background: Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) is a not-for-profit, multi-hospital healthcare system located in North Central Indiana. A ministry organization of Trinity Health, we offer faith-based, personalized care in a diverse and team-oriented environment.
Volunteers: We invite you to join our team of Associates and Volunteers as we touch the lives and improve the health of our patients and community. Our entire staff is dedicated to providing care in a positive, team-oriented environment. Develop your skills with colleagues who are committed to excellence an organization that values you. We strive to match the skills and talents you already have with our openings and needs. You don't need a healthcare background to volunteer at SJRMC. We have positions that are both patient and non-patient related. All we ask for is a once a week commitment of 3 - 4 hours. Prior to starting, all of our new volunteers will have a chance to attend orientation. Please call us and ask for the volunteer coordinator.
WOMEN'S CARE CENTER/PREGNANCY HELP CENTER
Phone: (574) 234-0363 (South Bend)
Phone: (574) 252-3680 (Mishawaka)
Website: www.womenscarecenter.org
Background: The Women's Care Center was founded by a concerned group of people who realized the need to give pregnant women support so that they could consider carrying their pregnancies to term. The Women's Care Center seeks to assist individuals and couples facing a possible problem pregnancy by offering a warm, supportive environment in which potential difficulties surrounding the pregnancy can be explored. The Women's Care Center also provides women with the care they need to carry their pregnancies to term.
Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to assist in welcoming pregnant women and couples and beginning the process of assisting them to gather the resources that they need to complete the pregnancy. Some volunteers do counseling while others help with administrative work. Volunteers are expected to commit to 6 hours a week. A three day training weekend at Moreau Seminary is provided for all volunteers.