DREAM TEAM
VOLUNTEERING
ABOUT US
Dream Team at the University of Florida is a student run, 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization that is dedicated to brightening the lives of the children in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. Dream Team Volunteering provides countless long-term pediatric patients with one-on-one volunteers that are committed to forming lasting bonds and positive memories through fun games, activities, and companionship.
Our patients often have complicated cardiovascular conditions, and many spend extended periods of time in the hospital. Dream Team Volunteering aims to dedicate time and service to these children and their families. With passion, enthusiasm, and a shared dedication for brightening the lives of these children in cardiac care, Dream Team provides a direct patient volunteer program at the hospital.
VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
WEEKLY VOLUNTEERS
Most of our members serve in the weekly volunteer program at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. These volunteers have the unique opportunity to form one-on-one relationships with the children in cardiac and intensive care by spending time with patients at their bedside or in the activity room and providing companionship and motivation during extended hospital stays.
SPECIAL EVENT VOLUNTEERS
Before transitioning to be a Weekly Volunteer, new members of Dream Team may begin as Special Event Volunteers. Special Event Volunteers have the unique opportunity to participate in several programming events throughout the month, which consist of fun and interactive activities for the kids. Whereas the weekly shifts involve one-on-one interactions with the patients at their bedsides, programming events offer the opportunity for the kids to interact not only with multiple volunteers at once but also with other patients in the unit.
CHILD LIFE TV
The Child Life TV Channel on YouTube is a Child Life and UF Health Volunteer Services project led by student organizations, including the leadership and membership of the Footprints: Buddy & Support Program. Our members, during virtual volunteering, have thought up, created, produced, and edited videos for publishing on this channel. Videos are range from arts & crafts, diversity & inclusion, and games to music sing-a-longs and storybook readings. All of our craft videos come with a craft kit to accompany the video; this way, patients can craft alongside volunteers, virtually. With videos accessible to all pediatric patients at UF Health Shands Children's Hospital, we hope that this channel can bring a sense of fun and childhood back into the hospital, even when volunteers are not around
OTHER PROGRAMS
QUESTIONS?
Contact us at recruitment.membership.dreamteam@gmail.com
Find us at facebook.com/UFDreamTeam
Follow us on Instagram @UFDreamTeam
SPECIAL EVENT VOLUNTEERS
Before transitioning to be a Weekly Volunteer, new members of Dream Team may begin as Special Event Volunteers. Special Event Volunteers have the unique opportunity to participate in several programming events throughout the month, which consist of fun and interactive activities for the kids. Whereas the weekly shifts involve one-on-one interactions with the patients at their bedsides, programming events offer the opportunity for the kids to interact not only with multiple volunteers at once but also with other patients in the unit.
Diversity and Inclusivity Committee
The Dream Team Diversity and Inclusivity Committee aims to foster more inclusion throughout our volunteer initiatives as we aspire to brighten the lives of the children in the PICU and PCICU. We hope to embrace the diversity of our pediatric units, in addition to making our patients feel more welcomed and at home during their stays at the hospital. Furthermore, we hope to help our members as well as our patients learn more about diversity and gain a wider perspective on life, even as kids! Our committee intends to celebrate and uplift each other, help our patients embrace who they are, support all kinds of identities, and create fun initiatives for volunteers to collaborate on.
