To become a volunteer and touch a child's life, simply:

Complete a volunteer application form and bring it in to us at 810 N. Holyoke.

Be at least seventeen years of age.

Attend volunteer orientation and training held the first Wednesday of each month at 6pm at the Home located at 810 N. Holyoke.

Complete a Health Assessment form including a tuberculosis test.

Give written permission for a background check through the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Observe and maintain strict confidentiality.

These steps help ensure the safety of the children at the Wichita Children's Home.

For more information, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at (316) 684-6581.

Helping Hand -

Assist staff in caring for the physical and psychological needs of children.

• Attend off grounds activities with staff and residents
• Share interests such as craft ideas, hobbies, sports
• Read, play games, help with homework
• Give children one on one attention
• Teach by example - honesty, fair play, politeness.

Special Friend -

• Be assigned one-on-one with a specific child, age six and older
• Serve as a positive role model

Child Care Assistant -

• Assume a greater level of responsibility with the children
• Directly assist staff by teaching basic skills and appropriate behaviors
• Requires additional training

Foster Care Respite Provider -

Care for infants and toddlers in our Foster Care Program to provide respite for our foster parents.

• Read to children, play games
• Provide a much needed Mom's Day Out for our Foster Homes by providing child care at WCH.
• Feed bottles, snacks, meals

BRIDGES Mentor -

Be a role model for a minimum of two hours per week to a youth living in the BRIDGES Transitional Living Program.

• Teach life skills such as balancing a checkbook, finding an apartment, reading a lease, grocery shopping, cooking, reading the classified ads and job hunting
• Be a positive role model
• Help with homework
• Provide support, encouragement, and guidance
• Attend school functions, special events
• Teach parenting skills to teen parents

Street Outreach -

Assist Street Outreach staff as they provide services to runaway and homeless youth in Wichita.

• Ride along with Street Outreach staff in the Street Outreach van
• Talk with homeless and runaway youth under the supervision of staff
• Assist with weekly group meeting held each Thursday from 6:30pm - 8:30pm off site.

Activities Volunteer -

Create and conduct activities for small groups of children within the Home, such as:

• Craft Leader - lead a small group with a craft/art project
• Story Reader - read stories to smaller children
• Song Leader - teach younger songs, conduct sing-along
• Athletic Leader - teach or conduct group sports activity

General Assistant -

Help with varying jobs around the Home.

• Clerical - answer phones, copy, collate, accept donations, file, type documents
• Gardening - plant flowers, weed garden, water plants, general maintenance of grounds
• Donations - help sort clothing and toys received for appropriate ages - help organize new clothing and toys in donation room or foster care

Special Needs Volunteer -

Help with special needs as they arise.

• Bilingual Interpreter - on-call to communicate with residents or parents who do not speak English
• Sign Language Interpreter - on-call to communicate with deaf residents or parents
• Medical Assistant - assist nurse with duties, teach health classes, do medication checks and track immunizations
• Hairdresser - Give haircuts and personal hygiene tips weekly or monthly

Speaker/Tour Guide -

Educate and inform others by giving presentations about the Wichita Children's Home

• Give speeches to the general public or community/company groups
• Conduct tours of the Wichita Children's Home

Contact Us...

For more information on how you can help touch other lives at The Wichita Children's Home, contact us here.