Group Volunteer Guidelines

Guidelines for Gift Distribution/Patient Visit at Texas Children's Hospital
  1. All groups must be scheduled in advance with Volunteer Services. Weekday mornings are preferred.
  2. All participants must be at least 18 years of age. No exceptions will be made as this is to ensure the health and safety of our patients. We also find that the Hospital setting is not an appropriate environment for one time volunteers under the age of 18.
  3. Large groups are overwhelming to our patients. We ask that you bring only 6 to 8 members of your group to participate at a time. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes in advance in order to fill out required forms.
  4. If any members of your group are sick (i.e. cold, cough, sore throat), please ask them not to come. For children whose immune systems are weakened, even a cold may be life threatening.
  5. Please dress comfortably and appropriately for a family environment. No shorts, tank tops, low-cut blouses, bare midriffs, or sandals. Please wear closed toe shoes.
  6. Volunteer Services provides complimentary valet parking. Parking tickets are validated in the Volunteer Services office.
  7. To protect patient privacy, no photographs/videos may be taken of the patients.
  8. All scheduling of community groups and special visitors is arranged through The Auxiliary to Texas Children's Hospital/Volunteer Services Department. A volunteer or staff member will remain with the group throughout the visit or event.
  9. All members of the group must agree to maintain strict patient confidentiality.
Gift distribution:
  1. Plans for gift distribution should be coordinated with your Auxiliary contact. Favors and gifts are screened for safety and appropriateness and may not be wrapped. Used toys cannot be accepted due to hospital infection control policies. Gifts may NOT include the following:

    • NO food or drinks including candy and chewing gum
    • NO latex/rubber balloons, mylar balloons are allowed, however.
    • NO small toys or toys with small parts that can be removed and ingested by our patients.
    • NO gift-wrapped items. All gifts are inspected prior to distribution to patients.
    • NO religious references. Texas Children's is a non-denominational Hospital.

  2. Suggested gift items include new crayons, coloring books, activity books, small stuffed animals or toys, board games, card games, blankets and books. All items should be appropriate for a patient to use in the hospital unsupervised.
  3. Visits are limited to 2 hours. Groups will visit as may patient rooms as time allows.