Housing Guidelines for Volunteers

Thank you for generously offering your time and resources to serve our families in Housing! You are a big part of our success in providing a “home away from home” to our patient families. As you may know, Target House and Tri Delta Place are home to families of patients receiving various treatments at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

Listed below are event and participation guidelines for volunteers visiting and doing service within the housing facilities as well as reminders for interacting with families while on the premises. These guidelines were developed to help facilitate rewarding and appropriate interactions between St. Jude patient families and supporters at Housing and Patient Services events on and off campus.

If you have any questions regarding this information, please feel free to contact one of our Housing volunteer coordinators. Thank you, again, for your investment in our mission!

General Interaction

• Any person exposed to contagious diseases (COVID, chicken pox, shingles, hepatitis, measles, mumps, pink eye, etc.) in the past four weeks or had flu-like symptoms (vomiting, rash, fever, diarrhea, etc.) in the past two weeks or fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of the event is asked NOT to participate. For children with weak immune systems, even a cold can be life-threatening.
• Frequent hand washing is especially important when working with patients. Please wash your hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and water before and after contact with each participant.
• Masks are required when in direct, face-to-face contact with patients.
• Photos may not be taken inside of the Housing facilities. Your coordinator can take a photo of your group before or after the event in an approved area. No group members should take photos or video during the event/while in the Housing facilities.
• As directed by St. Jude policy, no employee or volunteer may smoke on St. Jude property. This includes the houses as well.
• Please remain in the area in which your event/service is taking place, and do not wander throughout the house. If time permits, the coordinator may be able to provide a tour.
• Volunteers are not to visit the private rooms of our families at any time.
• Please do not repeat patient sensitive information. If you ever feel uncomfortable, please seek out a coordinator for assistance.
• Please do not assume a child's age or gender.
• Focus on the activities taking place and provide a distraction. Please do not pick up a child or remove them from the event location.
• Please avoid making promises to patient families as children are literal thinkers.
• Events provide a nice escape for patients and their families. Please keep conversations casual and do not ask specific medical questions.
• Confine interest and concern for the patients and families to the planned event. Confidentiality is of utmost importance.
• Please do not exchange contact information, including websites, with patient families.
• Because of patient privacy, outside media and publicity of the event is prohibited.
  

Dress Code

• Volunteers should not wear short shorts, low cut shirts, or leggings/yoga pants.
• Volunteers should not wear scrubs.
• Volunteers should not wear flip-flops; closed toe shoes and sandals are preferred.
• Volunteer clothing must contain non-offensive/Neutral messaging. Please avoid clothing with religious or political messaging.
• Volunteer tattoos should be covered if it contains offensive messaging.
• Volunteers should not wear artificial nails.
• Volunteers should not wear scented lotions, perfumes, cologne, etc. (Our patients can be extremely sensitive to scents and become sick because of their treatment.)

Group Event Requirements

• Group size is limited to 8 people. There may be opportunities for large groups which the coordinator will share while planning.
• The minimum age limit is currently 18 years old.
• The event length is 90 minutes. This time frame will include setup, breakdown, and cleaning.
• Housing special events can occur daily depending on the facility of choice and occupancy at the time. Event times are 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Projects should be something all age groups can participate in and enjoy.
• Applications must be submitted at least four weeks in advance as Housing calendars are generally prepared one month in advance.

Event Activity

• Groups providing a meal must do so from a commercial, health department inspected kitchen. A Housing Events Coordinator can provide a list of restaurants in the local area.
• A Housing Events Coordinator at each facility will assist each group throughout their visit.
• Be sure your event is engaging and a fun activity for patients and siblings of all ages. The coordinator can provide resource sites for reference, if needed.
• Arrive on time to meet your coordinator in the designated area.
• Participants must remain in the event space with their coordinator.
• Groups are responsible for providing materials and supplies for their event.
• The number of patients/siblings attending an event varies, depending on the day. The coordinator at the facility of choice will work with groups to determine the minimum number of attendees to prepare for.
• The Housing Event Team must approve all decorations. (Mylar balloons and foil decorations are acceptable.)
• Toys or favors will be screened in advance for safety and appropriateness.
• Please do not bring the following items: latex (balloons, gloves, etc.), natural clay (Model Magic & Play-Doh are acceptable), corrugated cardboard (chipboard and cardstock are acceptable), natural materials such as feathers, leaves, sticks, dirt, and sand (artificial items are acceptable), and recycled materials, toy guns, water guns, candles, knives, etc.
• Avoid items small enough to go into the mouth or anything with small removable pieces that could serve as a choking hazard.
• Due to patients' dietary restrictions, all event foods or snacks must be approved by the Housing Events Team.
• The Housing Events Team will provide certain materials for your event to be discussed in event planning preparations with your facility coordinator.
• Any audio/visual items must be approved prior to the event. All music and videos must be child appropriate.
• The room must be restored to its previous state after the event, including wiping down tables, disposing of trash, sanitizing supplies, etc.