Parents as Partners Volunteer Application

Parent Advisors serve as an invaluable source of support and encouragement for fellow parents while contributing to the continuous improvement and well-being of Cook Children's Medical Center. By sharing your lived experience, you help bridge the gap between medical care and the family perspective, ensuring that our health system remains compassionate, efficient, and truly family-centered.

What we do:
Family Advisory Councils (FAC): Participate in parent led monthly meetings in one of our 15+ specialized councils to brainstorm ideas and drive institutional change.
Various medical center meetings and initiatives: Parent Advisors serve as the "parent voice" in the room for various medical staff meetings including Patient Experience committees. Parents offer a unique perspective that only a caregiver who has lived the hospital experience can provide.
Storytelling & Advocacy: Share your journey with hospital staff through various presentations to help them understand the patient/family impact of their work.
Parent Advisors work alongside Cook Children's staff to develop: Educational materials, resources, parent workshops and family support groups. Help plan and organize support initiatives and staff/parent events.

We are looking for parents and caregivers who are:
1. Passionate about Cook Children's and can share their perspective thoughtfully.
2. Excellent listeners.
3. Respectful of personal boundaries.
4. Understand the importance of confidentiality.
5. Empathetic and knowledgeable about their child's medical journey.
6. Available for a few hours monthly via phone, Zoom, or in person.
7. Aware that this role is about sharing experiences, not giving medical advice.
8. Driven by a desire to help others.

Qualifications
Your experience is your expertise. Parent advisors must be a parent or primary caregiver to a child who has received treatment within the Cook Children's Health Care System within the last 12 months. This is to ensure the perspective shared is current and relevant to our evolving health system.
This includes but is not limited to:
Primary Care: Routine check-ups or wellness visits at a Cook Children's Neighborhood Clinic or pediatric office.
Urgent Care: Visits to any Cook Children's or Urgent Care centers.
Specialty Care: Appointments with specialists (e.g., Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology, etc.).
Inpatient Care: Any overnight stay or surgical procedure at a Cook Children's medical center.

Hybrid Participation & Accessibility
This is a hybrid volunteer opportunity designed to accommodate busy medical parent schedules. We offer both virtual and in-person engagement, with most opportunities conducted via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, phone, or email. We welcome parent perspectives from any Cook Children's family, regardless of your proximity to the Fort Worth metroplex.

Training
All Parent Advisors are fully trained Cook Children's volunteers. The process includes:

Interview: Candidates must successfully complete an interview.
Standard Volunteer Onboarding*: Background check, New Volunteer Orientation, medical requirements including: a current TDaP Varicella (chicken pox) immunity or vaccination, an initial Tuberculosis (TB)skin test and an annual flu vaccination. The flu and TB test are provided at no charge to you.
Program-Specific Instruction: Additional specialized training tailored to the Parent Advisor role to prepare you for council and committee work.

*Standard Volunteer Onboarding is for in person volunteer service, virtual volunteer participating via zoom or teams only will have a shortened onboarding process. (No medical requirments for virtual volunteers.)

By becoming a Parent Advisor, you help us ensure that every family at Cook Children's feels seen, heard, and supported.

If you have any questions about the forms or requirements, please call the volunteer office at 682-885-4598.

Thank you!

Marian DeMott
Volunteer Program Coordinator

Parents as Partners Progam Options:

Family Advisory Council Member

Parent Mentor

Contact Information

* First name

Middle name

* Last Name

Title

Nickname

* Street Address

Line 2

* City

* State

* Zip/postal

E-mail

* Phone (Home)

* Phone (Mobile)

Personal Information

* DOB

Ethnicity

Have you ever worked for Cook Children's?

Current Grade or Education Completed

School or University

Career/Career Interest(s)

Medical Alert

Allergy Alert

T-Shirt Size

Recognition Preferences

About You

Why have you chosen to give back to Cook Children's by volunteering for the Parents as Partners program?

How did you learn about this volunteer opportunity?

About Your Children Who Are Cook Children's Patients

Child First Name

Child Last Name

Gender

Date of Birth

Diagnoses and Medical History

Please specify primary diagnoses

Physician(s)

Clinic Services

Medical Procedures

Treatment and equipment

Common issues

Comments

Child First Name

Child Last Name

Gender

Date of Birth

Angel Date

Diagnoses and Medical History

Please specify primary diagnoses

Physician(s)

Clinic Services

Medical Procedures

Treatment and equipment

Common issues

Comments

Child First Name

Child Last Name

Gender

Date of Birth

Angel Date

Diagnoses and Medical History

Please specify primary diagnoses

Physician(s)

Clinic Services

Medical Procedures

Treatment and equipment

Common issues

Comments

Child First Name

Child Last Name

Gender

Date of Birth

Angel Date

Diagnoses and Medical History

Please specify primary diagnoses

Physician(s)

Clinic Services

Medical Procedures

Treatment and equipment

Common issues

Comments

Child First Name

Child Last Name

Gender

Date of Birth

Angel Date

Diagnoses and Medical History

Please specify primary diagnoses

Physician(s)

Clinic Services

Medical Procedures

Treatment and equipment

Common issues

Comments

Background Check

You will be asked to sign an authorization form allowing your background check to be completed. Applicants must have a clear record (no arrests, convictions, nolo contendere pleas, deferred adjudications, or any other criminal entries). Per Cook Children's policy, you will be declined as a volunteer if there are any blemishes on your background check.

Emergency Contacts

* Contact name

Phone (Home)

* Phone (Mobile)

Relationship name

CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT & PHOTO RELEASE

I understand and agree that in the performance of my duties as a volunteer of Cook Children s Health Care System I must hold in strictest confidence any observations I may make or information I may hear regarding patients, patient families or staff.

I verify that all of the information provided by me on thisapplication is true, correct and complete. I attest that I have never been arrested or charged with any crime and grant Cook Children's permission to verify this information in arriving at a decision.

I understand that false or misleading statements or the omission of any information necessary to make this application complete will result in rejection of my application or termination of my service.

Additionally, Cook Children's has my consent to photograph, videotape, or audiotape me performing my volunteer duties. I understand that these may be used toward the advancement of public education, the promotion of Cook Children's, and/or any other legitimate purpose.

I understand that upon my successful completion of the volunteer placement processes required at Cook Children's, I will become a volunteer. As a volunteer, I acknowledge that I will not receive compensation for services.

* I agree

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