Becoming a Volunteer

Patient Care Volunteers
Volunteers provide companionship to our patients and their families in their homes, as well as respite time for families/caregivers. They are also available to assist with errands, read to patients or their siblings, or just quietly listen and be present to the patient, parents and siblings.

Bereavement Volunteers
Volunteers support newly bereaved families through phone contact when needed as well as help prepare specialty baskets at Christmas time and other times during the year as considered appropriate. They may also be asked to become involved in the preparation for, and the day of, the Memorial Service as greeters, and program participants.

Office Volunteers
Volunteers assist with the day-to-day operations of the Butterfly Program. Office or computer skills are well utilized and directly contribute to the care of the patients, their families, and the hospice community.

Volunteer Training

Volunteers participate in an extensive training program. The training class is designed to prepare the volunteer to work as part of the hospice team with the patients and their families throughout the stages of the illness as well as with bereaved families. The demands of volunteering with dying children and their families make ongoing education essential.

General Training
Training are offered multiple times a year in Denver and include oral presentations by professional staff, group discussion and exercises.  Each volunteer will receive useful training materials.

Butterfly-Specific Volunteer Training
This training session is led by Butterfly Program staff including a social worker and chaplain.  This session includes presentations such as:

• The Butterfly Program Overview by Ashley Mead
• Children's Perceptions of Death and Dying
• Spiritual Concerns with Families of Terminally Ill Children
• Psychosocial Needs with Families of Terminally Ill Children

How to Become a Volunteer

If you are interested in volunteering with The Butterfly Program, or any hospice program at Centura Health at Home, please call Dianne LaKamp at 303.561.5240 or email Dianne at DianneLaKamp@centura.org.