Volunteer
Given the unique needs of our clients and minimal resources available for volunteer coordination, CHNK has limited opportunities for individuals and groups hoping to provide support in the form of volunteerism. Further, we require volunteers to be 21 years of age or older for opportunities on campus and/or with our clients.
Before contacting our team regarding volunteering at CHNK, please review the volunteer opportunities detailed below and the volunteer FAQs to make sure we are a good fit for your interests.
Junior Board of CHNK
The official volunteer arm for Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, the Junior Board’s role is two-fold: to fundraise in support of our young clients’ therapeutic needs and to assist with various needs throughout the year that support our clients.
More information about the Junior Board can be viewed here, but some important details about membership:
- Members of the Junior Board meet monthly on the second Tuesday of the month, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Attendance is expected, so that the Junior Board can be effective in its mission. If you are not available on Tuesday evenings, please consider a different volunteer opportunity with CHNK
- Members pay annual dues of $50
- All members are expected to actively participate in the planning and hosting of the annual Junior Board Charity Ball held in November, including filling a table at the event (either through sponsorship or individual ticket sales)
Donation/Supply Drive
Our Development Office is always on the lookout for volunteers who can help us with fundraising and in-kind donations. Could that be you? Volunteers who coordinate a donation or supply drive on our behalf work with our Director of Advancement to determine what type of drive it will be, when and where it will be held, and how best to advertise it. This is an especially good opportunity for introducing philanthropy and “giving back” to school-age youth!
Can I interact directly with your kids in residential treatment?
Given the unique behavioral health needs of our young clients, opportunities to interact directly with them are limited to group activities that are planned in advance in partnership with our Recreational Therapist.
What constitutes a group? We’ve had church groups, civic groups, groups from local businesses, and even a group of neighbors take part in activities with our clients. They’ve done craft projects like building birdhouses, sponsored a pizza dinner followed by a kickball tournament, and our friends at Citi annually hold a track-and-field style Olympic Day each fall!
Volunteer groups must be flexible with regard to the date and time of an activity, since we work special, volunteer-driven activities into our clients’ existing treatment schedules.
Do you offer internships or work study opportunities?
We do! For more information about interning at CHNK or taking part in a work study, please contact our Human Resources team at [email protected] or by calling us at 859.261.8768. Please note, we require a minimum two-week notice for potential internship or work study placements.
Do you have an age requirement for volunteers?
Any volunteer interacting directly with our young clients must be 21 years of age or older. If you are volunteering with a group, you are not permitted to bring your own children to a client-focused activity.
If you are taking part in a community-focused activity, such as holding a donation drive on our behalf or canvassing neighborhoods with CHNK door hangers, the age requirement does not apply.
I have court-mandated service hours to complete. Can you help?
At this time, we do not have opportunities for individuals needing to complete court-mandated service hours.
Ready to get started? Email [email protected] with your name, contact information, and details on which of our volunteer opportunities is of greatest interest to you.