Programs
Our Hospital Buddy Program provides critical direct support that can improve healthcare outcomes for pediatric patients. Partnering with hospital staff, we pair college students with young patients to help alleviate the emotional effects of long-term hospitalization.
Our college student “Buddies” visit with children in the hospital on a weekly basis and engage them in hospital playrooms and at bedside in arts and crafts, reading, games and more!
Virtual Buddy Visits Now Available for Kids in Active Treatment!
Hospital Buddy Program Sites
Miami, FL
Philadephia, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Lansing, MI
Phoenix, AZ
Miami, FL
Miami, FL
St. Louis, MO
Boston, MA
Austin, TX
Orlando, FL
St. Louis, MO
Miami, FL
Philadelphia, PANEW: Senior Buddy Program
To respond to the needs of our communities, brought upon by COVID-19, we launched our Senior Buddy Program! Through this program, we will partner with senior living facilities to connect residents with our trained and caring college student “Buddies.” We have also opened our program to homebound seniors or seniors at unaffiliated facilities. Due to COVID, we will be offering virtual visits, in which students will connect with seniors through regular phone/video check-ins, providing companionship and support. The students will also help reinforce COVID precautions they should be taking and report any concerns about their well-being to facility staff/caregivers.
Senior Buddy Program Sites
Miami, FL
Miami, FL
Glendale, AZ
Media, PA
St. Louis, MO
Media, PAMore locations coming soon!
NEW: Activities for Kids On-Demand!
Our students have recorded videos reading stories, doing crafts, teaching cooking, and sharing music to keep young patients having fun, while they are unable to have visitors in the hospital due to COVID. We also have downloadable activity packets to help keep kids that are in isolation entertained. Activities are developmentally appropriate and curated for all age groups!
Comfort Kits
Once paired with a student, participants will receive a StudentsCare Comfort Kit. We aim to provide high quality items that will provide comfort to hospitalized children, isolated seniors and their families. Comfort Kits are assembled with love and care and filled with age appropriate activities, toiletry items, cozy socks and hats, and various specialty gift cards. When possible, Comfort Kits are hand delivered by our caring Buddies.
Our Chapter Model
We create and sustain student chapters on college campuses to implement our programs, Each chapter elects student leaders to help coordinate volunteers, organize events, and manage chapter operations. Each chapter is supported by StudentsCare staff and all students are trained to understand the unique needs of hospitalized children and isolated seniors.
StudentsCare at University of Miami
StudentsCare at Michigan State University
StudentsCare at University of Pennsylvania
StudentsCare at Florida International University
StudentsCare at Arizona State University
StudentsCare at University of Central Florida
StudentsCare at St. Louis University
StudentsCare at The University of Texas at Austin
StudentsCare at Boston University
OUR BUDDIES VOLUNTEER, A LOT
Here’s a live look at the total number of hours our active Buddies have spent with patients and seniors.