Pine Rest is excited to launch an all-new volunteer program, offering community members the opportunity to serve as Family Welcome Ambassadors at its Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health.
Family Welcome Ambassadors will help create a warm, reassuring first impression for children, teens, and families arriving for care at the Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health. Volunteers will serve at the Center’s main entrance, greeting families, providing directions and wayfinding assistance, answering questions within their role, and helping visitors feel welcomed and supported.
“Families often arrive at our Pediatric Center during some of the most difficult and uncertain moments of their lives,” said Andrew Dow, Pine Rest Vice President of People. “Being there to warmly greet them, help them find where they need to go, and simply let them know they are welcome can make a meaningful difference in alleviating the stress of seeking care.”
Pine Rest’s Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health opened in March 2026 and provides specialized behavioral health services for children and adolescents, including 66 inpatient beds, adolescent partial hospitalization programs, outpatient therapy and assessments, and Michigan’s first Pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care Center.
Family Welcome Ambassadors are asked to commit to one four-hour shift each week for one year. Volunteer shifts are available seven days a week, with opportunities from 8 a.m. to noon, noon to 4 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m.
“Volunteers play an important role in helping us create a welcoming experience for the children and families we serve,” said Kristi Kiel, Volunteer Coordinator. “Whether someone is arriving for an appointment, coming to the Pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care Center or beginning an inpatient stay, a friendly face and a helping hand can make a difficult experience a little easier.”
To learn more about volunteering at the Pediatric Center or to apply to become a Family Welcome Ambassador, visit Pine Rest’s Pediatric Center Volunteer Opportunities page.
Family Welcome Ambassadors must be at least 18 years old. No health care experience is required, and Pine Rest provides orientation and position-specific training. Applicants complete an interview, background check, health screening and required immunization verification.
