Help us help others!

Hearing impaired CHSL client, Joyce Arrington, volunteers to help teach our Speech Reading Classes for adults

Become a Volunteer!

Download our Volunteer Application:

Click and send in to volunteer! Help us help others!
(PDF format; Requires Adobe Acrobat)

Our loyal, energetic volunteers help us maintain the highest possible professional standards. We have a variety of volunteer opportunities, including reading to children, assisting children at screenings, assembling kits and materials, and helping behind the scenes at our office.

We require finger printing and background checks for all direct contact volunteers.

RISE (Read, Imagine, Share, Explore)

RISE is an early literacy program designed by early childhood educators, speech/language pathologists and an educational audiologist and is provided on a weekly basis through the extensive use of volunteers. As research increasingly demonstrates the need for children to be "ready" for kindergarten and to have basic learning foundations in place by that time, the need for the RISE early/pre-literacy services has grown exponentially. Research tells us that without the right stimulation and caring attention in early childhood, children fall behind and may never catch up. The Colorado School Readiness Indicators Project states that "school readiness includes much more than developing fundamental cognitive and language skills."

By virtue of working with children and their families/caregivers, RISE is in a position to influence the development of broader, life-based skills. Many of the program's activities and suggestions for parents to incorporate into the home include using all environments to provide stimulation and rich learning opportunities - for example, colors can be taught, expanded and reviewed walking down the street, riding in a car or bus, or shopping. Available weekdays and weekday evenings.

The RISE program was designed and continues to be refined utilizing state-of-the art research and practices, to address these very needs for children who are living in poverty or at-risk situations. The goals of the RISE program are to increase the ability of every child to do well in school and later in life, to provide exposure to rich literature with emphasis on vocabulary, fine and gross motor activities, art, music, and cognitive activities all based on specific age-appropriate pieces of literature.

KidScreen

KidScreen is a free screening program that promotes early identification of possible communication disorders in children.

Its purpose is to:

• identify toddler, preschool and elementary children who may be at risk for communication disorders
• provide follow up diagnostic evaluation when possible
• refer the child for medical treatment, if indicated
• track referrals through follow up phone calls

Volunteers assist professional staff with hearing, speech and vision testing at schools and day care centers throughout the metro Denver area. On site training is provided. Volunteers should work well with young children, have patience, compassion and a sense of humor. Available daytime hours only - usually mornings.

Other Opportunities

The Center welcomes group volunteers for one time projects such as painting, assembling RISE materials and other Center needs. For additional information about RISE, Kidscreen or one-time projects and events, please email our Volunteer Coordinator, or call 303-322-1871, Ext. 210.