Students

Volunteer Age Requirements

To ensure compliance with federal healthcare privacy regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), all volunteers at LifeSpring Community Health must be at least 18 years of age. As a healthcare organization, we handle protected health information that requires strict confidentiality safeguards. Our volunteers may be exposed to sensitive patient data during their service, and HIPAA mandates that we maintain appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect this information. By establishing this age requirement, we ensure that all volunteers have reached legal adulthood and possess the maturity necessary to understand and comply with our privacy policies and federal regulations. We appreciate your understanding of this policy and encourage younger individuals interested in healthcare to reach out to us upon their 18th birthday.

High School Seniors

LifeSpring welcomes 18-year-old high school seniors seeking to fulfill their community service requirements through meaningful, hands-on experience in a pediatric healthcare setting. Volunteering at LifeSpring offers students a unique opportunity to serve diverse families in the Chattanooga community while gaining valuable exposure to community health and patient care.

Please note: Due to staffing limitations, LifeSpring is able to host only one student volunteer at a time. Placement is granted on a first-come, first-served basis, and we strongly encourage seniors to reach out early in the school year to secure their spot before placements are filled.

To inquire about volunteer placement, seniors are encouraged to submit an email to jill.fikkert@lifespringcommunityhealth.org that includes the following:

  • Field of study or academic interest — particularly any interest in healthcare, public health, or social services

  • A teacher recommendation — including your teacher's name, subject, and contact information, along with a brief written statement from the teacher recommending the student for community service

  • Your community service time requirements — including the total number of hours required, your days of availability, and the hours you are able to serve each day

We look forward to connecting with motivated young people who share our commitment to healthy families and thriving communities.

College Students

Are you a college student looking to fulfill a field education requirement? LifeSpring Community Health is committed to supporting student learning experiences when our resources allow.

To inquire about field education placement with LifeSpring to meet your class requirements, please email jill.fikkert@lifespringcommunityhealth.org with the following information:

●     Your program of study

●     Course requirements and objectives

●     Preferred dates and time commitment

●     Areas of interest (if applicable)

Important Information: Availability: While we value student education and want to accommodate as many requests as possible, LifeSpring has finite resources. Each request will be reviewed individually to determine availability and ensure we can provide a meaningful experience while maintaining quality care for our patients.

Requirements: Students approved for class-based volunteering do not need to complete a full volunteer packet. However, you will be required to:

  • Sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)

  • Complete HIPAA training

  • Complete OSHA training (if placement is clinical in nature)

We look forward to hearing from you and exploring how we can support your educational goals while serving our community together!