Launch of a series of information capsules on complex care
to equip hospital-based pediatric volunteers


On June 1, the first-ever MUSCO Conference for pediatric volunteers working in the Initiative’s partner establishments took place, with the unveiling of the very first information capsule in a series dedicated to complex care. Both the series and the symposium are part of the Relay project, the general idea of which is to give parents of children with special needs peace of mind when they have to be away from their child for a while, while they are in hospital for a follow-up appointment or hospitalization.
The two axes of the project were developed in parallel to provide a wide range of knowledge to volunteers who intervene in hospital environments, and to equip them to better understand the realities of families whose child is receiving complex care.
Children with disabilities or complex needs often frighten volunteers, who don’t dare to come and see them spontaneously,
explains Chantal Jasmin, a mother who came to speak at the conference.
She adds: “I believe that having information capsules at the start of or during training helps to demystify our realities, break down certain barriers and reassure certain fears. It also prevents trainers from forgetting subjects and ensures that everyone has the same training and information.”
The capsules can help volunteers learn new things or consolidate what they’re already doing. Since all families are different, the more advice and tips volunteers receive, the easier their interaction with families will be,
points out Caroline Marie Fidalgo, Patient-Expert on MUSCO’s Advisory Pole.
Chantal and Caroline Marie both greatly appreciated the opportunity to take part in the MUSCO Conference and talk about the challenges they and their families face in hospital or in their daily lives at home. They were delighted to be able to answer volunteers’ questions in a context that was conducive to this: “I think the volunteers present appreciated being able to ask us specific questions that they wouldn’t have had the chance or dared to ask in a ‘real time’ volunteering context, without embarrassment or filter,” says Chantal.

Making information capsules available to volunteers offers several interesting advantages: volunteers can view them several times during their journey and validate or deepen certain notions they may have seen at the start of their training. “The fact of presenting the capsules to volunteers allows them to visualize the information, the subject matter, the training content (…). I think that having a variety of professionals speak directly to volunteers is an asset and a great solution for future training,” explains Rachel Tremblay-Bélanger, Head of Volunteer Services, CHU Sainte-Justine, and head of the Relais project at MUSCO.

Rachel is very proud of what the working group was able to put together to enrich the training of volunteers in MUSCO’s partner establishments: “Volunteers working in the various pediatric establishments do volunteer work on a daily basis in their establishments, and they work very hard! I think they really deserved a day out to meet counterpart volunteers working in other pediatric facilities. (The aim was) to meet new volunteers, share their practices, learn something new together and build tomorrow’s volunteering, making it more inclusive! (…) They (volunteers) are essential to society, and it’s a great asset for our establishments to work alongside them on a daily basis.”
After this first success, the working group is already preparing for the next edition of the Conference and the filming of the next information capsules, and they will certainly be calling on the many professionals from our facilities to take part and share their expertise… stay tuned!
Organizing Committee Members:
- Caroline Marie Fidalgo, Patient Expert, MUSCO
- Camille Brosseau, Inter-establishment Navigator, MUSCO
- Katharina Bourgin, Project and Communications Manager, MUSCO
- Lise Gagnon, Volunteer Coordinator, Montreal Children’s Hospital
- Louise L’Hérault, Volunteers Coordinator, Le Phare Enfants et Familles
- Maria Vaccaro, Volunteer, CHU Sainte-Justine
- Rachel Tremblay-Bélanger, Head of Volunteer Service, CHU Sainte-Justine
- Sophie-Danielle Chevalier, Volunteer, Montreal Children’s Hospital
- Trudy Wong, Social Services Manager & Volunteer Coordinator, Shriners Hospitals for Children — Canada
Logistics team:
- Lisa Gouin, Event Management Advisor, CHU Sainte-Justine
- Stéphanie Gurd, Donor Relations Advisor, Montreal Children’s Hospital
Photo credit: Thibault Carron