Volunteer Opportunities From: Special Olympics Southern California - Southern Counties

Health Promotion is a health screening and education initiative designed to provide athletes with valuable information and guidance on maintaining overall wellness. The program addresses key areas such as nutrition, sun safety, bone density, tobacco cessation, and physical fitness. In addition to offering individualized assessments, Health Promotion emphasizes the importance of adopting healthy lifestyle practices that support long-term well-being. The program also serves an educational role by equipping athletes, their families, and caregivers with practical strategies and resources to make informed health choices, thereby empowering athletes to achieve their highest level of performance both on and off the playing field.

Responsibilities:

1. Greet athletes warmly and welcome them to the venue, creating a positive and supportive first impression.

2. Prepare and distribute all necessary paperwork and forms for Clinical Volunteers.

3. Clearly explain to athletes the number of stations they are expected to complete within their discipline.

4. Encourage and motivate athletes to fully participate in and complete all assigned screenings.

5. Maintain a professional, organized, and approachable presence to support both athletes and clinical staff throughout the event.

Healthy Hearing is a hearing screening program developed to promote optimal audiological health among Opening Eyes is a vision and eye health screening dedicated to promoting optimal visual health for Special Olympics athletes. This screening provides comprehensive eye evaluations to identify vision impairments and other ocular conditions that may otherwise go undetected. In addition to the screening, Opening Eyes educates athletes, families, and caregivers on the importance of routine eye care, proper use of corrective lenses, and access to follow-up services when necessary. Athletes also receive free eyewear and prescriptions when indicated, removing barriers to vision care and ensuring they have the resources needed to maintain healthy eyesight. By addressing vision health, the screening helps athletes perform more effectively in sports, engage in learning, and participate fully in daily life with greater confidence and independence.

Responsibilities:
1. Greet athletes warmly and welcome them to the venue, creating a positive and supportive first impression.
2. Prepare and distribute all necessary paperwork and forms for Clinical Volunteers.
3. Clearly explain to athletes the number of stations they are expected to complete within their discipline.
4. Encourage and motivate athletes to fully participate in and complete all assigned screenings.
5. Maintain a professional, organized, and approachable presence to support both athletes and clinical staff throughout the event.

Special Smiles is a dental screening designed to promote oral health and hygiene among Special Olympics athletes. The screening provides comprehensive dental evaluations to identify potential oral health concerns, including tooth decay, gum disease, and other conditions that may otherwise go untreated. In addition to screenings, athletes receive individualized oral health education, including instructions on proper brushing and flossing techniques, as well as guidance on preventive care. To further support healthy habits, athletes are provided with preventive supplies such as toothpaste and toothbrushes. By improving access to dental screenings and education, Special Smiles empowers athletes to maintain better oral health, enhance their overall well-being, and achieve greater confidence both in sports and daily life.

Responsibilities:

1. Greet athletes warmly and welcome them to the venue, creating a positive and supportive first impression.

2. Prepare and distribute all necessary paperwork and forms for Clinical Volunteers.

3. Clearly explain to athletes the number of stations they are expected to complete within their discipline.

4. Encourage and motivate athletes to fully participate in and complete all assigned screenings.

5. Maintain a professional, organized, and approachable presence to support both athletes and clinical staff throughout the event.

Strong Minds is a screening designed to evaluate and support the development of adaptive coping skills in Special Olympics athletes. The screening identifies how athletes respond to stress and provides strategies to build resilience, manage emotions, and maintain focus during both competition and daily life. In addition to individualized evaluations, Strong Minds offers education on relaxation techniques, positive thinking, and other practical coping methods. By addressing mental wellness, the screening empowers athletes to enhance their overall well-being, strengthen emotional health, and perform at their best in sports and beyond.

Responsibilities:

1. Must have experience practicing or teaching yoga, with the ability to safely guide athletes through gentle stretching, breathing, and relaxation techniques appropriate to their needs.

2. Support athletes by introducing exercises that promote flexibility, balance, focus, and stress reduction, complementing the goals of the Strong Minds discipline.

3. Work under the direction of the Clinical Director to ensure all activities align with the health and safety standards of the discipline.

4. Provide encouragement and adapt techniques to accommodate athletes of varying physical abilities.

5. Assist with tear down and clean up following the completion of all screenings.

Healthy Athletes is dedicated to providing comprehensive health screenings and education to Special Olympics athletes, while also transforming the way health professionals engage with individuals with intellectual disabilities. The initiative not only addresses unmet health needs through a series of targeted screenings but also raises awareness within the medical community about the unique challenges faced by this population. By fostering inclusion, education, and advocacy, Healthy Athletes works to improve access to quality care, reduce health disparities, and empower athletes to achieve their best in both sports and daily life.

Responsibilities:
1. Support the Health Initiatives Team in the set-up of the Health Village prior to the start of screenings.
2. Assist with distributing equipment and supplies to their designated disciplines.
3. Set up tables, chairs, signage, and other event infrastructure to ensure venues are organized and ready for athletes.
4. Work collaboratively with other volunteers and staff to accomplish all assigned tasks efficiently.
5. Complete set-up responsibilities on the assigned day, recognizing this role is specific to pre-event preparation only.