As part of it's vision, Eastern State Hospital in partnership with consumers, family members, service providers and policy makers, will strive to provide quality care and treatment which is responsive to individual needs and preferences.

It is the mission of Eastern State Hospital to assist patients and their families to efficiently utilize resources that facilitate living within a community at the highest level of personal independence.

Description:
Eastern State Hospital provides treatment that is patient centered to help meet the psychiatric, physical and the overall needs of patients. Eastern employs the process of recovery and support during the course of each patients development of new meaning and purpose beyond the effects of mental illness.

There are many reasons to volunteer as there are volunteers. Volunteering at Eastern State Hospital will give you a true sense of self-worth while helping to make a difference in the lives of many people.At Eastern State volunteers can volunteer according to their availability and have a meaningful opportunity to participant in direct and indirect care positions.

Direct care volunteer positions include, but are not limited to, Chaplaincy Services, a Focused Friend, Adopt-A-Patient, Group Therapy or an Activities Assistant. Indirect care volunteer positions include, and are not limited to, Pharmacy Assistant, Office or Medical Records Assistant, Dream Shop sales and others.

Persons who wish to volunteer at Eastern can do so individually or as part of a group. Volunteer applications and more information regarding volunteering are available by contacting the Volunteer Office at (757) 253-5322 or by email (deborah. elliott@esh.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov).

Eastern State welcomes volunteers of all ages. Active volunteers receive such benefits as accidental insurance coverage and recognition. Eastern does not discriminate because of race, creed, disability, age, gender,national origin,political affiliation, religious belief or sexual preference and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

History:
Colonial legislators met in Williamsburg (the capitol of then Virginia Colony) in the summer of 1770 and passed a bill authorizing the construction of a hospital for mental illness. The hospital building was erected on an eight-acre site near the College of William and Mary and the first patients were admitted on October 12, 1773.

Eastern State Hospital maintains the honor of being the first facility in the United States, which was constructed solely for the care and treatment of persons with mental illness. The Hospital serves the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach. James City, Gloucester, King and Queen as well as many other counties within the Tidewater and Eastern shore regions are also served.

Contact person: Deborah Elliott, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (757) 253-4282

Address:

4601 Ironbound Road Williamsburg, VA 23188 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.esh.state.va.us

Directions:

From interstate 64 (east and westbound) take exit 234 to route 199 south. Follow route 199 south and exit at Longhill Road, route 612. Continue on route 612 to route 615, taking a right turn at the traffic light to. . . (more)