Child Life

Mission Statement

The Stripes Child Life Program at Driscoll Children's Hospital is committed to providing patients and families with family centered care through assessment, intervention, advocacy, education, and play in the healthcare environment. We strive to promote emotional healing for children and families by supporting an environment that encourages optimal growth and development.

Stripes Child Life Program Staff

Driscoll Children’s Hospital currently has 8 Child Life Specialists providing services to the 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th towers, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Room, Day Surgery, Hematology/Oncology Clinic, and the Renal/Dialysis Clinic. Partial coverage is also provided to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

What is a Child Life Specialist?

Child Life Specialists are trained professionals with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in child development, education, or related field. They focus on providing psychosocial and emotional support to children and families to reduce stress and anxiety while in the healthcare setting. This is accomplished through performing developmentally appropriate procedural preparations, providing support during procedures and throughout the child’s hospital admission, promoting effective coping techniques, conducting diagnosis education, and encouraging play. In addition to the care given to patients, Child Life Specialists also provide information, education, and support for caregivers, siblings, and family members.

The Stripes Child Life Program at Driscoll Children’s Hospital recognizes the importance of our patients having strength and support of caregivers and family members while hospitalized. For that reason we work hard to collaborate with other healthcare professionals in order to foster an environment of family centered care. Supporting family centered care encourages caregivers and families to be active participants in their child’s healing process.

Preparation

Child Life Specialists utilize a variety of techniques to provide accurate and appropriate medical preparations for patients. At Driscoll Children’s Hospital, preparation tools consist of honest descriptions of upcoming medical procedures using developmentally appropriate language, photo preparation books, identifying and practicing coping techniques, and exploration of medical equipment through medical play.

Support and Coping

During procedures, Child Life Specialists are available to provide emotional support for patients, explain the sequence of events of the procedure, and encourage the use of coping techniques in order to give children a sense of control and mastery over their healthcare experience. Each child is unique and has his/her own way of coping with being hospitalized and with procedures. Child Life Specialists are able to work with patients to identify the coping techniques that work best for that child. Coping techniques used may include deep breathing, utilization of distraction items, and guided imagery.

Physical touch is an additional technique to provide comfort and support. Positioning for comfort can be utilized by allowing the caregiver or Child Life Specialist to hold, sit next to, or sit alongside the child during a medical procedure. This helps the child to feel secure, comforted and supported by a trusted adult. Additional comfort items consist of a security blanket or the child’s personal stuffed animal.

Play

Play has a vital role in promoting a child’s growth and development. In the Child Life profession play is used therapeutically, medically, and recreationally to give children a sense of mastery, control, and normalization while hospitalized. In order to normalize the healthcare setting the 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th tower inpatient units have playrooms containing developmentally appropriate toys, games, and activities. In addition to a playroom, the 4th tower also has a Teen Room for patients 12 and older containing video games, board games and crafts more suitable for our older patients. Outpatient clinics including Day Surgery and Hematology/Oncology Clinic have playrooms for patients as well.

Lean On Me Support Group

Lean On Me is a bereavement support group designed especially for bereaved children. After losing a loved one, children may feel isolated. Through attending this support group they are able to meet other children who are also coping with a loved one’s death. Children who attend Lean On Me participate in age appropriate education and expressive activities, which serve as opportunities for assisting in the development of coping strategies to help the child through the grief process. Lean on Me is offered three times a year, meeting once a week for six weeks. The dates offered vary. For more information regarding the next scheduled Lean on Me Support Group, please contact the Child Life office.

Child Life Volunteers

The Child Life department relies heavily on Child Life volunteers to help provide support and play opportunities for patients. Our volunteers are specially trained to work with patients and their families and are instrumental in helping a child’s stay at Driscoll Children's Hospital be a positive experience. In addition to supporting our patients and their families, Child Life volunteers help in maintaining clean and safe playroom environments for our patients. If you are interested in becoming a Child Life volunteers please contact the Driscoll Children's Hospital Volunteer Department at (361) 694-5011.