Child Life Specialists
It can be difficult for children to understand and cope with health care encounters. Child Life specialists at Cincinnati Children's Hosptial Medical Center can help with these visits. Our Child Life staff specialize in making the health care experience easier and less stressful for patients and families. Child Life specialists are professionally trained members of the health care team with degrees in child development or related fields. After an internship in a health care setting, they must pass a national exam for certification.
Child life specialists are key contacts for:
- Providing therapeutic and developmentally appropriate activities and spaces for patients and families during their visit
- Preparation for and explanations of health care experiences that children and young adults understand
- Supporting patients and families during difficult or painful experiences
- Advocating for patients’ and families’ developmental and psychosocial needs in the health care setting, as well as promoting patient / family involvement in guiding healthcare practice
- Addressing brothers’ and sisters’ needs regarding a sibling’s illness, condition, or disability
- Supporting and educating staff and community regarding psychosocial and developmental needs of children and families in health care
- Preparing and / or supporting patients, siblings and families experiencing loss and / or stressful events
Parents and staff can contact the Child Life specialists to prepare, support, and educate children and family members about health care appointments. The division’s Child Life specialists can be contacted at 513-636-8364 or 1-800-344-2462, ext. 68364.
For more information about Child Life, visit www.cincinnatichildrens.org/childlife or www.childlife.org.
