CHILD LIFE
CHILD LIFE
Emotional and Psychological Support for
Pediatric Patients and Their Families
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The Child Life program plays a critical role in the mental health of pediatric patients and their families, providing emotional and psychological support in times of great vulnerability, such as hospitalization. Child Life Specialists are health care professionals trained to guide children and their caregivers through the challenges of a new diagnosis, chronic illness, or medical procedures.
Through interventions such as medical play, preparation for medical procedures, and emotion management strategies, we help reduce anxiety and fear.
Child Life is a program that is an integral part of pediatric health care services in the United States, designed to address the emotional needs of pediatric patients and their families. We help children understand their illness, treatment, and hospital stay according to their developmental stage.
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Our services are designed to:
Decrease stress caused by medical and hospital experiences.
Create an environment of support and motivation.
Encourage patient engagement with their health process.
Child Life specialists employ therapeutic techniques with patients of various ages, diagnoses,
and abilities.
Creative therapies.
Relaxation techniques.
Mindfulness strategies.
Therapeutic conversations.
Medical play and palliative care.
Our holistic approach enhances the experience for pediatric patients and their families, which is essential to their recovery and well-being. We are the only Child Life program in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
What is CHILD LIFE?
We offer creative therapeutic services at no cost to support children and their families during their hospitalization. Among them:
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Group sessions in the game rooms.
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Individual sessions in patients' rooms,
depending on their needs.
In addition to focusing on the child's emotional and psychological well-being, we also provide support to parents and caregivers, helping them manage their own fears and concerns.
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Types of Therapies We Offer
Medical Play
Creative Expression Therapies:
• Music therapy
• Art therapy
• Dance therapy
Crisis Intervention
Therapeutic Conversation for Emotion Management
Psychological Support Workshops for Caregivers
Psycho-educational workshop
Therapeutic and Recreational Activities (group and individual)
Psychological Preparation for Medical Procedures
What do we offer?
Patients:
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They reduce the fear and stress of hospitalization.
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They learn techniques for managing emotions and strengthening their self-esteem.
Caregivers:
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Caregivers are provided with resources and strategies to deal with anxiety, stress, loneliness, and difficulties related to caring for a child or family member with a health condition.
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Doctors, Nurses and Hospital:
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We collaborate to address emotional needs, facilitating a more favorable environment that promotes patients' cooperation with their treatment.
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Thus, impacting the success of the patient's improvement and their stay in the hospital.
Residents:
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During the year, we have Pediatric Residents who, during their Neurodevelopmental rotation, participate in the Child Life program.
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This experience allows them to acquire valuable tools for managing patients in a more humane way, promoting an approach focused on the emotional and psychological
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well-being of children, in addition to traditional medical care.
Who benefits from this program?
All our programs are evaluated using KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), which allows us to continuously monitor and improve our services:
3,671 interventions in total.
40% of hospitalized patients receive Child Life services.
51% of patients who received Child Life services are
adolescents ages 13-18.
Average of 3 interventions
per patient.
Data for 2023
"Child Life is a key piece for the emotional well-being of our families."
- Arelis Seijo, MD
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"We want to thank Camila, from Child Life, for all the support, especially who has been like an angel day by day, hand in hand, in the process of adaptation and operation of my daughter."
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- Yahaira Rosado, Kattaleya’s mom
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Common phrases you'll hear from our
Child Life Team:
"Play, there"
"We give children a space to be children."
"At Child Life, children have the opportunity to decide."
"We want to give good memories and bring smiles."
"There are life situations that come without warning and make us grow and learn."
"You're not alone, we're with you."
"Our patients are strong and very brave; they inspire us every day."
"Mom you can cry, we're here for you."
"Breathe, inhale slowly, and release the air more slowly."
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"It's normal to feel afraid."
Testimonies: