At Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Ahmanson Pediatric Center, child life specialists provide support to children and teens to help them prepare for their medical experience. Services include health education, therapeutic play, developmental activities and emotional support to minimize any psychological trauma, stress and anxiety associated with hospitalization. In turn, children and teens are better able to cope with and master their healthcare experience.

An assessment of a child's developmental level, response to separation, coping style, temperament and available family support leads to therapeutic interventions that seek to achieve the following five primary goals:

• Minimize fear and stress experienced by children, teens and their families regarding their hospital experiences
• Support the patient's emotional, social and cognitive growth in the context of his or her family, culture and developmental stage
• Enhance the patient's understanding of medical procedures and diagnoses using age-appropriate techniques
• Support patients and families to continue everyday living experiences as much as possible
• Provide age-appropriate and safe play environments

Interventions are determined on an individual basis and may include a variety of services, such as:

• Providing educational and play activities that promote self-healing, self expression, understanding and mastery
• Preparing children and families for diagnostic and treatment procedures through developmentally appropriate methods
• Orienting children and families to their healthcare experiences and personnel through preparatory play and preadmission tours
• Utilizing therapeutic play techniques as an evaluation and treatment tool
• Assisting children and adolescents during identified stress points using stress-reduction, distraction, guided imagery and relaxation techniques
• Extending support to family members, including siblings, with respect to their particular stress and needs
• Offering parent education on child development and the impact of illness and hospitalization on children
• Encouraging family-centered care by giving parents opportunities to actively continue their parenting role
• Recognizing significant and familial experiences, such as holidays and birthdays
• Providing grief, loss and bereavement support

Child Life Services provides coverage to children on the Pediatric Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and the Cedars-Sinai Outpatient Cancer Center. In these areas, patients are screened routinely by the child life specialists. Services are available Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Children who have any of the following high-risk criteria on admission, or at any time during the hospital stay, should be referred to the child life specialist for further evaluation:

• Anticipated length of stay greater than three days
• Anticipated surgical/invasive procedure
• Exhibiting behavioral changes
• History of multiple hospitalizations
• Noted developmental delay or regression
• Patient or family experiencing grief or related issues

Child Life Services manages Cedars-Sinai's Pediatric Volunteer Program, including our POOCH Program (our dog volunteers). Specially trained volunteers provide play, recreational and supportive activities to children and families on patient care units. They serve at bedsides, in playrooms and in isolation rooms. Child Life Services also manages the activities of community groups that are involved in interacting with children, teens and their families.

For more information on Child Life Services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, please contact: