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Title: The Need for Child Life Specialist Author: Annie O’Donnell Class: History & Trends Position Paper Date: March 25, 2003
St. John’s Hospital in the heart of New York City is in need to cut programs because of the tight budget. The department to face the most cuts is the Child- Life Department. The hospital currently has ten child life specialists, and they want to cut it in half. . A child life specialist is an individual who generally works in healthcare, focusing on the emotional and developmental needs of children and families. Using play and other forms of communication, this professional member of the healthcare team seeks to reduce the stress associated with healthcare experiences and enables children and families to cope in a positive manner (childlife.org).” By providing developmental, educational and therapeutic play interventions Child Life Specialists seek to reduce the stress associated with hospitalization and medical procedures and to enable children and their families to cope in a positive manner. The position of a Child Life Specialist is to observe children to determine the level of developmental appropriateness of psychosocial behavior, coping and parent/child relationships and to help prepare children and reduce stress associated with medical procedures by providing therapeutic (http://www.ag.uidaho.edu/childlife/cl_role.htm).” There are roughly over 400 Child life programs in the United States and Canada. According to the Child Life Specialist, there is over 2,000 certified child life specialized. “Hospitals can terrify children. Strange people and equipment intrude on their privacy and often cause them pain. And perhaps worst of all, children fear separation from their parents. But research shows that supporting children's developmental needs and emotional state means less perceived pain and a speedier recovery, so hospitals are hiring staff and implementing programs to meet those needs. (http://www.childlife.org/document/journal.htm).” Child Life Specialist Laurie Miller explained the role the Child Life Specialist plays: “We try to increase the understanding of hospital experiences, to children, parents, siblings, recognize and support strengths within each family, provide an environment that includes emotional support, promote normal growth and development, and help with non-medical needs. “ I was born with a rare disorder called V.A.T.E.R.S. Due to this disorder and several complications; I’ve had over 40 surgeries on at least seven parts of my body. My first surgery was done the day I was born. I wasn’t breathing and I had to have a tracheotomy. I want to give back, and help them. I know what they are going through and can make it easier for them. Around the age five, I remember my first experience with a Child Life Specialist. I was going in for an operation, and she made me feel so comfortable. Not only was it nice to have someone goes down on my level and talk to me, but someone who was not a nurse, or doctor. Laurie made sure that I was at ease before I went into surgery. She always gave me headphones to listen to before, and after the surgery. She also made sure that my teddy bear came with me, and she was a true friend. Without her support, and compassion there is no way that I would have been content not only for the nurses, but for my parents! They really made a difference in my life, but in my parents’ life too. Because of this reason I decided that I wanted to volunteer at Children’s. I have always had an interest in children especially who are sick. I started the Teen Volunteer Program at Children’s Hospital when I was sixteen. For the past six years I have been volunteering in numerous areas at Children’s. Currently, I greet patients and their families in the C.A.R.E.S. (Children’s Ambulatory Recovery and Express Services) this is the place where they come before they go into surgery. About a month ago, I saw a girl around the age of two who had a tracheotomy. My heart just fell because I hate to see children sick especially because I once had a tracheotomy. She was so sweet, and innocent. I went into the playroom later on, and introduced myself to Sarah, and her mother. I got acquainted with her mother, and told her that once had a trachea, and I pointed to my scar to Sarah. I sat down for the next hour talking to her mother about my life after my trachea, and I reassured that Sarah would live a wonderful, fulfilling life. That hour brought me so much joy just by telling my story, and giving hope to both Sarah, and her mother. I feel I can relate to patients because I know what they are going through. A child needs a Child Life Specialist is just as a child needing a Doctor. I am not trying to downplay what Doctors’ do, they are brilliant people, and they do wonders to help patients get better, but Children need support for their emotional and social needs too. If St. John’s decides to cut the Child Life Department then they are depriving the children of the most important need a feeling of self, and the ok for saying its ok to cry.????? I plan on using this information in my future by realizing that everyone is sensitive, scared, nervous at some point in their life, and it is my job to help them cope. People have good days and bad days. We as teachers and health care workers need to understand everyone’s feelings, and realize that the patients and children are the most important. The Child Life Program might receive some resistance due to privacy issues, involvement with the child one-on-one, and it is costly. Many opponents of the child life program believe that there is an invasion of privacy. A lot of parents are very protective of their children especially when they are ill. A person walks into your child’s room that is not a nurse, or a doctor and walks to “play with your child.” Parents might ask – “Why does this person know all about my child, and she did not even go to medical or nursing school?” This may be their first feelings at first both for the patient, and the parent. Once they understand that we are there for the child they change their minds. I remember at first wanting to be alone with my parents, and in my room, but the more I went out into the playroom, and saw other children I began to feel like I was not in the hospital. Other opponents might suggest that it is very hard to keep up with the cost of child life because of: buying new toys, getting new movies, games, Nintendo games, etc. Those things just add up, and buying another incubator to save a child’s’ life seems more practical. References
http://www.ag.uidaho.edu/childlife/cl_role.htm Laurie Miller- Certified Child Life Specialist
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