Child Life Program at Center for Children
What Kinds of Services are Available from a Child Life Specialist?
Ongoing Creative Arts Programming
- NYUHJD’s Animal Assisted Therapy Program – “Hand ‘n Paw”
- Art for the Ages
- The Clubfoot Educational Group
- Reach Out and Read
- The Art of Elysium
- Kids Wish Network: Hero of the Month
Child Life Program at Center for Children:
Contact:
Frances Renton, MS CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
Phone: (212)-598-6461
Hours: Mon. – Fri. 9:30am – 5:30pm
Angela Barimah, MS, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
Phone: (212)-598-6444
Hours: Tues. – Sat. 9am - 5pm
A Child Life Specialist is a trained professional in the hospital setting who specializes in working with pediatric patients and their families to ease the stress and trauma of a hospitalization or medical appointment. Child Life programs in turn, focus on working with children and their families who are living with the realities of chronic or terminal illness, surgery, trauma, injuries and disabilities in a variety of health care settings. Programs, advocate for children and their families, prepare children for medical procedures, teach children about their illness, minimize stress and anxiety for children and their families, create opportunities that strengthen self-esteem and independence, provide non-pharmacological techniques to comfort children, and provide normal life experiences that promote optimal growth and development.
As part of the Department of Patient Centered Care, the Child Life program strives to provide care that considers patients’ cultural traditions, personal preferences / values, family situations, and lifestyles. Additionally, our goal is ensure all important aspects of care and monitoring are placed in the hands of the patient—along with the tools and support they need to become active participants. Ultimately, it is our hope that our Child Life programs not only normalize the medical environment, but also, empower and support children and families throughout their hospital experience.
PCC info rephrased from: https://www.delnor.com/workfiles/libraryOfTerms.html#P
What Kinds of Services are Available from a Child Life Specialist?
Please note that all Child Life services are complimentary for patients and their families- Provide psychosocial and emotional support to children and their families
- Advocate for the rights of a child and family
- Provide developmentally appropriate stimulation.
- Provide a child centered environment for therapeutic play activities
- Provide education in developmentally appropriate language to patients regarding medical conditions, procedures, and the physical environment
- Accompany children to and during frightening and painful procedures. These include physician visits, anesthesia induction in the operating room, radiology ( x-ray, CT-scan, MRI, PET, etc)
- Non- Pharmacological Pain Management
- Guided Imagery
- Family Meetings
In order to insure that you are able to have adequate time with the Child Life Specialist we ask that you give a minimum of 24 hours notice. The tour covers the following areas and will be modified on a case-by-case basis:
- Pediatric waiting areas on the surgical floor
- Recovery room
- Parent waiting room
- Special care unit (NSCU)
- Pediatric inpatient unit and playroom / activity center. The Playroom is located on the inpatient unit and is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
For procedures at NYU Tisch, please contact:
- Peace of Mind Program (Ambulatory / Day-Surgery): (212) – 263 - 6100
- Child Life (Inpatient-Surgical): (212) – 263 - 5585
To schedule a tour: please contact the appropriate Child Life Specialist with the contact information listed above OR mention your interest to clerical or medical staff upon scheduling your pre-assessment appointment.
Ongoing Creative Arts Programming
NYUHJD’s Animal Assisted Therapy Program - Hand ‘n Paw
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is more than just having a meet and greet with an animal. AAT is an interaction between an animal and a patient that is goal-directed by a human health professional such as a Social Worker, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech/Language Specialist, or Child Life Specialist. During an AAT session at Hand ‘n Paw, the animal becomes a tool or aid for the therapist to use in order to achieve a goal. The goals are developed to meet the individual needs of each patient.
What are the benefits?
In the use of an animal during a therapy session, goals can be achieved which may help to improve the following:
- Socialization skills
- Communication skills
- Mobility/balance
- Fine motor skills
- Gross motor skills
- Self-esteem
- Spirit/mood
Where can you find our teams?
Hand ‘n Paw has recruited several teams (handler/dog) for both Pediatric and Adult Services. Our therapy dogs work with physical and occupational therapists in outpatient pediatrics, and spend time at The Center for Children, Inpatient Pediatrics, Adult Acute Inpatient Services, and Adult Outpatient Clinics.
Registered Therapy Dogs?
Our AAT teams are registered with the Good Dog Foundation or the Delta Society: Pet Partners Program . Each therapy dog must successfully complete a health evaluation by veterinarian, a temperament screening process and a series of volunteer training sessions. All our registered therapy dogs must demonstrate…
- Good manners in public places
- Be controllable on the leash
- Be reliable
- Be predictable
Art for the Ages uses group art work to join patients together at their own artistic level, providing a safe environment for patients with similar diagnoses to express their feelings about their hospitalization in a creative manner. The artwork will serve as a universal vehicle instilling hope and support for recovery.
Goals?
Art for the ages seeks to unite social groups, crossing the barriers of age, race, gender and culture. In addition to developing art projects for patients in the hospital to create, groups within the community are invited to participate by creating art work to donate to patients in the hospital.
Contact:
Frances Renton, MS CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
Phone: (212)-598-6461
Jeannine Abruzzo
Licensed Master Social Worker
Community Outreach Coordinator
Phone: (212) – 598-6016
The Clubfoot Educational Group
The Clubfoot Educational Group is an opportunity for open discussion, questions and answers, guest speakers and a chance to meet other families going through similar experiences. The group is free and families are encouraged to come early with or without an appointment so they won’t miss the group experience. Refreshments will be provided.
When?
TBA
Where?
NYU HJD third floor pediatric waiting room
Center for Children
301 East 17th Street, on the corner of 17th Street and 2nd Avenue
Why?
To meet other families, learn more about clubfoot, share Experiences, and get useful tips for cast care, clothing, etc.
Contact:
Frances Renton, MS CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
Phone: (212)-598-6461
Debra Ginat
Licensed Master Social Worker
Phone: (212) – 598-6601
Reach Out and Read (ROR) is a literacy program aimed and promoting both a love for reading within the child and household at large. Through the ROR program, medical staff (including doctors, nurses, child life specialists, social workers, & administration) incorporates literacy counseling and developmental aspects into health visits and conversations with parents. Parents can feel supported by their pediatrician (or medical staff member) who, through this program, will work together with the parent to enhance the academic and cognitive success of the child through this early literacy initiative. This program can model for parents more enjoyable ways to read out loud to their children, thereby helping their child get the most information and delight from each story.
Contact:
Angela Barimah, MS, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
Reach Out and Read Coordinator
Phone: (212)-598-6444
The Art of Elysium, a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization founded in 1997, encourages working actors, artists and musicians to voluntarily dedicate their time and talent to children who are battling serious medical conditions. They provide artistic workshops in the following disciplines: acting, art, comedy, fashion, music, radio, songwriting and creative writing.
Currently, the Art of Elysium and the Hospital for Joint Diseases are collaborating jointly to offer “music circle,” a bi-weekly gathering of musicians and our pediatric population. The focus of this group is to not only provide a calming, therapeutic atmosphere, but to also expose the children to various musical instruments/genres and encourage creativity.
Contact:
Angela Barimah, MS, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
Phone: (212)-598-6444
Rachel Glickman, MS, CCLS
Program Coordinator – NY
The Art of Eleysium
917.767.1077 Mobile
www.theartofelysium.org
rglickman@theartofelysium.org
Kids Wish Network: Hero of the Month
Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized charitable organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. Kids Wish Network assists children and their families through several key programs, one of which is the Hero of the Month program (HOTM). In short, the HOTM program seeks to recognize children (ages 3-18) who, while not having medically life threatening illnesses, continue to endure painfully difficult medical circumstances.
At the Hospital for Joint Diseases, all staff are encouraged to nominate any child they believe embodies the spirit of a brave hero. Once the child has been identified, the HOTM coordinator will present the parent or guardian with the appropriate paper work and begin the process. Once completed, the information will be faxed over to the Kids Wish Network for processing. At the end of the month, a prize package will arrive here at the hospital and that child will be recognized as the “Hero of the Month.” If possible, we encourage children to come with their families to the hospital to receive their reward so that pictures and other prizes can be given.
Below are some of our past winners:
http://www.kidswishnetwork.org/
Contact:
Angela Barimah, MS, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
Phone: (212)-598-6444