Certified child life specialists are trained professionals with expertise in child development. They help hospitalized infants, children, youth, and families cope with the stress and uncertainty of an acute or chronic illness, injury, trauma, disability, loss, and bereavement.
At NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital, the Child Life Specialists and Creative Arts team employ a mix of education, play, therapeutic, and self-expression activities to help children endure their hospitalization and illness. They provide information and support to families, and advocate for family-centered care and the needs of their patients.
The Komansky Child Life and Creative Arts team work closely with our pediatric providers to ensure their patient's emotional, mental, and physical needs are met. They are an integral part of our pediatric healthcare team.
In recognition of Child Life Month, here are 10 things you should know about the Child Life & Creative Arts Team at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital:
1. The Komansky Child Life and Creative Arts team is currently made up of one Art Therapist, two Music Therapists, one Child Life Assistant, and 13 Child Life Specialists.
2. During 2021, the Komansky Child Life and Creative Arts team provided therapeutic support to over 10,000 pediatric patients and families, and responded to well-over 120 referrals providing support to the children and families of critically ill adult patients.
3. Child life specialists support optimal development and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults while promoting coping skills and minimizing the adverse effects of hospitalization, health care encounters, and/or other potentially stressful experiences.
4. Creative arts therapists utilize music or art to therapeutically address the physical, psychological, cognitive and/or social functioning needs for patients of all ages.
5. Child life specialists support the needs of patients and families outside the medical setting by creating connections from hospital to home/community. Examples include, school re-entry programming, virtual visits, and phone consults.
6. The Komansky Child Life and Creative Arts team coordinate and supervise fun hospital programming with partners from the Komansky Family Advisory Council, Hole in the Wall Gang, Project Sunshine, Humble Heroes, and more…
7. In 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a detailed policy statement regarding Child Life Services. This statement emphasized the many ways in which child life support benefits direct patient care, and underscored child life’s value from a systems perspective – stating, “The provision of child life services is a quality benchmark of an integrated patient- and family-centered health care system, a recommended component of medical education, and an indicator of excellence in pediatric care.”
8. Child Life Specialists and Creative Arts Therapists provide support during end-of-life care and bereavements. This includes social and emotional support as well as opportunities for
“memory making.” Memory-making provides families with a therapeutic experience during the process of making items, and a cherished keepsake to bring home in memory of their loved one. Some examples of memory-making items include hand or foot prints, heartbeat recordings, pendant charms, and hand molds.
9. The Komansky Child Life and Creative Arts team is engaged in the fight for health justice. In 2021, the team formalized a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee to ensure greater access and understanding of health equity, and more inclusive resources and support measures.
10. The Komansky Child Life and Creative Arts team is always available to support families in need at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Families and providers can contact them by emailing KomanskyChildLife@nyp.org or calling 212-746-3518.
Click here to visit the Komanksy Child Life Services and Education website.