That’s My Job: Child Life
Published on Monday, December 30, 2024
By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu
Photos By: Melanie Thortis and Joe Ellis/ UMMC Communications
When children need Children’s of Mississippi hospital care, they and their families may have worries, stress and questions. Helping them along the way are the hospital’s child life specialists.
These trained professionals work with children and families to help reduce the stress and anxiety associated with hospitalization, medical treatments and other challenging life events. Their primary focus is on supporting the emotional, psychological and developmental needs of children facing medical situations.
While child life specialists may be known for Hollywood, the facility dog that’s a member of their team, and hosting parties and activities for Children’s of Mississippi patients throughout the year, working in child life has its serious side.
“We’re more than just the ‘toy ladies,’” said Cara Williams, child life manager. “Everything we do is thought out and calculated to assess a patient's understanding, figure out misconceptions and decrease fear and anxiety during the hospital course.”
Child Life specialists play a crucial role in creating a healing environment, said Kristin Hardy, director of nursing-children’s hospital services.
“Their dedication ensures that every child receives not only the best medical care but also the emotional care they need to thrive during their hospital journey."
Most specialists received their degree in human development and family studies or child development with a concentration in child life, Williams said.
“Other related fields can be considered as long as the student has completed 10 classes from the Association of Child Life Professionals. An internship must be completed before graduation, and then a certification exam must be passed, usually within the first year of employment.”
Mississippi State University is the only university in the state that offers a degree with a child life concentration.
A workday for a child life specialist can include helping patients and parents cope with a cancer diagnosis, helping a child through procedures from MRIs to surgeries and encouraging them in recovery.
“While from the outside looking in, child life seems like a fun job, there are also many days that are hard,” she said. “We carry the emotional burden of the patients, families, and often, nurses and doctors. We see and absorb all of it to try and lessen the weight from everyone else. We celebrate the victories, and the milestones reached, and we walk through the hard times with families.”
Children’s of Mississippi has 11 child life team members serving areas including the Children’s Emergency Department, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, the medical surgical units of the Batson Tower, inpatient behavioral health, imaging and perioperative services. Child life specialists also respond to Epic consults for other areas such as outpatient clinics, neonatal intensive care and the Center for Maternal and Fetal Care at Wiser Hospital for Women and Infants.
“Child life specialists make sure everyone is on the same page,” Williams said. “We educate the patients on why they are here and what is happening to their bodies, explaining all the medical terms in a developmentally appropriate manner. This can be helpful for our parents, too. We then can relay any misconceptions to the health care team.”
Toys help children cope with treatment and hospitalization, so child life team members make sure patients receive birthday surprises and holiday gifts while in the hospital. Games and play are part of the healing process.
“Meeting patients and their families and building relationships with them is my favorite part of being a child life specialist,” said Allyson Holliman. “I tell families my favorite part of the day is talking to them.”
Child life specialist Kendra Logan also has children at heart. “I love helping kids and normalizing hospital care for them and their families,” she said.
Dr. Guy Giesecke, Children’s of Mississippi CEO, said child life specialists are part of what makes Children’s of Mississippi unique.
“As the state’s only children’s hospital, we focus on creating a compassionate and engaging environment where children feel safe, supported and understood,” he said. “Our care is not only about treating the illness, but about helping kids and their families cope with the challenges of health care in a way that nurtures and promotes healing.”
As Children’s of Mississippi grows, so will the role of child life specialists, Williams said. “We have the most supportive administration, and they truly believe in the services we provide for our patients and their families. We are excited to see what the future holds for our team.”