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Child and Adolescent Life Program
part of Family Support Services
The Child Life Specialist facilitates coping and the adjustment of
children and families to the transplant unit by providing play
experiences, presenting information about events and procedures, and
establishing supportive relationships with children and parents which
encourage family involvement in each child’s medical care.
Prior to admission to the Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Unit the Child
Life Specialist meets with each patient and family. At this time the Child
Life Specialist identifies coping styles and strategies, support systems
and the patient’s interests (music, crafts, games, etc.). The Child Life
Specialist will use this information to develop a plan to: normalize the
patient’s time on the unit through expressive and developmentally
appropriate activities; to facilitate coping and relaxation; to provide
medical education and procedural support; and to provide emotional support
to the
patient’s family.
The Child Life Specialist is also available to provide support to the
siblings of the patients on the transplant unit. A special time can be
arranged with the sibling and Child Life Specialist to provide
opportunities for self expression, preparation for tests and procedures,
and emotional support. This can be a one time meeting or as often as once
a week, depending upon the interest of the caregivers and the needs of the
sibling
Name and contact information for
our Child Life Specialist
Duke
Children's Hospital Child and Adolescent Life Home Page
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