Dept. Head:
Renee Ethans

Description:
The Child Life Department is a psychosocial service which strives to: - promote optimum development of children and adolescents, - maintain normal living patterns, and - help alleviate the stress and anxiety that children and their families may encounter as a result of the hospital experience.

Child life specialists do this through preparing the children for medical procedures, normalizing the environment, facilitating coping methods, supporting and advocating for the child and family, and providing opportunities for age-appropriate play.

Child Life Specialists are assigned to work in the inpatient units, Cancer Clinic and Bone Marrow Transplant unit, PSCU, PICU, Day Surgery, Pre-Admit Clinic and on consult to specialty clinics. Child Life Specialists run and staff the main playroom, CHTV (closed-circuit television station), Music Therapy, and the Clown Program. The Child Life Dept. is also home to the Family Information Library and the Book Corner Library.

We consist of a manager, child life specialists, a library co-coordinator, library technicians, a music therapist, a child life assistant and an administrative assistant. Almost all staff are part-time and are complemented by students and volunteers.

Child Life Specialists provide/facilitate:
- Normalization of the environment; toys and equipment
- Opportunities for play: mastery and control, choices, peer interaction, creative expression, enhanced self-esteem
- Therapeutic play; developmental support
- Psychosocial care
- Coping with hospitalization and medical experiences
- Emotional support for child and family
- Sibling support
- Advocate for child and family
- Preparation of children for specific procedures that they will undergo
- Opportunities for medical play/exploration - Education programs for patients, families, staff and the community
- Playroom programs
- Music therapy program
- Humor/clown program
- Closed-circuit television station (CHTV)
- Library programs (Family Information Library, Book Corner Library)
- Pet Visitation program
- Teens Living with Cancer support group
- Medical student evenings
- Family-centred care
- Special guests, events, entertainment

Contact Information:
Location:
CH2 Children's Hospital CH212, CH228
CH236 -offices
CH229 -Main Playroom
CH238/40 -CHTV
CK204 - Family Information Library
CH 253 - Book Corner Library

Telephone No.:
Offices: 787-2260, 787-2650, 787-1736
Admin. Asst: 787-3736
CHTV: 787-2728
Playroom: 787-2651
Library: 787-1012

Fax No.: 787-2265

E-mail Address: rethans or sharms

Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday from 0815-1630; some specialists are part-time and have limited hours.

CHTV: 0900-1500; live show 1300-1400

Playroom: 0930-1200 - Infants and toddlers; 1330-1600 - School age and adolescents

Family Information Library: Mon-Fri 10 am - noon, 1 pm - 4 pm, open til 6:00 pm Thursdays, Sats 1 - 4 p.m.

Book Corner Library: Mon-Fri 9:30 am - 4:30 p.m.