Every day, hundreds of children and families enter the doors at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, many times overwhelmed with feelings of stress, anxiety, and fear.
While medical teams work to return patients to good health with innovative treatments and equipment, child life specialists work as a part of the team with their own tools – teaching kits, dolls, and toys – to focus on the psychosocial and developmental needs of children during their hospital visit.
“We use specific teaching kits for a variety of situations,” said Kim Stephens, child life supervisor at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. “For example, we have special dolls with cuffed trachs for breathing assistance, port access, IVs, and more. We use the kits to let the children see the actual equipment and they can practice coping strategies on the dolls.”
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio is home to the largest Child Life program in San Antonio. Child Life specialists are trained professionals who work in partnership with doctors, nurses, social workers, and others, to help meet the unique emotional, developmental, and cultural needs of each child and their family members.
“Our goal is to make sure that our patients and families receive the best care in a comfortable, healing, and calm environment,” said Laura Schleif, child life coordinator. “If we can make one patient smile in spite of challenging circumstances, we’ve done our job.”
Your generous support allows the Child Life department at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio to bring joy and comfort to our patients. Please consider making a gift today.
CHRISTUS Children's Foundation 
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