PROGRAMS
Innovative Child Life
Program Supports
the Children of
Seriously Ill Adults
When important people in a child’s life face life-
threatening illness or trauma, many families either
don’t know how or are not comfortable talking
about the situation with children. How kids process
distressing events like these can have a major
impact on their lives.
Pioneering for the Whole Family
BSWH is one of the very few adult
health systems in the nation that has a
program exclusively serving the emo-
tional needs of children whose parents or
other adult loved ones are facing a serious
health crisis. By addressing 360 degrees of
a patient’s needs, the service helps ensure
that the needs of even the littlest family
members are not overlooked. There is a
positive impact on the entire family.
In fiscal year 2018, the child life
services team supported families and
children through more than 3,100 visits
across the System. Child life services
are provided at no cost to patients and
families. Since the services are not billable
and are not covered by insurance, they
must be fully funded by philanthropy.
Thanks to support from generous
donors, several million dollars has been
o help patients and their families understand the family’s needs, Cinda will raised for this important program. Through
at Baylor Scott & White Health meet with the child in an activity room in the philanthropic grants from foundations,
during these times, doctors and Supportive and Palliative Care Outpatient corporations and generous individual
nurses often call on experts like Cinda Clinic. “We help them prepare for things donors—this program is changing the
McDonald. Cinda is one of the palliative like a parent’s surgery or what it means if a lives of patients and caregivers—and their
care child life specialists within BSWH parent is diagnosed with a serious illness,” children—now and in the future.
dedicated to serving children of our adult she said. “We help them process those early patients. Across many of our hospitals, feelings of fear or anxiety, and then work to For more information about the child life
from the emergency department to the develop coping strategies.” specialist program, contact Lynn Bohne at
ICU, they are trained to help with the
These sessions may take several
psychosocial issues kids face when their hours and usually include playing games
parent or loved one is injured or suffering or talking about home, school, friends
from a life-limiting illness. and pets. “We don’t want to leave them
“We usually start the day by reviewing
with that heaviness hanging over their
the charts of families we’ve been involved head, so we generally end our visits with
with and see if their conditions have normalized play like puzzles and games.”
changed,” Cinda said. “If a patient’s con- Oftentimes, child life specialists will help
dition greatly declined overnight or if they connect the family with ongoing support
passed away, we want to reach out to the in the community.
family quickly since they may need our help
telling their children what has happened.”
Child life specialists at BSWH are
214.820.4070 or [email protected].
Save
the Date
Events Supporting BSWH
THE 12TH ANNUAL
NICK GONZALES CHARITY
Supporting Josh and Steve
When Josh’s dad, Steve, was hospi-
GOLF TOURNAMENT &
MAY
10
FUNDRAISING DINNER
members of the Supportive and Palliative talized and on life support due to Benefitting brain tumor research
Care team and receive requests to assist complications from the flu, the child life at Baylor Charles A. Sammons
with seriously ill or injured patients across specialist talked with the 5-year-old about Cancer Center
the hospital. his Daddy’s “big sick” and helped Josh thenickgonzalesfoundation.org
“We always meet with the involved decorate a picture frame for the hospital
adults first,” Cinda said. “We don’t want room. “The machines will be kinda scary,
to assume that we know what the family but I will be brave,” Josh said before his visit.
wants communicated to their child.”
After talking with the adults to
When Steve’s illness required him to
Foundation Events
GRAND ROUNDS
have his lower legs and fingers amputated, GOLF TOURNAMENT
the child life specialist again helped Josh Benefitting medical
be prepared. They used a shadow buddy education at Baylor
doll that had the same amputations and University Medical Center
OCT
21
talked about the prosthetic legs his Daddy
would get. In the room, Josh timidly asked CELEBRATING WOMEN
to see his Daddy's legs but then joyfully LUNCHEON
shouted, “Your new legs will make you just Helping Baylor Scott &
like Iron Man!” White fight breast cancer
OCT
2019
in North Texas
Child life specialists at BSWH are members
of the Supportive and Palliative Care team
7
THE COMPASS / BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE FOUNDATION NEWS / SPRING 2019