What is a child life specialist?

Child life specialists are experts in child development. They specialize in working with children from birth to 18 years and their families during stressful medical situations, and they are usually found working in pediatric hospitals where they help sick children adjust to illness.

Baylor Scott & White Health is one of the first health systems to add child life specialists to the health care team in the adult setting. Our child life specialists provide emotional and behavioral support to children who are loved by seriously ill or injured adult patients.

How does the child life team support families?

• Help adults explain serious illness to children in a developmentally-appropriate manner
• Help children understand, process and manage their thoughts and feelings about their loved one’s medical condition
• Help adults understand, plan for and respond to children’s unique reactions to grief and loss
• Help children learn about a new or ongoing diagnosis, what to expect during hospital visits, and changes in their loved one’s abilities and appearance
• Assist with memory-making activities for expected or unexpected death
• Support children and adults with end-of-life issues, expected or unexpected death, or a traumatic event

You can help support the work of our child life specialists with a gift to the Child Life Program today. Simply use the secure online form below.