Child & Family Integrative Care
Covenant Children’s understands that healing requires a commitment
to a child’s emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. We are
proud of the integrative care we offer patients.
The mission the of Department of Integrative Care is to provide developmental,
educational, and expressive opportunities through play and the creative
arts to help our children and families better cope with illness, hospitalization,
and recovery.
Within Integrative Care are Arts in Medicine and Child Life.
Child life specialists are trained professionals who help children cope
with the stress and uncertainty of illness, injury, disability, and hospitalization.
Child Life Services
Our Child Life specialists strive to reduce the negative impact of stressful
or traumatic life events and situations that affect the development, health
and well- being of infants, children, youth and families. We embrace the
healing power of play and work to enhance the growth and development of
infants, children and youth. We do this through assessment, intervention,
prevention, advocacy and education.
Child Life services include:
- Preparation for medical procedures, tests or surgeries
- Developmentally appropriate education about diagnosis, treatments and medical
environment
- Assistance with developing coping strategies, distraction and/or support
during stressful events
- Opportunities to explore real medical equipment through (medical play)
- Developmentally appropriate activities and toys for patients
- Support and education geared toward siblings of hospitalized patients
- End-of-life support to patient and family as well as bereavement support
for family members
- Celebrations of birthdays, medical milestones, and holidays
Members of our Child Life staff hold degrees and training in the growth
and development of children as well as professional certifications.
Music Therapy
Music has a strong impact on our mental, physical, neurological, and emotional
state. Music therapists receive specialized university training, including
a six- month clinical internship and certification exam, in order to best
use music to help children meet their treatment goals.
Storyteller’s Studio. Part of the music therapy program, Storyteller’s
Studio is a safe and supportive space to be creative, express feelings,
or just have fun. The music and songwriting recording studio has musical
instruments to play and explore including guitars, ukuleles, keyboard,
and an electric drum kit. A music therapist assists patients to improvise
music, write original songs or record their own CD to take home.
Artist Volunteer Program. Artist Volunteers are trained and supervised
by the program administrator and have backgrounds in visual arts, music,
creative writing, and theater and provide creative arts experiences to
children and families at the bedside or in activity rooms such as Teen
Town and the Family Resource Center. Arts experiences are designed to
promote a sense of well-being and improve the hospital experience. Creative
arts experiences include:
- Journaling
- Poetry writing
- Craft-making
- Collage-making
- Painting
- Writing short stories
- Relaxing to live music played at the bedside