Child Life Services

Children are sensitive to stress and changes to their daily routines. The goal of Mary Bridge Children’s Child Life Services team is to minimize the stress and anxiety experienced by children and their families while receiving medical care.

Examples of this type of care include:

• Helping patients prepare for procedures or surgery through medical play
• Increasing patients’ understanding of their diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care
• Offering distractions and coping strategies for kids
• Helping siblings understand their brother’s or sister’s illness, surgery or injury
• Educating parents/caregivers on the effects of their children’s conditions related to their development

This special team is supported by community donations. Just last year, more than 8,000 patients and their families received psychosocial support and care from Child Life thanks to donors. 

“The hospital can be a scary place,” Child Life Specialist, Jesse Bartlett says. “Our job is to empower kids to make decisions for themselves, advocate for themselves, and to be proud of themselves for the things that they have to go through.”

Your generosity supports care for the whole family. Your gift to Child Life Services means helping children through tough moments in their life with the hope that they come out healthier, stronger and proud of what they’ve accomplished.