At Denver Health the Child Life program is comprised of professionals who are committed to the practice of family-centered care by promoting play, education, developmental and psychosocial support. We are an integral part of the health care team that specializes in your child’s emotional well-being, minimizing stress, and maximizing coping for children and their families throughout their hospital experience.
Each specialist is equipped with a strong background in child and adolescent development. These specialists use play and other educational techniques to assist children and their families during medical visits and procedures by helping ease children’s fear and encouraging cooperation and coping.
All of our certified child life specialists have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in one or more of the following areas: child life, child and adolescent development, psychology, human growth, and development, or special education. They are required to have completed an internship supervised by a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) and become certified through the Association of Child Life Professionals. Each child life specialist is required to keep their certification through continuing education. To ensure and maintain their knowledge is current and up to date practices in their day-to-day practice.
What do We do?
The Child Life program values providing evidence-based interventions that cultivate an environment where children and families can discover, develop, and master positive coping for the best possible outcomes through a comprehensive individualized care plan including.
- Psychological Preparation
- Advocacy
- Therapeutic and Medical Play
- Diagnosis Education
- Grief and Bereavement
- Pain and Distress Management
- Procedural Support
- Family-centered Care
- Coping Skills Education
- Developmental Interventions
- A Psychosocial Risk Assessment for Pediatrics (PRAP)
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