Child life specialists work in many areas of the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, including all inpatient units, some outpatient units, and the Pediatric Emergency Department.
Child life specialists—trained at a bachelor’s or master’s level and certified by the Child Life Certification Commission —help pediatric patients (ranging from newborns to young adults) and their families minimize stress and trauma during medical events in a number of different ways.
They work closely with the family and healthcare team to minimize the stress of a hospital or outpatient visit and to achieve healthcare goals. When a child is hospitalized or scheduled for a specific procedure or treatment for a medical illness, it can be a traumatic experience.