Pre-surgery Tours Temporarily Suspended

As a part of our ongoing efforts to protect our patients, families, and staff members from the risk of COVID-19, the Child Life team has suspended all pre-surgery tours. Please watch the video above for lots of great information about what to expect on your surgery day.

What is a Child Life Specialist?

Being sick or hospitalized is difficult for children. In addition to the physical discomfort of illness, they may feel frightened, confused and overwhelmed. In essence, kids need more than medicine to get well. At CHKD, we understand that.

Our child life specialists work with patients and families to help children feel more comfortable and more in control of their hospital stay.

Child life specialists help reduce the patients' and families' anxiety and adjust to the hospital experience. Through the use of age-appropriate interventions, they help children understand their illnesses and medical procedures and develop positive coping skills.

Child life assistants encourage play for patients as they learn about their world and how to cope with new experiences. Through play, children can express their feelings and gain a sense of control.

Services We Provide

  • Family support to help adjust to the hospital
  • Medical play to become more familiar with the medical equipment and procedures, and encourage expression of feelings
  • Sibling visits to help brothers and sisters understand why their sibling is in the hospital
  • Coordination of special celebrations such as birthdays and holidays
  • Activities to help bridge the gap between home and the hospital
  • Psychological preparation and pre-operation tours to help patients and siblings understand and cope with healthcare experiences
  • Emotional support and coping techniques, such as guided imagery, deep breathing and diversion
  • Activity room and bedside programming to promote normalization to the hospital experience, peer interaction and independence

Child Life Team Members


Morgan Eller
CTRS, Children's Pavilion
Email Morgan
(757) 668-2836                                                                                                                     
Lauren Babashanian Pike
7C
Email Lauren
Phone: (757) 668-6912


Traci Maye
PICU
Email Traci
Phone: (757) 668-6970
Kristi Logg 
8C/7D
Email Kristi
Phone: (757) 668-6921
Haley Edwards 
PICU
Email Haley
Phone: (757) 668-7994
Emily Anne Taylor
RSIU
Email Emily
Phone: (757) 668-6817
                      

Shannon Hood, Manager
Rehab | Neuroscience
Email Shannon
Phone: (757) 668-9528
Madison Paulin
CTRS, Children's Pavilion
Email Madison
(757) 668-2837                          
Andi Baldree
Office Coordinator
Email Andi
Phone: (757) 668-7327
Kristina Finch
Cancer and Blood Disorders Center
Email Kristina
Phone: (757) 668-6810
Alyssia Smoes-Land
CCLS, Children's Pavilion
Email Alyssia
(757) 668-2128                                                                                                                                   
Krystian Hudson 
5B
Email Krystian
Phone: (757) 668-9032
Patricia R Taylor
Child life assistant
Email Patricia
Phone: (757) 668-8129
Nolen Hammer
Child life assistant
Email Nolen
Phone: (757) 668-8129
Holly Payne
Art Therapist 
Email Holly
Phone: (757) 668-7178

Chris Byrd
Music Therapist

Email Chris 


 
Olivia Vincent
Emergency Department                  
Email Olivia
(757) 668-6892
China Slade
Child Life Assistant
Email China  
(757) 668-8129
Nicole Valentine
CTRS, Children’s Pavilion                  
Email Nicole
(757) 668-2835
Genna Winter
CTRS, Children’s Pavilion
Email Genna  
(757) 668-6847