Integrative Care Team
Integrative Care at CHKD
Being sick or hospitalized is difficult for children. In addition to the physical discomfort of illness, they may feel frightened, confused, and overwhelmed.
Our integrative care team works with patients and families to help children feel more comfortable and more in control of their hospital stay.
Integrative care team members like child life specialists along with recreation, music, and art therapists help patients and families successfully navigate the hospital experience by providing education, therapeutic and developmental play, creative therapies, and so much more. Through the use of age-appropriate interventions, they help children better understand their illnesses and medical procedures, provide distraction, and develop positive coping skills.
Our integrative care team encourages play and creative expression for patients as they learn about their world and how to cope with new experiences. Through these therapies, children can express their feelings and gain a sense of control.
Services We Provide
- Family support to help adjust to the hospital.
- Creative expression through art, music, and recreational activities.
- 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 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.
Contact an Integrative Care Team Member
For general inquiries, please call (757) 668-7327.
- Lauren Babashanian Pike
7C Medical/Surgical
Email Lauren - Rebecca Bowie
Music Therapy, Children's Pavilion
Email Rebecca - Elizabeth Bowman
Emergency Department
Email Elizabeth - Chris Byrd
Music Therapist
Email Chris - Morgan Combs
CTRS, Children's Pavilion
Email Morgan - Cameron Davis
CTRS, Children's Pavilion
Email Cameron - Breajai Davis
CTRS, Children’s Pavilion
Email Breajai - Morgan DeCastro
CTRS, Children's Pavilion
Email Morgan - Haley Edwards
PICU
Email Haley - Jaimee Foster
Art therapist
Email Jaimee - Jeremy Garry
CTRS, Children's Pavilion
Email Jeremy - Quinn Hange-Walktman
Art therapist, Children's Pavilion
Email Quinn - Krystian Hudson
8C/7D
Email Krystian - Tiffani Jordan
Inpatient Hem/Onc
Email Tiffani - Kaitlyn Lewis
PRN
Email Kaitlyn - Kristi Logg
Princess Anne Surgery Center
Email Kristi - Traci Maye
PICU
Email Traci - Maya Nizinski
Day Surgery/PACU
Email Maya - Madison Paulin
CTRS, Children's Pavilion
Email Madi - Holly Payne
Art Therapist
Email Holly - Sydney Powell
Neuroscience
Email Sydney - China Slade
Child Life Assistant
Email China - Alyssia Smoes-Land
CCLS, Children's Pavilion
Email Alyssia - Patricia Taylor
Child life assistant
Email Patricia - Emily Anne Taylor
RSIU
Email Emily Anne - Genna Winter
CTRS, Children’s Pavilion
Email Genna
Child Life Frequently Asked Questions
Volunteer services are individual volunteers that come on a weekly basis. Child life community group visits are groups affiliated with a business, club or organization.
Due to health and medical conditions, all donations must be brand new. If you wish to donate any used items, please contact a CHKD Thrift Store. All proceeds donated will still benefit the hospital.
Another way to help the children is to make pre-individually packaged arts and crafts items such as wood crafts for painting, suncatchers with suction cups, foam art items, other items to decorate such as canvas bags, pillow cases, ceramics, picture frames, etc.
As long as your donations follow all of our guidelines, you may drop them off at the front information desk in the main hospital in downtown Norfolk.