Making Children Feel Secure

As we continue to recognize our caregivers at UMMC who make a difference in the lives of others, learn more about the incredible work of our child life specialists.

For a child, a stay at the hospital can feel lonely and scary. The Child Life Department of the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital (UMCH) works hard to address their feelings in imaginative and creative ways so they feel safe and secure. The team of eight Child Life specialists and two Child Life assistants collaboratively support the emotional and social journey of infants through young adults and their families.

“We focus on the psychosocial care for children and their families while they are in the hospital,” said Shannon Joslin, M.S., CCLS, Child Life manager. “Everything we do is filtered through the goal of maximizing their ability to cope and minimizing their stress. It’s about how to help kids better understand what’s going on in the hospital and with their own bodies so they are prepared and feel more in control.”

Shannon’s goal is to provide young patients with sustainable, equitable care. “What we do directly impacts the patient-family experience. Sometimes you have to get really creative and pivot because there's a wide variety in ages. We utilize a lot of play because it also helps normalize the hospital environment.”

Monthly, 500 to 600 children are assessed for child life support. “Our goal is to have a touch point with every child in our unit,” Shannon said. The degree of support varies drastically, she added. “We assess family support, how they're coping, what their diagnosis is—whether it’s life-threatening or life-altering, and whether it’s a brand-new diagnosis.

Each year the department’s support looks slightly different based on the philanthropic donations it receives through the Child Life Fund. Last year, a donation of Star War toys from the Starlight Children’s Foundation allowed the department to hold its first “May the Fourth Be with You” event—which Shannon hopes to repeat this year.

The Child Life Fund augments special events throughout the year. With daily fluctuations in admittance numbers, “we never know who will participate,” Shannon explained. For example, many of the gifts for the department’s annual Snow Pile toy shop for parents are donated through community organizations, schools, and individuals. But every year, they are typically short on certain age-specific items, so they’ll use the fund to round out the options. Whatever doesn't get selected at Snow Pile, they keep and give out to patients throughout the year. (Pictured to the right is last year's Snow Pile toy shop.)

On Halloween, staff throughout the hospital sign up to pass out small edible and nonedible treats in the pediatric units. “I use the Child Life Fund to purchase items to pass out so children have stuffed trick-or-treat bags by the end of the event. Kids and staff dress up in costumes. It's a fun event so kids can feel like they aren’t missing out,” explained Shannon.

A gaming grant filtered through the Child Life Fund also enables the department to purchase technology such as iPads that help prepare children for procedures. For example, if a child is having a CT scan, a picture book on an iPad “shows step-by-step sequences of procedures and actual pictures of our radiology department and technology,” Shannon said.

The generous donations that make the Child Life Fund possible keep the playroom and teen room stocked with toys and board games. The fund also supports families during the darkest time of their lives—the loss of a child—by providing them with legacy keepsakes. A number of families have stayed engaged to honor their child’s memory and support the work of the Child Life team. “It has been really amazing to work with them,” Shannon said.” I think it's been part of their healing journey.”

While most donations are unrestricted, some donors have specific requests. Twice a year for the past 13 years, Charles Fonner has made special donations for April Fool’s Day and Halloween in honor of his late wife, Rosalie, who was a UMCH NICU nurse for 25 years. “They were her two favorite holidays,” he said. “She would play tricks on people all the time; it didn’t matter who you were.” To contain her mischief throughout the year, her charge nurse made those two holidays amnesty days for her.

“The Child Life Fund enables us to meet the needs of kids and families in ways that make a difference in their lives,” she said. “The birthday celebrations, making sure there's something for everybody for Snow Pile, flowers for Mother's Day, or end of chemo celebrations, all of those things, are possible because of the Child Life Fund.”

Make a gift to support the Child Life Fund in honor of this specialized team of caregivers.