2020 Issue 5
The Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department
Prioritizing Diversity and Inclusion in the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department As champions of patient and family-centered care, the child life and creative arts therapy department sounded a commitment to take an active role in both addressing systemic racism and finding ways to enhance our programming to meet the needs of all we serve. With valuable guidance from Mount Sinai’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, we are initiating recurring discussion and work group sessions within our department to support us in embodying anti-racist attitudes and reflecting this in our everyday practice. Several of our staff are receiving training to serve as ‘moderators’ in these discussions. Additionally, three members of our team have been trained as co-facilitators in the Pediatrics Chats for Change series - a forum that engages all students, staff and faculty in the department of pediatrics around the topic of systemic racism. The child life internship program has also revised its scoring criteria for applications to reflect greater equity between students with variable educational experience, and we have taken steps to bring greater equity to recruitment of staff as well. Our Youth and Family Advisory Councils have also taken up the practice of specifically looking at agenda items that come before them through the lens of equitability and anti-racism. And our Clinical Practice Council has compiled an anti-racism resource list for parents and children. The upcoming edition of SURGE: The Zone’s Teen Art and Literary Magazine will focus on patient-created works that connect with themes of social justice and racism. Our KidZone TV production team and supporting clinical staff have also curated live shows that promote diversity and inclusion. These programs have used book readings, art making, song performance and games as entry points for children and families to engage in dialogue or fresh learning about topics ranging from the Black Lives Matter movement, to secular and religious days including Juneteenth, Indigenous People’s Day, Tet Trung Thu (Mooncake/ mid-Autumn festival), Tsukimi, and Diwali. We also continue to host a weekly KidZone TV art history show, which highlights predominantly black artists from New York City.
A Special Sukkot Observance in the NICU In October, the NICU celebrated Sukkot with our Jewish families! Occurring five days after Yom Kippur, Sukkot is a seven-day holiday that memorializes the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years after escaping slavery in Egypt. Sukkot, meaning “Festival of Tabernacles,” is one of Judaism’s three central pilgrimage festivals, along with Passover and Shavuot. On this holiday, families traditionally build a sukkah, a temporary hut to dwell in and feast in with family. One shakes lulav and etrog (palm, myrtle, and willow branches and lemons) as part of the celebration. The origins of this holiday can be traced back to an ancient autumn festival called hag ha-asif where thanksgiving is given for a good harvest. Our NICU babies are unable to celebrate this holiday with their families, so NICU child life specialists made special milestone cards to help celebrate the first Sukkot for our babies! Our NICU families were appreciative of this offering and picked out the cards of their liking to take pictures with their newborns. To wish someone a “Happy Sukkot,” say “Chag Sameach!” Mountsinai.org/childlife
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