The Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department
October 2021
Family - Centered Care Extends Support to the Children of Adult Patients Stefani Tower is a certified child life specialist currently working in a new role of patient and family-centered care specialist. Recognizing that cancer affects the whole family, the patient and family-centered care specialist continues the hospital’s mission of delivering holistic care by supporting children and young adults affected by a caregiver’s cancer diagnosis and treatment in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. In this role, Stefani works with adult patients and families both in person and remotely to understand their medical experience, how it affects their children and the best ways to support them. “What do I tell my child?” That is one of the most common questions for a parent or caregiver when facing a cancer diagnosis. In partnership with the family, Stefani provides guidance on how to have these difficult conversations with children regarding diagnosis and treatment. Stefani is able to meet with a child and caregiver virtually or in person and provides teaching for children, allows the opportunity for the child to ask questions and offers support regarding emotions that may arise. Various therapeutic interventions during these sessions allow for expression of emotions and help with the reduction of stress.
The patient and family-centered care specialist is able to meet with children of adult patients in person or virtually.
For a child, a caregiver’s stay in the hospital can be unsettling and scary. The current visitor policy during the COVID-19 crisis has placed restrictions on children visiting a parent in the hospital and has further affected the coping ability of children and families who have a loved one in the hospital. Recognizing the impact of this separation, Stefani provides books and activities to help enhance and facilitate connection during longer periods of separation. In working in this new role for the past year, families have shared feeling reassured and confident through the support given to their child/children during what is a significantly stressful time.
These are examples of books addressing feelings, diagnosis and separation used with children and families.
Holiday Gift Giving Update We are always extremely grateful to our donors for their support of therapeutic play programming throughout the year, and especially during the holidays. As we approach the holiday season, we’d like to share some helpful information.. We’ve adapted our donation guidelines in order to keep our patients and families as safe as possible in the current climate. The safest method to provide gifts to our pediatric patients and families is by purchasing your donation directly from our Amazon wish list ( http://bit.ly/MS-Child-Life ). Just point your phone camera at the code to the right, and follow the prompt to our wish list. If you are unable to purchase donations for direct delivery to us through our Amazon wish list, please contact our administrative coordinator at bianka.delvarin@mountsinai.org to discuss alternate contactless options.
LB 2019
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