Child Life Discover Newsletter 2019 Issue #4

The Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department

2019 Issue 4

Shared Governance Fosters Interdisciplinary Collaboration In July 2019, the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department adopted a Shared Governance model, transitioning from a group of 18 workgroups and committees into nine program-related teams and three councils. The goal of the Shared Governance model is to promote and foster interdisciplinary practice across the department, tap into a framework that promotes accountability and improve the quality of care, safety and impact for patients and families at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital. The three main councils in our department are education, clinical practice and professional inquiry. Additionally, the coordinating council, comprised of council chairs and leadership, meets monthly with Diane Rode, the department director, and Morgan Stojanowski, the department assistant director, to discuss goals, review projects and make decisions on initiatives put forth by individual councils.

Robots in the Child Life Zone Thanks to a generous donation from Garth Brooks and the Teammates for Kids Foundation, the Child Life Zone has procured two new Ohmni Robots. The robots, named Clifford and Knight Rider for their red and black exteriors, have been used to enhance therapeutic recreation programming and enabled additional patient participation in the Zone! The robots are operated using Surface Pro tablets, and their user-friendly controls make it easy for patients of all ages to quickly learn how to drive around the space. Recreation activities incorporating the robots can be tailored to meet a range of developmental abilities and favorites have included scavenger hunts, hide and seek, obstacle courses, follow the leader and robot fishing. The robots have also allowed patients who are unable to leave their rooms the opportunity to join in on group activities. By simply delivering all of the activity materials plus the Surface Pro tablet to their rooms prior to group, the patients can “call in” to the robot and engage in the group activity along with the patients in the Zone. The Ohmni Robots have been an invaluable addition to the Child Life Zone and the Zone staff are excited to continue developing innovative ways to incorporate their usage in programming and around the hospital.

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Paws & Play Welcomes Special Guests On October 30, 2019, the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department hosted Dani LaGiglia, Regional Relationship Manager of PetSmart Charities. In addition to introducing Dani to Professor, Amos and Moby, this visit provided the opportunity to discuss the impactful work of the Paws & Play program. Ali Spike, Child Life Specialist, and Morgan Stojanowski, Assistant Director, focused the discussion on Ali and Professor’s work in the Blau Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Diseases. As the Paws & Play team reviewed current initiatives related to research, staff care and patient coping, it proved clear that the values and goals of the Paws and Play program strongly align with the vision of PetSmart Charities. Dani’s visit also came shortly after the Paws & Play program received an additional one-year gift from PetSmart Charities, securing funding for child life and facility dog programming. This visit was a welcomed reason to further celebrate and acknowledge this fruitful partnership.

PICU Rounding Video With initiative from hospital leadership, staff in the Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) have recently taken steps towards standardized morning rounds. In collaboration with doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, residents, nutritionists, social workers and child life specialists, the PICU team created a “PICU Rounding Video” as a tool to train ICU staff on the rounding process. PICU Child Life Specialist, Marianne Porzelt, as well as Family Advisor, Candace Brito, participated in the filming process. Both played an important role in the video, giving critical feedback on ways to engage families in morning rounding.

Completed in the summer of 2019, this video is an important tool used by staff in the Pediatric Intensive Care Units.

Staff Accomplishments Ali Spike, Child Life Specialist had an article entitled “Integrating Animal-Assisted Therapy into Self-Care Support for Medical Professionals Who Care for Critically Ill Children and Their Families” published in the ACLP Bulletin.

Child Life Specialists Abby Patch, Marianne Porzelt, Alexandra Martin, Nicole Wood, and KidZone TV staff Mathea Jacobs and Luis Borges were honored in November’s Catch a Star Breakfast. These outstanding individuals were recognized not only by hospital leadership, but also received special praise from patients and families for their teamwork and outstanding patient care and compassion. As always, our Child Life service dog, Amos, was the star of the stars!

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Paws & Play Research Update The Paws & Play facility dog team is conducting IRB-approved research on Professor’s impact on patient distress during needle stick procedures for our pediatric hematology and oncology patients in the Blau Center for Children with Cancer and Blood Disorders. Professor and certified child life specialist, Ali Spikestein, provide Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) to patients during procedures. This may include Professor offering comfort positioning or doing tricks for distraction during anxiety provoking procedures. In addition, Ali may encourage a patient to pet Professor for relaxation. Data collection began in March 2019 and is expected to continue through 2020, with a target of enrolling 248 subjects. This study, the first of its kind, will produce important information about how AAT affects patient distress. We are excited to share our results with the healthcare community.

MVPs in the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department The Meds Visits Peds program engages student volunteers from the ICAHN School of Medicine in providing support to evening weekday programming in the Zone and unit play areas. Axel, a rising second year medical student from Gabon, Central Africa, moved to New York 13 years ago.

Born in Germany, Axel graduated from New York University with a major in biochemistry and a minor in Spanish. He is a student director for the Mount Sinai Human Rights Program, as well as the Service Chair for Student National Medical Association and a leader of the Emergency Medicine Interest Group. Axel, who is trilingual, is interested in Emergency Medicine and wants to engage in global health work in Africa and in the developing world as his career progresses. He has two younger brothers whose love and affection he attributes to the time he enjoys spending with younger kids.

Olivia is a rising second year student in the Biomedical Sciences program with a research focus in Hematology/ Oncology. After completing her degree this upcoming year, she plans to apply to medical school. In her spare time, Olivia likes to develop breakfast recipes and spend as much time as possible in Central Park.

Donate to the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department Many donors are contemplating gift-giving opportunities for the 2019 holiday season. The Child Life & Creative Arts Therapy Department gratefully accepts pre-arranged and pre-scheduled donations from February through December. Here are some things to consider when donating to our hospitalized children. All donations must be brand new, unopened and unwrapped. Toys, games, and arts & crafts items for all ages are acceptable. Gifts for infants and teens are our greatest need. Gift cards from $5.00-$25.00 in value make great gifts as well. We cannot accept food, plush toys, gently used and handmade items, and paper items, such as letters, notes and cards.

According to the Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital visitor policy, donations cannot be handed out to patients by donors.

For donors considering monetary gift giving for the 2019 holiday season, the deadline for receiving and accepting all donations by mail or drop-off is December 23, 2019. We appreciate the support of our donors and their recognition of the importance of therapeutic play programming throughout the year, and especially during the holidays!

Please contact Christine Barcia, Administrative Coordinator, at 212-241-8583 or by email at christine.barcia@mountsinai.org to set up your donation. If interested in making a monetary donation, please contact the Development Office at 212-659-8500 or see the Child Life online giving link - http://giving.mountsinai.org/childlife.

Patient Art Highlight

Esmeralda, one of our amazingly talented patient artists, recently decorated her room with her artwork.

She then went on to create her own KZTV Bingo show with original drawings of garden plants.

See more patient art, stories and poems in our SURGE publication online: http://bit.ly/MSchildlife-pubs

Follow Us and See the Exciting Things Happening Every Day!

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