Wellstar Child Life Specialists
About Us
- What is a Child Life Specialist?
- The Healing Power of Play
- Education
- Preparation
- Support for Patients and Family
- Grief and Bereavement Support
- Grief Resources
What is a Child Life Specialist?
A Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) is a healthcare professional who helps children, teens, and families understand and cope with injury, illness, hospitalization, or death and loss. Their goal is to help reduce anxiety, fear, pain, and misconceptions pertaining to medical experiences. Often through play, child life specialists enable children to explore, learn, and develop effective coping skills for facing challenging events.
What education does a Child Life Specialist need?
To become a Certified Child Life Specialist, a candidate needs extensive education and training. A four-year undergraduate degree is required. Some candidates graduate with a degree in child life while others graduate with a degree in education, psychology, human development, or a related field of study. Some child life specialists decide to further their education and obtain a master’s degree. These two-year programs provide specialized, in-depth education pertaining to the profession.Each candidate must be certified by the Association of Child Life Professionals. In addition to completing a 600-hour internship or fellowship, candidates must pass the Child Life Professionals examination in order to become certified.
The Healing Power of Play
Play is the work of children [Piaget]. It is how they process events and learn about and relate to the world. Play is especially important in the healthcare setting. Child life specialists utilize play to:- Encourage normal development and positive coping throughout healthcare experiences
- Help children understand and feel more comfortable with medical procedures and environments
- Enable children to process and reflect on prior medical experiences
- Provide choices and a sense of control for children
Education
Child life specialists are a helpful resource for caregivers and parents who are interested in learning more about how children develop, respond to challenges, and cope with stress.
Preparation
- Reduce anxiety
- Develop trust in caregivers and staff
- Identify stressors and develop coping methods
- Give choices and a sense of control over what will happen
Child life specialists help children understand not only the sequence of events but also – more specifically – what children will feel, see, hear, taste and smell. During preparation, child life specialists provide information based upon the child’s level of development, often using pictures and medical manipulatives to promote understanding. Talking openly and honestly to children using words they understand can make the healthcare experience easier to manage, and it can also provide opportunities for children to express fears or concerns.
Support for Patients and Family
Throughout preparation, child life specialists also help children and their families develop positive coping skills and establish plans and techniques for facing challenging events. Coping strategies are unique to each child and family but may include strategies such as:For Parents
- Stating honestly how something may feel without minimizing it
- Informing staff of important facts about your child
- Remaining positive, calm, and supportive toward your child
- Providing your presence/full attention and offering specific praise before, during, and after a procedure
- Utilizing comfort positioning so that your child can always see and touch you
- Preparing yourself for the upcoming procedure
For Children
- Distraction: refocusing your child’s attention to an activity they find interest in
- Imagery: asking your child to close their eyes and recall a positive place or memory
- Breathing: encouraging your child to take slow, deep breaths
- Comfort: bringing along your child’s favorite blanket or stuffed animal to hold before, during, or after the procedure
For Children of Adult Patients
Child life specialists are available to help children and teens learn about their loved one’s illness, injury, or treatment. Having a parent, grandparent, or other adult family member in the hospital can be a confusing and challenging change in a child’s life. Child life specialists can work with caregivers to educate their children and teens through kid-friendly language, books, and hands-on teaching materials. At Wellstar, there are designated child life specialists with additional training to support children of adult patients.Grief & Bereavement Support
A child who is old enough to love is old enough to grieve. Though children’s understanding of death and ways of coping are different from adults, it is still important that they receive support. Child life specialists are trained in how children understand and respond to the death of a loved one. They provide guidance on talking to children about a loved one who has died or is nearing the end of their life. Using play, art, and developmentally appropriate language, child life specialists help children and teens learn about the death, express emotions, and create keepsakes in memory of their loved one. Specific services include:- Guidance and resources for caregivers to help support children and teens who are grieving
- Preparation for children and teens who are visiting a loved one who is dying
- Strategies for children and teens to express and manage their emotions in healthy ways
- Legacy building through family artwork or remembrance projects
- Connection with additional grief support resources in their community
Helping Children Deal with Grief
Camp Tranquility and Camp Dogwood are one-day events for children and adults who have experienced the loss of a loved one. These events are sponsored by Wellstar Community Hospice.Camp Tranquility
Camp Tranquility is a one-day community workshop for individuals and families who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Adults and campers six years of age and older participate in sessions designed to aid in healthy grief expression. For more information, contact us at (470) 245-9959 or email [email protected]. At Camp Tranquility, participants build community with others experiencing similar losses while learning:- Age-specific strategies for processing grief
- Self-care and stress reduction
- Parenting through loss
- Talking to children about death and grief
- Activities for family healing over time
Camp Dogwood
Camp Dogwood is a free, one day event for children who are entering First to Seventh Grade from Troup, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether and Harris counties who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Created in 1997 as an outreach of West Georgia Hospice, it now serves up to 60 children each summer with the help of about 80 volunteers. Through art, games and stories, campers will be helped to:- Realize that all people grieve
- Discover healthy ways to deal with grief
- Find positive ways of remembering their loved one
- Learn healthy coping skills while enjoying fun activities
More Resources
- Camp Kesem - programs and services for children who have a parent with a cancer diagnosis or have lost a parent to cancer
- Camp Erin - bereavement program for youth grieving the death of a significant person in their lives
- Kate’s Club - bereavement programs for children, adolescents, and young adults
- Association of Child Life Professionals
For Reading
Services & Resources
- Opportunities for play & growth and development in the healthcare setting
- Healthcare education for children and families
- Procedural and surgical preparation and support
- Strategies for coping with stressful situations
- Advocacy that promotes emotional safety for children, teens and families
- Support of siblings during their brother's or sister’s hospitalization
- Illness education and coping support for children & teens whose loved one is hospitalized
- Grief and bereavement support
- Consultative support for parents/caregivers on child development, responses to and strategies for managing stress and trauma
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Newsroom
Demolition Marks a New Beginning in the Heart of Atlanta
Spearheaded by The Integral Group, in partnership with Wellstar Health System and the City of Atlanta, BLVDNEXT represents one of the most significant private investments in the area in decades. The 22-acre site will become a mixed-use community designed for long-term value and neighborhood inclusion. Plans include a mix of housing options – both for sale and for rent – green spaces, retail, health and wellness, and amenities that serve the community and invite people in.
“Atlanta is always growing and always changing. This redevelopment project is grounded in the values we share as a city: inclusiveness, opportunity, and respect,” said Doug Shipman, president of the Atlanta City Council. “The Integral Group and Wellstar are following through on the City’s work to determine how this site can best meet the community’s needs for future generations – affordable housing, restaurants and retail, and health and wellness. I’m looking forward to seeing this vision come to life.”
“This project is about more than the physical structures, it’s about building on the history of this place to create a future where community, connection, and opportunity thrive,” said Candice L. Saunders, President and CEO, Wellstar Health System. “Today, we want to recognize all the people who have made this a special place and who are working toward its vibrant future.”
Located between Ralph McGill Boulevard and Highland Avenue, the site lies at a pivotal point between Midtown and Downtown. Its redevelopment offers a rare opportunity to mend the urban fabric and create new connections that benefit the surrounding communities.
“BLVDNEXT represents the kind of work that cities need more of – development that begins by listening, is shaped by purpose, and delivers long-term value,” said Egbert L. J. Perry, Chairman and CEO of The Integral Group. “The project is about reconnecting a vital part of Atlanta and doing it in a way that respects both its history and its potential. For us at Integral, this is a responsibility – and an opportunity – to get it right.”
Work is already underway to develop a detailed implementation plan that builds upon the City’s prior planning and reflects the voices of residents. Redevelopment at this scale, in this location, doesn’t happen often. The property’s redevelopment is being guided by a land-use plan that had extensive community input and was approved unanimously by the Atlanta City Council with support from Mayor Andre Dickens.
Today is about making the most of that opportunity – with care, with clarity, and with a commitment to doing it right.
About BLVDNEXT
To ensure the public remains informed and engaged, the development team has launched www.BLVDNEXT.com, a dedicated website providing regular updates on project milestones, community stories, and opportunities for public feedback. The site serves as a central hub for media and residents alike, offering access to visuals, background materials, and the evolving vision for the site. It reflects the project’s commitment to transparency and to keeping community voices front and center throughout every phase of redevelopment.
About The Integral Group
The Integral Group is a 300-person company founded in 1993. Today the company has developments and investments in more than 18 U.S. cities. The Integral Group’s portfolio includes master planned, mixed use developments, as well as affordable, workforce and class “A” multi-family housing. The company’s portfolio ranges as far west as San Francisco and as far east as Baltimore, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.integral-online.com.
About Wellstar Health System
Wellstar personalizes the patient experience. We call it PeopleCare and it's only possible thanks to our 33,000 team members who provide compassionate care for every stage of life. PeopleCare also means we serve our communities as a non-profit health system, providing more than $1 billion annually in charity care and other community benefits, and operating the largest integrated trauma network in the State of Georgia. We embrace innovation and technology, nurture early-stage companies through our venture firm Catalyst by Wellstar, and train future generations of caregivers with academic institutions including the Medical College of Georgia. Wellstar honors every voice, earning Newsweek's recognition as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity, and one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. To learn more, visit Wellstar.org.
Newsroom
Powering Progress: Key Insights from Wellstar's Community Transformation Program
We are excited to share the results of an insightful evaluation of Wellstar’s Community Transformation Program (CTP), completed by our partner, WE Public Health. This evaluation marks an important milestone as we continue to drive meaningful community-level change through the work of the Wellstar Center for Health Equity (WCHE) and our dedicated grantees.
Each year, CTP invites local organizations in Metro Atlanta to request support for a new or existing tech-based initiative that addresses health disparities in our communities. Nineteen organizations have received grants through the program, including eight in the most recent group. To measure the impact of this program and study how Wellstar’s support has helped these organizations further their reach, we partnered with WE Public Health for an evaluation of CTP.
About WE Public Health
WE Public Health is a consulting firm focused on advancing health equity through strategic partnerships, capacity building and community engagement. Their work empowers organizations and communities to address health and social challenges with a specific focus on justice and equity.
Why Wellstar chose WE Public Health
WCHE partnered with WE Public Health to develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation strategy because we recognized the importance of a thorough evaluation to help understand the impact and sustainability of our CTP. The evaluation reviewed the first three groups of Community Transformation Program (CTP) grantees (2020 to 2023) to assess how effectively they improved access to medical care and social services through technology. Findings guide program improvements, support communication with stakeholders and help achieve industry recognition.
Key evaluation domains included:- Program reach (partners served, demographics and counties)
- Financial investment (technology and total funding)
- Improved access to care and support services
- Program sustainability post-grant
- Impact on clients and grantee organizations
- Uniqueness of Wellstar’s investment
- Social return on investment
Key evaluation findings and impact
Health equity and social determinants of health
The evaluation highlighted the alignment of the CTP with Wellstar’s commitment to addressing social determinants of health, or factors that can affect a person’s well-being, including access to food, housing and transportation. Our CTP focused on six key areas identified through Wellstar's 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). WCHE launched the CTP in response to a technology equity gap identified in the assessment. The program addresses the need to improve access to medical care and social support services for vulnerable, marginalized and underserved communities.
Impressive cost avoidance and health outcomes
The evaluation also demonstrated that CTP grantees are having a significant impact on health outcomes. While the estimated reach from our program’s services exceeds 13,000 people, of those nearly 2,250 people benefited specifically from either mental and/or physical health interventions. The estimated cost avoidance from emergency department visits for these patients ranged from $225,000 to over $1 million. This not only underscores the financial impact of the program, but also reflects its success in preventing the need for emergency care.
Sustained use of technology solutions
A key aspect of the CTP was its emphasis on integrating technology solutions to enhance health services. According to the evaluation, six out of seven grantee organizations interviewed reported continuing use of the technology solutions funded through the CTP, indicating strong buy-in and long-term benefits. These positive findings reflect the success of the program in providing grantees with the resources and support to test and scale innovative solutions in a low-risk environment.
Positive experiences and strong partnerships
Grantees and partners reported positive experiences working with Wellstar team members, highlighting our emphasis on collaboration, capacity building and fostering strong relationships. The evaluation emphasized the effectiveness of Wellstar's supportive approach, which allowed grantees to explore new solutions while minimizing risks.
Guiding our growth
One of the most valuable outcomes of this evaluation was the expert guidance provided on how to strengthen and scale the program. WE Public Health offered strategic recommendations focused on deepening community partnerships, supporting long-term sustainability and enhancing evaluation practices. These insights will serve as a roadmap as we continue refining the CTP to maximize impact and equity.
Why this matters
The findings from this evaluation affirm the transformative impact the CTP has had on both the health outcomes of individuals and the broader community. By fostering partnerships, addressing key social determinants of health and investing in sustainable technology solutions, the CTP is helping to create lasting change in the communities we serve.
As we continue to work with WE Public Health, we are excited to build upon these results and expand our efforts to address health inequities across Georgia. The partnership between Wellstar, WE Public Health and our grantees continues to serve as a model for how community-driven programs can drive sustainable improvements in health and well-being.
Highlights
Prostate Cancer Screening in Black Men
Screening for prostate cancer is crucial for early detection and to help provide the best possible outcome. It is especially important for Black men to be vigilant about screening, as they are disproportionately impacted by this cancer.
About 1 in 6 Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, compared to 1 in 8 white men, according to a report from the American Cancer Society. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Black men.
The American Cancer Society recommends that men at an average risk of developing prostate cancer begin screening when they are 50, but Black men should start earlier—at age 45 if they have no family history of prostate cancer, and at age 40 if any of their male relatives have had prostate cancer. Wellstar takes a personalized approach to cancer screenings, with clinicians discussing benefits versus risks of screening and helping patients evaluate their risk.
“Despite many physicians being aware of this and following this practice, Black men continue to be diagnosed with and die from metastatic prostate cancer. This is a trend that desperately needs to be reversed,” said Wellstar Primary Care Physician Dr. Earl Stewart. “We have adequate screening tools that do not even require a digital rectal examination.”
The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test is more accurate than the digital rectal examination in helping to detect prostate cancer, according to Dr. Stewart. Patients should also discuss family history with their relatives. “Patients knowing their family history is so crucial in having those discussions with primary care physicians to determine the best age at which to start screening,” Dr. Stewart said.
Screening for prostate cancer is as simple as making a preventive appointment with your primary care physician, discussing your family history with him or her, and having a PSA blood test. This test may be performed during an annual physical or wellness visit. Shared decision making between physician and patient is important to discuss your risk, your need for testing and next steps to take if your PSA level is elevated and concerning. Knowing your risk can save your life.
“I know many personally who are near and dear to me who had the disease and who unfortunately died from complications of metastatic prostate cancer,” Dr. Stewart said. “I know many more who lived because they had the conversation and dared to move forward with appropriate screening at the appropriate age.”