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
Our Locations
News
Related Articles
Highlights
Turn Down the Heat: How Food Can Help With Hot Flashes
Helpful foods
A balanced, plant-rich plate can support your body’s natural regulation and may ease symptoms. “Soy is a phytoestrogen that mimics estrogen in our bodies and helps to reduce hot flashes,” Hulon said. “Foods high in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, such as seafood and green leafy vegetables, are also beneficial.” Options include:- Mediterranean-style eating: plant-based foods, healthy fats
- Soy-based foods: tofu, edamame, soy milk, tempeh
- Phytoestrogen-rich foods: whole grains, seeds, legumes, berries
- Omega-3: salmon, chia seeds, avocados, flaxseeds
- Naturally cooling foods: apples, bananas, carrots, cucumbers, watermelon, pears, romaine lettuce
Foods to limit or avoid
Certain foods and drinks can trigger or worsen hot flashes, including:- Caffeine: coffee, energy drinks
- Ultra-processed foods: baked goods, sugary drinks, fast food, fried foods
- Alcohol: wine (especially red wine), beer, liquor
- Spicy foods: hot peppers, jalapeños, cayenne pepper, hot sauces
- Nicotine: cigarettes, vaping, smokeless tobacco
Supporting your well-being
Choosing nourishing foods, staying hydrated and noticing your personal triggers can help your body feel more balanced and comfortable. Nutrition is only piece of the picture. “Lifestyle changes include smoking cessation, decreased alcohol consumption, exercise, dietary changes and weight loss,” Hulon said. “Decrease inflammation by eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, increasing sleep to seven to nine hours per night and reducing stress. Despite good lifestyle modifications, many women may still need menopause hormone therapy support.” Wellstar offers resources to guide women through this transition. “At Wellstar, refer to the Center for Best Health, where practitioners are trained in helping patients achieve healthy goals and offer behavioral, exercise and nutrition counseling,” Hulon advised. “Additionally, a certified menopause practitioner can help patients navigate menopause hormone therapy.” Our women’s health experts are here to support you with guidance, compassion and whole-person care. To learn more about menopause care at Wellstar, visit wellstar.org/menopause.
Newsroom
Art Pharmacy Partners With Wellstar for Innovative Health and Wellness Program
Art Pharmacy, which connects people to arts and culture events to support health and well-being, is partnering with Wellstar Health System to address the isolation and loneliness epidemic. This new program enables participants in the Wellstar Live to the Beat heart health program to further improve their overall health with opportunities to engage in fun, non-clinical community events that boost mental health and reduce loneliness.
“We are grateful to Wellstar and the Community Health team,” Art Pharmacy CEO Chris Appleton said. “Working with individuals in hypertension control and stress management is important to our work as an organization and aligned with our mission to improve the health and well-being of our members through social prescribing.”
The program, which launched in April 2025, has positively impacted the 25 participants.
- 90% attendance rates
- 79% of members demonstrated an improvement in mental health and well-being
- 50% of members demonstrated a reduction in depression and anxiety
Art Pharmacy’s solution uniquely combines decades of research in the field of arts and health with the care model of social prescribing to address some of the nation’s most challenging health problems.
Social prescribing is a model of care delivery that enables health professionals to formally prescribe non-clinical community activities—including the arts, movement, nature and service—to improve a patient's health.
Community partners include:
- Two Hands Pottery
- Atlanta Botanical Gardens
- St. James Live Jazz
- Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre
- Aatma Dance Studios
- Painting with a Twist in McDonough
- Academy Theatre
- Henry County Libraries
- Spivey Hall
- Zoo Atlanta
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Surgeon General, poor social relationships, social isolation and loneliness can increase the risk of heart disease by 29 percent and risk of stroke by 32 percent. Additionally, people with strong perceptions of community belongingness are 2.6 times more likely to report good or excellent health than people with a low sense of belongingness. In addition to Georgia, Art Pharmacy’s social prescribing model has been adopted in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.
“Our nation has an epidemic of loneliness that can contribute to people suffering from heart disease, stroke and premature death,” said Dr. Earl Stewart Jr., medical director of health equity for Wellstar. “Meaningful social engagement can help people overcome isolation and improve their behavioral health. We’ve found great success with our Live to the Beat heart health program, and we’re now working with Art Pharmacy to further improve participants' overall health.”
Art Pharmacy drives clinical and quality outcomes with its healthcare partners through its tech-enabled, human-powered social prescribing solution. Art Pharmacy will connect participants to community-based activities with protective and therapeutic benefits to their mental health and well-being. To increase adherence and utilization, patients will have access to a broad range of activities and care navigation services. Arts-based social prescribing is an effective, evidence-based way to support patients with mental health needs, reduce social isolation and loneliness, and promote adherence to co-morbid treatment plans.
As a non-profit health system, Wellstar works to ensure every person has access to personalized care that helps them spend more time being a person, rather than a patient. The Live to the Beat program is a community outreach program offered through the Wellstar Congregational Health Network, which partners with local faith communities to connect congregants with community health resources.
To learn more, visit artpharmacy.co.
Highlights
Make Health Your Habit
The start of a new year is a great time to focus on your health. For many of us, that means setting resolutions to live a healthy, full life. While many people like to reset their health goals in January, Wellstar partners with patients year-round to help them feel their best.
By following tips from Wellstar health experts, you can create realistic resolutions and better your health—making healthy choices a lifelong habit rather than a short-term goal.
Partner with your Wellstar care team
When it comes to your wellness goals, staying healthy starts with a visit to your Wellstar primary care team.
“Your primary care provider will collaborate with you to create a customized care plan and recommend screenings based on factors such as your age, gender and family history,” said Wellstar Primary Care Physician Dr. Cristina Dasoveanu. “Regular screenings can help you stay ahead of issues and catch any health concerns early.”
Know Your Foundational 4
To check your health status and screen for potential medical issues, your clinician will take your Foundational 4 numbers, a few screenings that identify risk factors for some health conditions such as heart disease.
Blood pressure
A blood pressure test helps diagnose hypertension (high blood pressure), hypotension (low blood pressure), heart disease and other conditions.
Blood glucose level
The amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood can indicate the onset of diabetes or risk of heart disease, heart attack or stroke.
Blood cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), often called “bad” cholesterol, can indicate clogged arteries, which may lead to heart disease, heart attack or stroke.
Body mass index (BMI)
A higher level of body fat may indicate an increased risk for heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes.
Personalized OB/GYN care for women
“Gynecologists partner with women in their healthcare across the lifespan,” said Dr. LeThenia “Joy” Baker, a Wellstar obstetrician and gynecologist. “The first gynecologic visit is recommended between 13 and 15, and the first exam between 18 and 21.”
Gynecologists are uniquely positioned to care for women from adolescence through menopause and beyond.
“We’ll make sure you are up to date on screenings like mammograms and Pap smears, help you make informed decisions about family planning and fertility, and provide medical and surgical treatment for a variety of conditions affecting the female reproductive system,” Dr. Baker said.
Primary care, anywhere
Virtual care made easy with Wellstar Care Now
- Upper respiratory infections (cough, cold or flu-like symptoms, sinus, ear issues)
- Bladder infections or urinary tract infections
- Minor burns, bites and cuts
- Skin conditions
- STD testing, prevention, treatment and counseling
- Contraception and menstrual health
- Mental and emotional health (depression, anxiety and stress management)
- General questions and more
In an emergency, such as if you are having trouble breathing or experiencing chest pain, call 911.
Learn more about the different types of care Wellstar offers and where to go if you’re not feeling well.