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
Wellstar Offers Saturday Hours for Lung Cancer Screening Day November 8
Lung cancer screening can detect cancer earlier, before symptoms show up. Earlier-stage cancers are more easily treatable and more frequently cured, so if you are at increased risk of developing lung cancer, you could benefit from regular low-dose CT scans to monitor your lung health. To expand access to these vital screenings, Wellstar will offer screenings at several imaging locations Saturday, November 8.
“Finding lung cancer early leads to better outcomes, and screening with CT scans is recommended as the only proven way to minimize delay in diagnosis,” said Wellstar Thoracic Surgeon Dr. Daniel Fortes.
Wellstar is partnering with the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable, the American College of Radiology, the Radiology Health Equity Coalition, and GO2 for Lung Cancer to celebrate National Lung Cancer Screening Day Saturday, November 8. While lung scans are always available at Wellstar’s conveniently located imaging centers during regular business hours, offering these Saturday hours will help patients fit screenings into their schedules.
Ask your care team about whether you meet the criteria for screening, or call us to learn more about qualifying and to make an appointment for a scan.Call us at (470) 793-4AIR (4247) to learn more and make an appointment for a scan.
The following Wellstar imaging locations will be open Saturday, November 8:
- Wellstar Imaging at Wellstar East Cobb Health Park, 3747 Roswell Road, Suite 102 in Marietta
- Wellstar Imaging Services, 60 Lacy St. in Marietta
- Wellstar Imaging Services, 1220 West Wheeler Parkway in Augusta
- Wellstar Imaging Services at Wellstar Cobb Medical Center, 1625 Hospital North Drive in Austell
- Wellstar Imaging at Wellstar Douglas Medical Center, 8954 Hospital Drive in Douglasville
- Wellstar Imaging at Wellstar Vinings Health Park, 4441 Atlanta Road SE, Suite 101 in Smyrna
- Wellstar Imaging at Wellstar Windy Hill, 2540 Windy Hill Rd SE in Marietta
- Wellstar West Georgia Medical Imaging, 1514 Vernon Road in LaGrange
In addition to these special hours November 8, low-dose CT lung scans are available at several Wellstar imaging locations.
PeopleCare
BillyCare
William “Billy” Gerace, a retired man in Mableton, found himself progressively restricted by severe emphysema. Dependent on oxygen, it was tough to find the breath and the energy to work in his garage. Then he found out about BLVR, a procedure that would change his lungs—and his life—for the better. Now he spends his days breathing new life into classic cars. Billy’s story highlights the power of expert care and leading-edge treatments at Wellstar, and our commitment to help people get back to doing what they love.
Slowed down by an oxygen tank
For Billy, the simplest of movements became Herculean tasks. The man who loved tinkering in his garage found himself slowed down by an oxygen tank and dependent on his wife, Patty, to help him move it from room to room.
“I couldn’t walk 20 feet without the hose on my nose,” Billy said. “I couldn’t go from the living room to the kitchen without oxygen. That’s how bad it was.”
Billy suffered from emphysema, a severe type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The inability to work in his garage on his collection of vehicles—including a '69 Corvette convertible—was heartbreaking.
“I’d have to do five minutes’ worth of work—then catch my breath,” he remembered. “It took me a very long time to do anything. A project that would normally take an hour took two days. I had to sit dormant most of the time.”
Billy had managed this condition for years with prescription medication and pulmonary rehabilitation, but in the final months leading to his procedure, he had the impression that his life was fading with every gasp of air.
Highlights
Planting Seeds of Change: Wellstar Community Health Partnerships Launch School Garden
In a powerful example of what community collaboration can achieve, Wellstar Community Health has partnered with Yah Rootz, Woodland Middle School and Mount Olive Seventh-Day Adventist Church to bring a vibrant, sustainable community garden to life on the grounds of Woodland Middle School in East Point. This exciting initiative is more than a garden—it's a living classroom, a hub for healthy living and a beacon of hope for the entire community.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held in October on the school campus, marked the beginning of the project. Community members, students, staff and representatives from each partnering organization came together to celebrate the milestone. Shovels in hand and hearts full of hope, the group officially broke ground, symbolizing the planting of not just crops, but seeds of knowledge, health and community empowerment.
Empowering students through hands-on learning
The community garden offers Woodland Middle School students an opportunity to engage in hands-on learning that connects directly to science, health and environmental studies. Gardening teaches responsibility, patience and teamwork while providing students with a deeper understanding of nutrition and food systems. As they learn to grow fruits, vegetables and herbs, students develop a stronger appreciation for where food comes from and how it impacts their well-being.
“This garden is going to help us learn in ways we can't always do in the classroom,” said one student at the groundbreaking event. “It’s cool to be outside, getting our hands dirty and knowing we’re doing something good for the Earth and our school.”
Strengthening community roots
The benefits of the garden extend beyond the school. With support from Yah Rootz—a local organization dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture and food justice—the garden will serve as a fresh produce source and educational tool for families and community members. Workshops, volunteer days and harvest events will create ongoing opportunities for residents to connect, learn and grow together.
Mount Olive Seventh-Day Adventist Church has played a vital role in supporting the vision through outreach and coordination. Their involvement helps ensure the garden will be a lasting resource that promotes wellness, unity and service.
“We believe health and healing happen when communities come together,” said a representative from Mount Olive. “This garden is a way to nurture not only the soil, but our children, our families and our shared future.”
Model for community health
For Wellstar Community Health, this project exemplifies our mission to advance health equity and address the social determinants of health in a meaningful, grassroots way. Access to nutritious food, safe green spaces and educational resources are critical components of a healthy community. By investing in initiatives like this, Wellstar and its partners are laying the groundwork for long-term wellness.
“We are incredibly proud of this partnership,” said Nurse Manager, Community Resource Community Health and Center for Health Equity Nina Gilmore. “It represents what’s possible when healthcare, education, faith and grassroots organizations work hand in hand. The success of this groundbreaking is only the beginning of what we hope will be a thriving, sustainable garden and a source of pride for this community.”
As the seasons change and the garden grows, so will the relationships, knowledge and health of all who are touched by this initiative. The Woodland Middle School community garden stands as a testament to the power of partnership, the strength of local action and the promise of a healthier future—one seed at a time.