It can be scary for anyone in the hospital, but even more so for a child. Our Child Life Specialist work along side the health care team at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital to help children cope while being in the hospital – and add a little bit of fun, whenever possible.
What is a Child Life Specialist?
A Child Life Specialist is a trained healthcare professional whose role is to improve patient and family centered care while reducing the stress and anxiety that can be associated with hospitalization. Each specialist has a bachelor’s or master’s degree in child development or a closely related field. All Child Life Specialist at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital are also certified through. the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).
What does a Child Life Specialist do?
The main responsibilities of a Child Life Specialist are to:
- Offer play and normalization activities such as toys, games, crafts, etc.
- Increase a child’s understanding of their hospital experiences through the introduction of supervised medical play and preparation for procedures.
- Explain procedures in language a child can understand, using preparation books, medical dolls, tablets and other resources.
- Offer support and distraction during medical procedures with sensory toys and games as well as techniques such as deep breathing, alternative focus, guided imagery, etc.
- Conduct therapeutic activities with children to help them cope with being in the hospital or with a particular illness or injury.
- Educate siblings or other family members about a child’s diagnosis or reason for hospitalization.
- Offer emotional and grief support for patients and families.
- Erin Whitlock, CCLS – General Pediatrics
- Amanda Dougherty, CCLS – HOPE for Kids, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Heather Trescott, CCLS – Children’s Hospital Outpatient Services (CHOPS), Surgery
- Abby Wilder, CCLS – Crescent House (Child Advocacy Center)
Each Spring and Fall semester, the Child Life Department offers a Practicum for Child Life Students in the process of pursuing a degree in Child Life or a related field at a college or university. The Child Life Practicum is a minimum of 100 hours as suggested by the Association of Child Life Professionals. The program is designed to give students clinical experience under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist in preparation for applying for Child Life Internships.
*At this time we are only accepting students from affiliated universities including the following: Georgia Southern University, University of Georgia, Auburn University, University of Alabama, University of Missouri, East Carolina University, Louisiana Tech, and Mississippi State University.
For more information or to complete an application, please click here
If you have further questions, please contact Erin Whitlock, CCLS at 478-633-6384 or email Whitlock.Erin@NavicentHealth.org.
Each Spring and Fall semester, the Child Life Department offers an Internship for Child Life Students in the process of pursuing a degree in Child Life or a related field at a college or university. We provide a minimum of 600 hours which satisfies the Association of Child Life Professionals’ requirement of 600 hours. This internship provides students with hands-on experience and clinical training under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist in preparation to take the Child Life Certification Exam and to apply for professional Child Life positions. For more information or to complete an application, please click here
If you have any further questions, please contact:
Abby Wilder, CCLS at 478-633-1276 or Wilder.Abby@NavicentHealth.org
Amanda Dougherty, CCLS at 478-633-6539 or Dougherty.Amanda@NavicentHealth.org
We are so very thankful for everyone who wishes to give back to the Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital. There are several ways to become involved at Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital.
Material Donations: With the help of our generous community, we strive to make sure that each patient can still be a child while in the hospital by providing them with opportunities for play and normalization. We offer everything from toys and arts and crafts to video games and movies to make them feel more comfortable during their hospitalization. If you are interested in helping by donating material items, please click here for a copy of our current Donation Wish List. You may also access our online Amazon wish list to have your gift mailed directly to the Children’s Hospital here. For the safety and consideration of our patients and families, we are unable to accept the following items: used/pre-owned items, religious items, toy weapons, latex balloons, and homemade food. Please note if you are donating handmade items, such as blankets or hats, they must be washed in an allergen free detergent and come from a smoke-free home.
Donations may be dropped off at any time (no appointment required) at the registration desk in the lobby of the Children’s Hospital located at 700 Spring Street Macon, GA 31201. For more information, please contact the Child Life Department at 478-633-7219 or email childlife@navicenthealth.org
Monetary Donations: In addition to our wish list items, we also rely on monetary donations to help make each patient experience as pleasant as possible. Philanthropic dollars allow the Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital to purchase the “extras” such as therapy items for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, specialized medical equipment for our various pediatric units, pediatric wheelchairs, child life iPads for used for distraction, and much more. Your donation is tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.
For monetary donations, please contact Navicent Health Foundation at 478-633-GIVE.
Throughout the year, we host community groups and organizations in our General Pediatrics Activity Room in order to provide patients and families with opportunities for normalization. Interested groups are asked to bring an activity, typically a craft or game, and facilitate it with the patients in a group setting. This allows the kids a chance to get out of their rooms, interact with others, and have fun while undergoing treatment. Examples of activities include: painting canvases, sand art, decorating door hangers, making slime, and holiday specific crafts (making valentines, painting pumpkins, decorating ornaments, etc.). Visiting Group Activities are held Monday-Friday at 11am-12pm and 2pm-3pm. For more information, please click here for a copy of our Visiting Group Guidelines.
If you would like to schedule an activity, please contact the Child Life Department at 478-633-7219 or email childlife@navicenthealth.org.
If you have already scheduled a visit, please submit the form below to complete your reservation.
Visiting Group & Special Event Form
Holly Jolly Shoppe
- The Holly Jolly Shoppe is Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital’s program for patients and their families who must spend the holidays in the hospital. This in-hospital toy store allows inpatient families to “shop”- free of charge – for gifts for their hospitalized child (and siblings). Through the support of our generous community, the Holly Jolly Shoppe spreads joy to pediatric patients while alleviating the stress of holiday shopping, so the family can focus their attention on their sick or injured child. Donations may be dropped off in the lobby of the Children’s Hospital (no appointment required) located at 700 Spring Street, Macon, GA 31201. Please click here for more information and a copy of our patient wish list. You may also access our online Amazon Wish List at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1RTIBUQXCZBZM?ref_=wl_share to view examples of popular items or to have a gift mailed directly to the hospital.Questions? Email childlife@navicenthealth.org or call 478-633-7219.
Trick or Treat Parade
- Each October, we host a Trick or Treat Parade for patients who must spend Halloween in the hospital. This is an opportunity for patients and families that may have missed out on festivals, trick or treating, school parties, or other fall activities due to hospitalization to still participate while undergoing treatment. If you are interested in donating new costumes or store bought individually wrapped candy or prizes to the parade, please contact Erin Whitlock, CCLS at 478-633-6384 or email Whitlock.Erin@NavicentHealth.org.
Character, Celebrity, and Professional Sports Team Visits
- If your organization is interested in visiting the patients at the Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, please contact Heather Trescott, CCLS at 478-633-7219 or email childlife@navicenthealth.org
Family Dinner
- If your organization is interested in providing a meal for our patient families, please contact Erin Whitlock, CCLS at 478-633-6736 or email Whitlock.Erin@NavicentHealth.org to schedule an appointment.
- Family Meal Form
- Family Meal Guidelines
Pet Therapy
- Our Pet Therapy Program consists of a local group of volunteers that bring their Certified Therapy dogs to visit the hospital and interact with the patients and families. This is a wonderful opportunity for those undergoing hospitalization to feel the love and comfort that a Certified Therapy dog can provide. For more information regarding this program or to get involved, please contact Heather Trescott, CCLS at 478-633-7219 or email childlife@NavicentHealth.org.
Music Therapy
- We provide clinical hours for Music Therapy students from Georgia College and State University during the Spring and Fall semesters. For more information please contact Amanda Dougherty, CCLS at 478-633-6539 or email Dougherty.Amanda@NavicentHealth.org.
