We understand a cancer diagnosis impacts the entire family and can be especially difficult for children. They might not fully understand what it means to have cancer or are worried about how life might change, and you might be worried about them, too. Here at the OSUCCC – James, we understand the unique challenges and needs of children and families navigating health care experiences.
Whatever a child’s emotional and developmental needs may be, we’re here to help.
The benefits of working with a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS)
Child life specialists are healthcare professionals with expertise in child development and family systems. Their role is to help patients and families cope with potentially stressful experiences. They work to minimize immediate and long-term effects of stress, anxiety and psychosocial trauma through a variety of individualized interventions. Here at The James, child life specialists are available to support families navigating a cancer diagnosis.
Certified Child Life Specialists have earned a minimum bachelor’s degree. They are clinically trained and certified through the Association of Child Life Professionals. Child life specialists provide education to children, adolescents and teens in a way they can understand, emotional support through personalized interactions, and build upon the child's existing strengths to enhance coping.
Child life specialists can help children and teenagers:
- Understand cancer or changes related to a cancer diagnosis
- Feel comfortable asking questions
- Identify ways to increase connection and bonding
- Develop coping skills to reduce worry or stress
- Manage feelings of guilt or helplessness
- Navigate hospitals and unfamiliar health care environments
- Explore grief or worries about loss
Although the CCLS is focused on children, child life services can help others as well, particularly if you are undergoing treatment or if you are a family member. With care extended to everyone in the family, our experts can help with overall quality of life and most importantly, with you or your loved one’s healing and sense of wellness.
Depending on each child’s age, the child life specialists at the OSUCCC – James will use play, education or other activities to help them — and you or other caregivers — prepare for and navigate the emotional challenges your child may face. Child life specialists provide a range of support to meet a child’s emotional and developmental needs. We will partner with you to determine the right support for your child and family. Child life support is available to you and your family at any time during diagnosis, treatment or after-care and recovery.
Alex’s Sunnyside Playroom
Children and families visiting an adult patient at The James also have access to Alex’s Sunnyside Playroom. The playroom provides a child-friendly environment for patients at The James and their families to spend time together.
Are Child Life Services available for my family?
As one of the James Cancer Support Programs, Child Life Services provides specialized care for the children of family members and for children who are receiving treatment at the OSUCCC – James. This support is available to:
- Children of an adult being cared for at the OSUCCC – James
- A child who is receiving radiation therapy at The James Outpatient Care
- The sibling of a child who is receiving therapy at The James Outpatient Care
A collaborative partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital
If your child is receiving radiation therapy as part of their treatment through Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH), our child life specialist will partner with the NCH Child Life Program to help provide continued supportive services.
How to connect your child with Child Life Services
Talk with your health care team about being connected to a child life specialist at The James. You can also request more information about scheduling an appointment with child life by emailing ChildLife@osumc.edu.