Child Life Services

The Cancer Center at Metro Health Village includes Child Life Specialists as part of our collaborative team providing care for patients and their families.They are an integral part of Metro Health’s Child Life Services program and will work to ease your and your family’s experience. All Child Life programs are free of charge to families.

Individual Consult

We know that a cancer diagnosis not only affects the patient, it also impacts family members including spouses, children  and grandchildren. Child Life Specialists are available to meet with patients and family members. Meetings can be made to coincide with a scheduled appointment to talk about topics such as:

• Telling a child about a cancer diagnosis
• How to emotionally support a child through the treatment process
• Resources available to help families through this experience

Hospital Setting

Child Life Specialists are available to help children who are visiting a patient by providing developmentally appropriate information about the hospital and fun activities to help them cope with the experience.

Support Group

Research shows that children cope better when they know they’re not alone. Child Life Services brings together the children and teenagers of cancer patients in a support group that meets Tuesday evenings from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the same time our adult patients are participating in their own support group. This special program combines education on child-appropriate topics with fun.

Family-Centered Events

We design events so that the entire family can come together and participate in fun activities that can build good memories and strong family bonds. Events include:

• Spring Break Bowling Event
• Summer Day Camp
• Winter Holiday Party

The Metro Health Hospital Child Life Program is completely funded through donations to the Metro Health Hospital Foundation.