Child Life Profession
Bank Street College of Education– Online Graduate Program in Child Life for new students and current Certified Child Life Specialists. They also have amazing workshops, speakers and opportunities for professional development
Association of Child Life Professionals– The board and certifying committee for child life specialists. Gather Information on the profession, how to become a specialist and additional resources for parents and caregivers.
Child Life Disaster Relief– This nonprofit is training child life specialists and students to work with communities that have experienced a natural or man-made disaster.
Child Life Cooperative– Helping to advance the profession of child lief through reflection, support and equipping students.
Child Life on Call– A podcast for parents of children with an illness or medical condition.
Child Life Technology– Supports the application of technology to child life specialists.
Child Life United – Offering volunteer and practicum opportunities for child life students.
Functional Health and Wellness-Reflective supervision provided by Korie Leigh, PhD, CCLS, CT, FMCHC.
Kids Health– Great site for medical information broken down into three categories; parents, teens and kids.
Medline Plus– Great source for looking up reliable information on medical needs.
Rabbit Ray– Pediatric medical play teaching tool.
SpellBound– Improves pediatric patients healthcare experiences through augmented reality.
Supporting Children with Healthcare Needs in School– Sample of an Individual Healthcare Plan
The Convenient Classroom– Online courses in preparation for the child life exam and webinars for continuing education.
The Discovery-Rethink Breast Cancer has collaborated with a child life specialist to create animation videos to teach kids about their mother’s diagnosis, treatment and living with breast cancer.
The Paediatric Nurse– Online professional development courses for medical providers.
Vilas Playroom Assessment Rubric VIPAR– Online assessment tool for your playroom, to measure if it is meeting the needs of all pediatric patients and families.
Walli-Kids Activity Posters– Wall and lap posters to help kids stay active and distracted while in a clinical setting.
Organizations Supporting Children and Families
Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels– Their mission is to bring dignity and comfort to the harsh reality of childhood cancer and other life threatening diseases.
Art with Heart – Is a nonprofit organization that helps children overcome trauma through creative expression.
ArtWorks The Naomi Cohain Foundation– Providing creative art programs to children and families facing chronic and life threatening illnesses. Based in the New York and New Jersey area.
Camp Sunshine– A retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.
Cellie Coping Kit– Provides children with a chronic illness valuable resources and activities.
Child Life Wish List.org– They help fund child life programs and bring awareness to the field.
Children’s Cancer Association– Providing free programs of music, friendship, nature to children and families.
Children’s Wish Foundation International– Nonprofit wish granting organization.
Centre For Pediatric Pain Research– Provides information to healthcare providers and parents on pediatric pain management.
Digging Deep– They provide an expressive outlet, called Shadow’s Edge for adolescents and young adults coping with illness.
Docyourstory– Production company specializing in personalized documentary films that capture life stories.
Food Allergy Life– Parent advocate and blogger about food allergy awareness
Health Care Toolbox– Guide to helping children and families cope with illness and injury.
Holiday Heroes– Provides parties and events to pediatric patients in the hospital.
Keaton’s Childhood Cancer Alliance– Providing financial, educational and emotional support to families impacted by cancer.
Layla’s Legacy– Funding innovative pediatric brain cancer research while bringing hope and help to families impacted by the disease.
Little Legacies– Provides one-on-one mentoring in writing for pediatric patients and families faced with serious and life altering medical conditions.
Luke’s FastBreaks– Provides hospital t-shirts with port access to pediatric patients free of charge.
Make a Wish Foundation– Giving wishes to children with a life threatening illness.
Project Sunshine– Nonprofit organization that provides free educational, recreational, and social programs to children and families living with medical challenges.
Sara’s Smiles Foundation– Nonprofit organization that provides resources for children and families battling and surviving cancer.
Songs of Love Foundation– Nonprofit organization that creates personalized songs, free of charge for children and adolescents coping with medical, physical and emotional challenges.
Standish Foundation for Children– This nonprofit is helping to transform the healthcare experience for children and families through education, advocacy, service and financial support.
Starlight Children’s Foundation– An amazing program creating moments of joy for hospitalized kids.
The Discovery-Rethink Breast Cancer has collaborated with a child life specialist to create animation videos to teach kids about their mother’s diagnosis, treatment and living with breast cancer.
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp– This organization provides summer camps and programs to families coping with health challenges.
Team IMPACT– A nonprofit organization connecting children with a life threatening illness with a college athletic team. The kids become part of the team, attending practices, games and team meetings.
The Jared Box Project– They work with schools, girl scouts and team organizations to create shoe box sized containers filled with toys to be delivered to children in hospitals throughout the country.
The Magic Yarn Project – Creates children’s wigs made of yarn free of charge.
Wish Upon A Teen– They provide programs and comfort to adolescents coping with medical challenges.
V.I.P. Hospital Productions– An amazing organization that makes customized books and movies for children and teens in the hospital.
Zaenah’s Blanket Foundation– Not-for-profit foundation servicing new mothers and infants with baby essentials in the New York area.
Grief, Loss and Bereavement Support
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep– Nonprofit organization that provides families with a gift of professional remembrance photographs of the loss of a baby.
Regali Jewelry– Custom jewelry made from the fingerprints of the special people in your life.
Salt Water– An online community that provides comfort, support and tools for those coping with a loss.
The Center for H.O.P.E. Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center of Ne York offers amazing bereavement services to children and families.
The Dougy Center– National organization offering resources for families and children dealing with grief.
What’s Your Grief?– Information about grief, support for caregivers and professionals.
Therapeutic Toys and Accessories
Abilitee Adaptive Wear– Adaptive clothing and accessories for children with medical needs
After Mouse.com Touch Table– Touch table video game consoles for pediatric playrooms
Cellie Coping Kit– Provides children with a chronic illness valuable resources and activities.
Get Well Maps– Creates personalized visual maps for children coping with hospitalization or short-term goals.
Dr. Scribbles Exam Paper -It transforms exam table paper into an interactive experience that covers the exam room, mobile devices, and the online world.
Handcrafted MRI/CT Machines– Contact Will or Tom to purchase a handcrafted toy sized MRI/CT machine.
Kelsey’s Kids– Wonderful organization that has created the Marshmallow Launcher, to bring fun into the hospital.
Little Darling– Therapeutic lullaby music available in English and Spanish.
Nurture SmartCrib Mobile– Designed a therapeutic infant mobile that follows infection control policies.
Playopolis Toys– Distraction and multi-sensory stimulation toys.
Play Therapy Supply.com– Great site to purchase toys for home, school or a hospital playroom.
The Magic Yarn Project – Creates children’s wigs made of yarn free of charge.
TivoliToo Inc.– Designs play structures and wall murals for healthcare settings.
Regali Jewelry– Custom jewelry made from the fingerprints of the special people in your life.
SpellBound– Improves pediatric patients healthcare experiences through augmented reality.
Walli-Kids Activity Posters– Wall and lap posters to help kids stay active and distracted while in a clinical setting.
Books:
Children’s Illness or Medical Condition
Bastian Adventure Series By, Sofie Berga
Benito, You Can Do It! By, Alan Quinonez
But Why? Lupus By, Alexis C. Rizzuto
Hip, Hop, Horray for Brooklyn Bunny By, Jill Harold and Betsy Miller
It’s Time For Your Checkup By, Shani Thornton, MS, CCLS
Meet The A-Team: A Book About Autism By, Courtney Butorac
Nutley, The Nut-Free Squirrel By, Stephanie Sorkin
The Littlest Peanut By, Shannan Wilson
We Can Go Anywhere: My Adventures on Daddy’s Chair By, Glen Dick
Zip-Line By, David Humpherys
Grief, Loss & Bereavement
Death is Stupid By, Anastasia Higginbotham
Forever Connected: A Guide For Parents, Activities to Help Build & Maintain Connections With a Dying Parent By, Caitlin Koch
Fred and Red Say Goodbye By, Austin Schlichtman
I Miss You: A First Look at Death By, Pat Thomas
Ida, Always By, Caron Levis
In My Heart: A Book of Feelings By, Jo Witek
Life is Like the Wind By, Shona Innes
Someone Came Before You By, Pat Schwiebert
Something Small By, Rebecca Honig
The Heart and the Bottle By, Oliver Jeffers
The Invisible String By, Patrice Karst
The Memory Box: A Book about Grief By, Joanna Rowland
The Next Place By, Warren Hanson
The Rabbit Listened By, Cori Doerrfeld
We Were Gonna Have a Baby, But We Had and Angel Instead By, Pat Schwiebert
Social and Emotional Development
Alex’s Compromising Curse: A Book About How To Compromise With Others By, Courtney Butorac
Black Cloud Blues By, Christine A. Emery
#BabyLove: My Social Life By, Corine Dehghanpisheh
Beautifully Different By, Dana Salim
Bella Gets Worried: A Book About Dealing With Anxiety By, Courtney Butorac
Divorce is The Worst By, Anastasia Higginbotham
Elephant Wind By, Heather L. Beal
Flowers and Bubbles A Story about Coping With Anger and Frustration By, Allison C. Siegel, L.M.S.W.
Frenemy Jane: The Sometimes Friend By, Stephanie Sorkin
Gorilla Thumps and Bear Hugs: A Tapping Solution Children’s Story By, Alex Ortner
Hey Goose! What’s Your Excuse? By, Lisa Griffin
In My Heart: A Book of Feelings By, Jo Witek
Jack Gets Too Silly: A Book About When it’s OK To Be Silly By, Courtney Butorac
Lily Gets Bossy: A Book About Letting Others Lead By, Courtney Butorac
Max Gets Inflexible: A Book About Staying Flexible By, Courtney Butorac
My Magic Breath: Finding Calm Through Mindful Breathing By, Nick Ortner
Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs By, Susan Schaefer Bernardo and Courtenay Fletcher
Tessie Tames Her Tongue By, Melissa Martin
That’s Not Fair!: A Book About How Fair is Not Always Equal By, Courtney Butorac
The Adventures of Frank and Mustard: Stuck in the Mud By, Simon Calcavecchia
The Gift of the Lady Bug By, Carole M. Amber
The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm By, Susan Schaefer Bernardo and Courtenay Fletcher
The Toothless Puppy: A Tale of Differences By, Ashley Almon and Karen Almon
Just For Fun
Chocolate Shoes with Licorice Laces By, Stephanie Sorkin
Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 By, B.C.R. Fegan
The Big Adventures of Tiny House By, Susan Schaefer Bernardo and Courtenay Fletcher
The Day That A Ran Away By, B.C.R. Fegan
Sleepy Toes By, Kelli McNeil and Corri Doerrfeld
Parents, Caregivers and Child Life Specialists
Following Imagination: Activities that move create and play with guided imagery By, Genevieve Lowry, Med, CCLS
Visible Ink Written pieces from patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Forever Connected: A Guide For Parents, Activities to Help Build & Maintain Connections With a Dying Parent By, Caitlin Koch
Taking Your Child To The Hospital Or The Doctor By, Patricia Weiner, MS
The Parents’ Guide to Clubfoot By, Betsy Miller
The Parents’ Guide to Hip Dysplasia By, Betsy Miller
Stars in the Sand: Finding The Light of the Lord in Unexpected Places By, Leigh Snyder