To an infant, child or adolescent, an illness and hospitalization can bring unwelcome changes that are often difficult, and even frightening to cope with. Unfamiliar surroundings, disruption of normal routine, separation from family and friends, and uncomfortable medical procedures are just a few of the issues surrounding hospitalization. The child life and teen life program at Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital was created to assist in alleviating stress and anxiety by providing extra emotional and physical support to those children and adolescents that need help getting through this challenging time.

Certified child life specialists have knowledge in how to meet the emotional, educational, social, and developmental needs of patients age's infant through young adulthood. The child life and teen life program provides a wide range of services to assist children, adolescents, and their families. Currently the child life staff has six child life specialists servicing both inpatient and outpatient areas within the hospital. The child life specialists provide support for patient's through:

• Patient Education through preparation and accompaniment of procedures
• Playroom programming
• Teen lounge programming
• Tutoring with hospital school teacher
• Family support groups
• Surgical unit tours
• Holiday, patient celebrations and special events
• Parenting resource
• Community Outreach
• Community Involvement  including entertainment
• Gift Donations including toys
• Supporting Child Life Programs
• Pediatric Child Life Volunteers
• Child Life Internships

Contact Us: Child Life Department 847.723.PLAY