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Child Life Services

Services aimed at decreasing fear and anxiety through education, play & therapeutic support

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Teach. Play. Empower.

Children & Teens

From individual sessions to procedural support, Red Oaks Coping is here to support your child and family through life's biggest challenges. Red Oaks Coping provides individualized attention that might not always be possible in larger hospital settings, offering tailored services to support children and families in their specific circumstances.We provide services to support children, teens and families through difficult situations; anything from trauma, divorce, loss of a pet, birth of a new sibling, or hard discussions about the impending death of a loved one or a terminal diagnosis

Individual Sessions

We meet for sessions where your child feels most comfortable. These services are available in the family's home in Lafayette, Acadia, St. Martin, Vermillion and Iberia parishes. When your child is comfortable, they're more likely to succeed. 

Sessions can focus on: (include but not limited to)
  • procedure preparation & coping plans (blood draw, scan, sleep study, surgery)
  • ​sibling support
  • ​medication taking routine
  • diagnosis teaching & conversation (for the child or a loved one)
  • processing a past medical experience
  • conversation about death or terminal illness of a loved one
  • real time procedural support - Jenn will accompany you and your child to your appointment to provide hands-on support

Preparation

Preparation sessions are most appropriate for:

  • an upcoming test, procedure or surgery

  • a test/procedure that your child is anxious about

  • a child needing additional education about a specific procedure​

We can schedule as many times as needed prior to the procedure until you and your child feel confident. 

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Diagnosis Education

A new or existing diagnosis can be confusing and scary to a parent or caregiver. This can be even more true for a child. ​

These sessions are meant to:

  • teach using language that will make sense to that child or teen

  • use a variety of tools and games to help explain what the diagnosis is and what treatments the doctors may use

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Procedural Support

     Getting a poke or even a breathing treatment can be challenging for a child of any age. Jenn will accompany you and your child to your scheduled procedure to provide real time support. Procedure support can be used for any medical or dental procedures - coping strategies and interventions are tailored specifically to your child's need and preferences.  

Sibling Support

     Red Oaks Coping recognizes that illness affects the whole family and not just the child or teen that receives the diagnosis. Sibling support sessions are dedicated to empowering, encouraging, and educating siblings of sick children.

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Back to School Visit

      School is a huge part of a child's "normal" life. A hospitalization, chronic illness, or traumatic event can leave kids feeling nervous to return to school. It is normal for their peers to have questions or worries related to your child's absence. ROC's Child Life Specialist can support your child, their classmates and any staff through these challenging situations.

      Our Certified Child Life Specialist will visit your child’s classroom to prepare them for your child’s return to school. This service can be individualized to your child’s needs.

It may include:

  • Explanation of the child’s illness using age-appropriate information and child-friendly language

  • Use of teaching tools or hands-on activities to help classmates process and regulate

  • Suggestions for ways classmates can help support your child when they return to school

  • Question & Answer session 

 

      Some children want to participate and be involved in the visit, others prefer not to. Either is fine!

Adults with a Medical Diagnosis

We facilitate individual or group sessions for children navigating their parents’ illness by providing

  • Age-appropriate education of parent's illness, treatments and side effects

  • Strategies for feelings expression

  • Coping skills to manage a variety of emotions 

Wonders & Worries Illness Education and Coping Curriculum

  • Ages 2-18

  • 1 one-hour session per week for 6 weeks

  • Sessions focus on:​

    • Diagnosis Teaching & Education

    • Coping/Feelings Exploration

    • Hope Building or Legacy Building

Other Parenting Support Offered
  • Preparing children for visiting an ill parent/loved one in the hospital 
  • Preparing children to attend a funeral service
  • Talking to children when treatment isn't working
  • Preparing for the death of a loved one
  • Talking to children about cancer  
  • Supporting children when a parent/loved one transitions to hospice or palliative care

     

        Wonders & Worries Curriculum

     "Registered Wonders & Worries Providers are certified child life specialists who have participated in a 3-day training equipping them to be able to deliver the Wonders & Worries Illness Education Curriculum. Content areas covered within training include: Parenting Support, Group Support and Facilitation, Building a Therapeutic Relationship, Illness Education, Emotional Regulation, Stress and Coping, Closure of the Therapeutic Relationship, Grief and Bereavement and Business Strategy. In addition to the three-day training, RWWP's are required to participate in 8 group supervision sessions and 8 individual supervision sessions with Wonders & Worries staff. This additional level of ongoing support is designed to assist RWWP's in the successful implementation of the Wonders & Worries curriculum in their unique communities and clinical settings." 

          -from the RWWP Registration Letter of Support

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Child Life Space

Pricing

Preparation                   60 minutes        

Diagnosis Education    60 minutes        

Sibling Support            60 minutes         

Procedural Support               --       

All services are $100 plus mileage at $.67 per mile.        

Illness Education and Coping Curriculum     $65/per session

                        $360 for package if paid up front

                                            Save $30!

Waves

Insurance is not accepted for child life services.
An itemized superbill is available upon request. It is the family's responsibility to submit it to their insurance company for potential reimbursement according to your insurance company's process for submitting out of network claims. There is also a sliding scale option to work with your family's financial needs.   

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