Child Life

Supporting Children through Education, Empowerment, and Play

Support this Initiative

Virtua Health’s Child Life program supports pediatric patients and their families as they manage the stress of a hospital stay.

Whether they are at the emergency room for a broken arm, hospitalized for respiratory issues, or anything in between, a child in the hospital can experience fear, isolation, worry, and more. Our team of certified child life specialists create a safe, emotionally supportive space, providing education and empowerment, distraction and diversion, and a sense of normalcy.

Spirit of Children is Virtua’s premier philanthropic partner for the Child Life program, contributing nearly $1 million since 2011 fulfilling their mission to “make the hospital a less scary place.” Funding from Spirit and other generous donors has fostered a truly pediatric-friendly environment at Virtua’s hospitals in Voorhees and Mount Holly. In addition to daily program support, philanthropy-led improvements include:

  • Renovations to our inpatient pediatric units
  • Technology such as gaming consoles, DVD players, iPads, and streaming services
  • A large-scale enhancement project for the Pediatric Emergency Department at Virtua Voorhees Hospital
  • A cutting-edge movie system for our pediatric MRI machine
  • Two new sensory rooms within our pediatric units at Virtua Voorhees and Virtua Mount Holly Hospitals

Why Giving Matters

Philanthropy allows us to provide distraction throughout every patient’s stay, resulting in fewer kids needing sedation for procedures or pain medication overall. Funding also helps us empower kids with knowledge and choices. Throughout hospitalization, kids have no autonomy. Giving kids the chance to choose their play and engage in activities they enjoy helps their time in the hospital go by faster. It also gives them a sense of control, which reduces stress and anxiety.

— Christina Conlan, Certified Child Life Specialist at Virtua

Partners in Philanthropy

Through its annual Spirit of Children campaign, Spirit Halloween brings fun and funding to local hospitals in the US and Canada, with a mission to make hospitals a less scary place for kids and their families.

Virtua is proud to be the local partner hospital for Spirit of Children in South Jersey. Fundraising for Virtua happens all year online and in stores each fall, where Spirit employees generate awareness and support for Virtua’s Child Life program with each sales transaction. And during the Halloween season, employees from area Spirit stores bring crafts, costumes and accessories, decorations, and everything needed for a Halloween party, to Virtua Voorhees Hospital for a wonderful gathering that provides pediatric patients and their families an afternoon filled with fun and laughter.

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