Easing the Stress and Anxiety of Hospitalized Children

Your gift to support the Child Life program at American Family Children’s Hospital supports children and families in managing the stress and anxiety of hospitalization through 24/7 services provided by 20 Certified Child Life Specialists and additional team members. These specialists, trained in child development, use education, treatment preparation and play to promote effective coping. The program also oversees playrooms, a facility dog program, music therapy, and other supportive initiatives. It helps demystify medical procedures for children, helping them feel less anxious through treatment.

Child Life is supported 100% by philanthropy and couldn’t happen without you. Here are just some of the things your gifts made possible in 2023:

• 28 Child Life specialists, assistants and staff

• 750 books and 1,000 activity kits with kinetic sand, Play-Doh, Lego kits, coloring packets, crayons and markers

• 30 special events and programs

• Visits with 220 Wisconsin Badger student athletes

• 64 patients attended Badger home football games on Bucky’s Patio

• 300 Positive Image Center visits

• 1,345 hours of music therapy for 719 patients

• 11 Visiting Dog Program therapy teams visited 730 patients and donated 300 volunteer hours