When you’re planning or preparing for your child’s hospitalization, it’s important to take note of additional supportive services that your hospital may offer. For example, clinical social workers can help walk you through this entire process. They are specifically trained to provide you psycho-social support, assistance with resources and overall partnership and friendship throughout your child’s illness. Another additional supportive service are child life specialists. These folks are trained in how to explain medical procedures to your child in a developmentally appropriate way. They also can work with your child if they are having anxiety surrounding medical procedures. Bibliotherapists are people that are very good at finding books for your unique situation. And together, through the use of a book, you can sit down and work with your child and explain their illness and explain their medical situation. When you’re preparing for your child’s hospitalization it is important to take stock of the additional supportive services available. These supportive services will help walk with you throughout your journey and help teach you ways that you can be a more active participant in your child’s healing process.