Finding support when a child is hospitalized

Clinical Social Worker Kathryn Elison, MSW, shares advice for parents with a hospitalized on additional support services to help their family and sick child
Help For Finding Support For Your Family When Child Is Hospitalized
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Finding support when a child is hospitalized

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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.

Clinical Social Worker Kathryn Elison, MSW, shares advice for parents with a hospitalized on additional support services to help their family and sick child

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Kathryn Elison, MSW

Clinical Social Worker, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Kathryn Elison is a Clinical Social Worker at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She was drawn to her profession because of her passion to provide support to families experiencing a medical crisis. Kathryn accompanies her patients and their families during one of the most stressful journeys of their lives, helping them navigate through this challenge and supporting them each step of the way. A native of North Carolina, Kathryn moved to Los Angeles, CA after receiving a Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her free time, Kathryn enjoys exploring her new home state of California with her husband Jed and her dog Sallie.

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