STC/Consults
What does CCLS stand for?
Certified Child Life Specialist;
A child life specialist is a healthcare professional who supports children and their families in coping with illness, injury, hospitalization, or medical procedures through education, play, and emotional support.
What is the cancer impact of Kid's Group?
A family member (ie parent, grandparent, sibling) is diagnosed
Who plans events for C&F?
There is a team...Lexie, Amy, Krystal, Ellen, Allison and Mike.
Who should you ask "How are the kids in the family coping?"
Everyone! Whether they have children or grandchildren, many adults, no matter age, are prominent caregivers in children's lives. We welcome grandparents, guardians, and family members to join special events as a way to connect with children in their lives.
What stress management programs are regularly scheduled for children and families?
Stress Free Saturdays, Kid's Art
Did you know that both SM and Exercise come to support groups to build in coping strategies for our kids?
Who can do STC with Lexie & Amy?
Children ages 18yo and below with any cancer impact, as well as family sessions with their respective adults. Certification is national so we can do consults & sessions with those outside of Illinois.
What are the names of our children's bereavement group?
Tiny Turtles (2-6), Turtles (6-12), Teen Turtles (13-18)
How often does C&F have a special event?
1x per month but sometimes more off-site!
If I receive a call from a Brave Kid family, what information does the C&F team need?
1. Treatment status/ modalities
2. other children in the home
3. primary parent or guardian
What nutrition programs are available for C&F?
Date Night- parents are welcome to join or it can be an activity for parent and child! Grandparents and grandchildren welcome as well.
Bereavement Kitchen- Bereaved kids are welcome!
Who should you refer to Lexie?
Anyone with a minor child or grandchild. Anytime you are PEPing, touring or talking to participants, please inquire about their family structure. Even if the kids are doing well, encourage special events, wellness classes or support groups. Feel free to send Lexie names of new families so I may reach out.
What do we do in a C&F support group?
Therapeutic Play, emotional processing, cancer and medical education
Why are special events a good entry point for families?
They are not therapeutic, but rather the focus is on fun and community. Participants who may be hesitant to bring their kids to WH or feel their kids are "too young" to understand a diagnosis can feel a part of the community, and this often serves as a gateway to other C&F programs!
What should I do if a kid is having big feelings (ie mad, frustrated, sad) in front of me?
1. Thank them for sharing your feelings.
2. Validate their feelings
3. Talk about a calm down tool you like (coping strategies- deep breaths, fidgets, take a walk) or offer the calm down corner in the Kid's Room
What exercise programs occur regularly in C&F?
Kids Yoga and Kids Yoga under the stars once per month
Did you know that exercise programs happen after our Kid's Group so children can practice some coping skills?
What does a consult look like and who can have one?
Child & Family consults can be with just the children, parents/ guardians alone, entire families and individuals important to the family (ie school personnel). They may include parent education, new diagnosis education, memory making, discussions of changes in treatment or disease progression and more.
How many support groups do we have in C&F?
9
What is the age range for Kid's Kamp?
5-12 years old
What if a parent says "My son hasn't asked any questions or said he is worried, so I think he is fine?"
Children often express worry through behavior rather than words, or they developmentally don't have the words to ask questions. Encourage parents to check in, provide opportunities for conversation and remember that silence does not always mean understanding or positive coping (actually usually the opposite). A CCLS can also explore understanding and emotions in a session if a parent feels uncomfortable.
What are some ways staff can support Lighthouse?
1. Ask every participant if there are kids in the home/ their life
2. Volunteer at a monthly Special Event
3. Smile and say hi when kids are in the house
4. Start planning to host a trunk for Spooky Spectacular
5. When you give a tour, take them to the Kid's Room. Show off our bulletin boards of therapeutic activities and camp.
What do children and families take home with them after a first time STC meeting with a CCLS?
A welcome bag with a calm down kit, fidgets, warmie stuffed animal, and deep breathing stickers. Parents receive a folder with a welcome letter from us, an overview of relevant programs to cancer impact, coping tools to use with kids at home and the C&F calendar.
How do we start every C&F support group?
The kids put their name tag next to a feeling on our emoji wall and then we go around, share our cancer impact and our emotion of the day
What was the most attended C&F event in 2025?
Spooky Spectacular
A parent says, "My child doesn't know about the cancer." How do you respond?
That is something that our Child Life Specialist can help you with and through by providing resources, books and language to use at home.
There is a lot of value in children being informed about their own or their family member's diagnosis. In sessions, our CLS can provide parent education and support.
How do you tell a child about cancer?
It is important to be honest while also remaining developmentally appropriate. Focus on that this is an illness, but it is not contagious.