Research on having child life specialists present during stressful medical procedures has shown that having additional support at the hospital drives major improvements in both mental and physical health outcomes. This support can lead to:

• Children feeling more involved throughout medical procedures
• Reducing or eliminating the need for further hospital services
• Improved patient outcomes
• Reduced length of hospital stays

Despite the proven benefits of child life specialists, many hospitals are not given funding or reimbursement for child life services, resources, and supplies. And while these services have been shown to decrease anxiety and improve mental and physical health outcomes for children undergoing medical procedures, it continues to be an overlooked aspect of hospital care.

At Friends of Jack, we’ve seen the impact of creating a positive and fun environment for children facing scary, stressful, and isolating situations.

One employee at Saint Anne’s in Fall River states that the Superhero Program alone has “improved the experience for the staff members of Saint Anne’s, as well as the family and the children involved, and has made the day of surgery fun and much less stressful for everyone involved.”