Unfortunately, kids are in and out of hospitals everywhere, every day. No matter the age, being in the hospital can be a scary experience. That’s why hospitals across the state have Child Life Specialist Programs to help kids understand and cope with what they’re going through.
Michele Erich has been a music therapist for 35 years. Music therapy can be a great way to help kids process stressful situations, which is exactly why Erich wanted to help kids in a hospital setting.
“When I came to work here at the hospital, I looked for ways to help children further,” said Erich. “And that’s when I got my child life certification.”
She’s been a Child Life Specialist at Novant Health for 20 years now, helping kids to understand the different emotions they might be feeling. Lots of kids might be scared before an appointment or procedure—that’s where Erich comes in.
“When a child who’s two or four experiences a shot it can be really scary for them,” said Erich, “And if we can help to develop coping skills to master that and tolerate it and get through that procedure and what’s required, then as they get older, they’re not gonna carry that fear with them.”
Nine-year-old Adeline Shuey knows this work makes a difference.
“She gives kids a break,” said Shuey. “So like, if they’re scared, she will make them not scared and get their mind off it.”
And it’s not just Erich, she has a team at Novant Health that she works with.
“As our hospital has grown, we have grown from just me being here as music therapist and child life specialist by myself,” said Erich. “We have another child life specialist in our radiology department and another music therapist working with our adults.”
That team includes Alicia Cesare, another Child Life Specialist at Novant Health who works in the radiology department. Cesare joined the team three years ago when Novant started its Star Program, a program designed to help children through MRIs without the need for anesthesia.
Like Erich, Cesare helps kids and patients better understand what tests or procedures they’ll have and helps ease their fears surrounding them.
“At the very basis of every human’s needs is our sense of security and it’s very important for a child life specialist to meet that need and the developmental of children,” said Cesare. “Whether it be through play or just through normalization and just allowing a kid to be a kids while they’re here, and that way they can learn and be successful in their medical treatment as well.”
And Erich, who helped start the Child Life Specialist Program at Novant Health says she hopes the program will continue to grow as needed.