Wondering what it’s like to volunteer with our partner Camp Noah? Read on to learn from Claire Humphreys, a Child Life Disaster Relief member and child life student who volunteered with Camp Noah last summer. We expect to have specific dates/locations for Camp Noah summer 2020 soon, in the meantime, we are recruiting volunteers in […]
Volunteer at Camp Noah this Summer Read More »
Bahamas – Team 4 Ashley Zani (lead), Erin Myers, Gail Klayman Deployment Dates: October 21-27th  We spent most of our time working with children at the Kendal Isaacs Gym this week. Each day we worked with approximately 25-45 children on socialization through group activities and play, serving about 280 children total throughout the week. Aggression
Bahamas – Team 2 Christen Bradbury (lead), Hallie Chancellor, Cassidy Taylor Dates of Deployment: October 7-12, 2019 Served ~230 children Day 1: October 7th Today we observed a lot of aggression surrounding objects, attention, and space. When working with small groups, we were able to help some of the children work on creative expression, telling
Bahamas – Team 1 Cara Smith (lead), Eileen Esposito, and Hayley Wells Dates of Deployment: September 27 – October 6, 2019 Over 240 child-interactions Saturday, September 28 The team provided therapeutic play and psychosocial support at the shelter at Kendall Isaacs Gym. Many of the children were very eager and willing to share their stories
The Greater Sum Foundation has named Child Life Disaster Relief (CLDR) as one of nine nonprofit organizations chosen to advance to a “final pitch round” in a competition for funding and services organized by the grant-giving Foundation! https://thegreatersum.org/2019-finalists The Foundation supports innovation in the nonprofit sector by providing funding, subject matter expertise, networking, and professional
Greater Sum Announcement Read More »
“Giving is not just about making a donation.  It’s about making a difference.”  – Kathy Calvin  This Giving Tuesday, please consider donating to Child Life Disaster Relief.  Your donation goes directly towards our vision and mission of working with children that have been negatively affected by disasters.  You can make a difference!  To
Giving Tuesday – Support Child Life Disaster Relief Read More »
We are excited to announce the 2020 Children’s Disaster Services trainings! Children’s Disaster Services is Child Life Disaster Relief’s partner for all large-scale national deployments. To continue coordinated efforts for children and families’ post-disasters, the first step to get involved nationally is to become a certified volunteer with Children’s Disaster Services (CDS); this is accomplished through
Children’s Disaster Services 2020 Trainings Read More »
Do you currently work in Child Life? If so, tell us about your current position. If not, tell us about your Child Life history. I am in my 7th year as a child life clinical instructor at Missouri State University. Prior to that I worked as a CCLS for 8 years at Children’s Mercy Hospital
CLDR Member Spotlight: Cara Smith Read More »
One of the most important factors in promoting resilience and positive outcomes post-disaster for children is the services and support they receive within those first few hours after a traumatic event. Unfortunately, this is also one of the largest gaps in disaster services for children; there are currently no nationally coordinated services directly focused on
CLDR Local Initiative Piloting in 7 Cities Read More »
In just one week, a team of three Certified Child Life Specialists have been able to serve approximately 175 children, each demonstrating the effects of Hurricane Dorian but also the therapeutic power of play in healing! The team reports encountering lots of hyperactivity and aggression and having numerous breakthroughs as the children process the array
Veterans United Foundation Donates to Hurricane Dorian Response in the Bahamas Read More »