Child Life Disaster Relief

Children’s Disaster Services 2020 Trainings

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 […]

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Thank you Child Life Specialists for deploying to the Bahamas!

The last month has been a wild and amazing ride for Child Life Disaster Relief. The Bahamas Ministry of Health and US Coalition of Physicians requested Certified Child Life Specialists deploy to the Bahamas to provide support following Hurricane Dorian, and several volunteers answered the call.  These deployments would not have been possible without the

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CLDR Local Initiative Piloting in 7 Cities

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

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Veterans United Foundation Donates to Hurricane Dorian Response in the Bahamas

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

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Bahamas Deployment Update

Last Friday, three incredible Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS), Cara Smith, Eileen Esposito, and Hayley Wells, deployed to the Bahamas to work with children and families that have been affected by Hurricane Dorian.  They have been busy making connections, assessing needs, and supporting children in shelters, clinics, orphanages, emergency rooms, and homes. Eileen shared an

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Deployment Alert: Tropical Storm Imelda

Two members from Child Life Disaster Relief (CLDR) deployed with our partner, Children’s Disaster Services (CDS), to work with children affected by Tropical Storm Imelda.  Stephanie Michel-Siddall has been working alongside her CDS teammates in a shelter in Orange, TX since this past Sunday and Catie McDaniel will be joining tomorrow. So far, there have

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UPDATE: Bahamas Deployment Confirmed

ATTENTION ALL CERTIFIED CHILD LIFE SPECIALISTS:   This deployment is now confirmed.  If you are an experienced Certified Child Life Specialists ready and willing to work with children affected by Hurricane Dorian, please let us know of your interest.  We are currently reviewing the information submitted.   This deployment requires a minimum of a one-week commitment over

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