On January 7, Puerto Rico was struck by its strongest earthquake since 1918 and has since experienced over 1,000 aftershocks. It has been just over two years since Hurricane Maria devastated the island and Puerto Ricans are struggling with the effects of another natural disaster. It’s yet another crisis that reminds us of the growing […]
Child Life Disaster Relief is headed to Puerto Rico Read More »
In 2019, the Bahamas Ministry of Health and a US Coalition of Physicians initiated a request for psychosocial care for children affected by Hurricane Dorian. CLDR responded by deploying twelve CCLS who made over 1,000 therapeutic contacts with children over a four week period.
The Bahamas Deployment by video 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 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
Thank you Child Life Specialists for deploying to the Bahamas! 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 »
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
Bahamas Deployment Update Read More »
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
Deployment Alert: Tropical Storm Imelda Read More »
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
UPDATE: Bahamas Deployment Confirmed Read More »