ATTENTION ALL CERTIFIED CHILD LIFE SPECIALISTS: We have a potential opportunity in the Bahamas to send experienced Certified Child Life Specialists to work with children affected by Hurricane Dorian. Details are still in progress. This would entail a minimum of a one-week deployment over the next one or two months and preference will go towards […]
Deployment Availability Needed – Bahamas Read More »
One member from Child Life Disaster Relief (CLDR) is on her way to North Carolina with our partner Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) for a CDS team deployment in response to Hurricane Dorian. While there, Susan ‘Boon’ Murray will be working alongside her CDS teammates with the children in evacuation centers. This storm has already produced
Hurricane season is here, and as Child Life Disaster Relief, we often write about how to prepare, stay safe, and work with children after a hurricane. However, we would like to also highlight the perspective of a CCLS within the hospital. Leslie Dempsey, CCLS, shares her personal encounter of when Hurricane Irma hit Florida in
When a Disaster Hits Close to Home Read More »
Our partner, Children’s Disaster Services (CDS), is working on deploying a team in the next 48 hours to Louisiana in response to Hurricane Barry making landfall. CDS is looking for certified volunteers who can commit to a full 14-day deployment. If you are able to deploy for that length of time, please contact Lisa Crouch
Deployment Availability Needed Read More »
It has certainly been a busy fall between the TX border crisis and Hurricanes Florence and Michael. In the last 2 months a total of 15 Certified Child Life Specialist have or are currently deployed with our partner Children’s Disaster Services to the various disasters. Five of those went to Panama City Beach, FL to
Fall Disaster Response Update: 15 CLDR members deployed Read More »
As Hurricane Michael approaches with potential for major effects in the Gulf Coast, our partner CDS is working on forming teams for potential deployment. Please let us know your availability for deployment by filling out this form. We also have three more CCLSs deploying with CDS to Texas for the Border Crisis. Heather Ward and
Hurricane Michael & TX Border Support Read More »
On September 17th, a group of 10 volunteers from Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) and Child Life Disaster Relief (CLDR) and I landed in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina to respond to and provide support for children and families affected by Hurricane Florence. We eagerly piled our personal belongings and kits of comfort (supplies and toys meant to
On Oobleck, Slime, and Paper Collage – Being Thankful in the Mess Read More »
We had such a great time providing services to families displaced by Hurricane Florence in College Park, MD. A group of three of us from CDS were able to set up a play space within a Red Cross shelter, and interact with fifteen different kids, ranging in age from two to fifteen-years-old. The kids had
Big Worries: A reflection from Kellie Matters Read More »
While the hurricane has come and gone, the flooding that ensues is still continuing to crest all over the east coast. For families and responders providing support, this means there has been numerous changes, happening almost hourly, with road closures and shelter access. Last Wednesday, some of our CLDR members travelled over 6 hours from
Hurricane Florence Response Update Read More »
Hurricane Florence hit North and South Carolina coast late last week and has left thousands of people without power, homes, and the security of what was known. Most devastating has been the flooding that has taken the death toll from Hurricane Florence up to 32 (as of today). This week we have a total of
Six CLDR Members Deploying to Help Hurricane Florence Survivors Read More »