If you have a question or worry and aren’t sure who to talk to, your bedside nurse is a good place to start. They can put you in touch with a social worker, who can help with social and financial support, or with other supports as listed below
Allied Health Services for Families
- Social work
“We provide support to families in hospitals or clinics. Social Workers address key factors including income, housing, food security, and childhood development. We empower families to overcome barriers to improve overall health for you.” - Indigenous Patient Navigator
“We welcome you, and we are your hosts! We serve patients and their families who identify as Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit or Metis and who are using services at BC Children's Hospital and BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre.” - Medical Psychology
“We support children and families experiencing acute and chronic medical conditions and mental health disorders. We provide assessments and diagnosis, therapy, and consultation.” - Spiritual Care
“Our spiritual health practitioners offer spiritual care for children and their families affected by illness or injury.” - Child Life
“Certified Child Life Specialists at BC Children's Hospital make hospitalization a more positive experience for patients through play, therapeutic interventions, preparation, and creative arts.”
Supporting your Child's Coping
- ICU diaries: An ICU diary is like a special notebook where patients or their family members write about what happens while a child is in the hospital. After children get better, they can read the diary to help them understand better what happened and support their emotional recovery.
- Please click the links below to view documents with tips on supporting your child while they’re in the hospital:
Posted with permission from the UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress. Developed by the Center for Pediatric Traumatic Stress. (2014). At the Hospital: Helping My Child Cope – What Parents Can Do. Los Angeles, CA & Durham, NC: National Center for Child Traumatic Stress. https://www.nctsn.org/resources/hospital-helping-my-child-cope-what-parents-can-do
Posted with permission from the UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress. Developed by the Center for Pediatric Traumatic Stress. (2014). At the Hospital: Helping My Teen Cope – What Parents Can Do. Los Angeles, CA & Durham, NC: National Center for Child Traumatic Stress. https://www.nctsn.org/resources/hospital-helping-my-teen-cope-what-parents-can-do
Language supports available at BC Children's
Please tell a member of your care team, if you need an interpreter. Interpreters are available 24/7, free of charge.
More Services to Support your Child and Siblings
Patient Stories
Please click here to read about other patients who have been treated at BC Children’s Hospital. While their stories may not be the same as your child’s we hope that they highlight that you are not alone.