065: It Takes a Village: How to Add a Child Life Specialist to Yours with Caitlin McNamara

If raising a child takes a village, parents can use all the help they can get when navigating a difficult medical journey. But between medical teams, family, friends, and all the different groups of people that come together in order to provide the care needed, a lot of informational gaps can get left behind. 

From splitting time between the hospital and your family at home to preparing for discharge and transitioning home with (potentially new) medical equipment, it is quite easy to feel overwhelmed as a caregiver.

That’s why Child Life Specialists like Caitlin McNamara dedicate their career to helping families bridge those gaps: they walk along with them on the journey and assist whenever possible by providing guidance and advice that could otherwise be hard for caregivers to find. 

And while we firmly believe that every hospital should have Child Life Specialists available, it’s unfortunately not the case yet. This is why Caitlin and her team created Child Core: an online coaching program dedicated to becoming an integral part of families’ support systems. 

Today, Caitlin shares with us incredible advice on creating plans for difficult moments or transitions in your journey, finding your community, and understanding the uniqueness of each journey.

In the “Resources” section below, you’ll also be able to find Child Core’s free resources. These were designed to offload some pressure off of caregivers by providing guidance on using medical equipment, providing checklists to take to appointments, and much more. 

Key Takeaways with Caitlin McNamara

• The benefits of adding a Child Life Specialist to your support team. 
• Navigating a difficult medical journey with your child as a caregiver. 
• The impact of the journey on caregivers, siblings, and the child. 
• Advice on creating your “village” or community, and how to ask for help. 
• Preparing for the complexities of a transition home (discharge). 
• Free resources that can help parents who are feeling overwhelmed. 
• Remembering that what worked for others may not work for you. 
• How needs may change with time, and how to process these changes. 
• Finding a balance between caring for your child, your family, and yourself.

Show Notes:

Get Full Access to the Show Notes by visiting: MatteasJoy.org/65.

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