---
title: "Child Life Program at Sutter Health"
description: "Sutter's Child Life program supports children and families through play, education, and emotional support to ease anxiety and enhance coping skills."
url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/child-life-program"
---

1.  [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) /
2.  [Services](https://www.sutterhealth.org/services) /
3.  Child Life Program

![nurse-doctor-with-child-in-hospital-hallway](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Images/medical-doctors/nurse-doctor-with-child-in-hospital-hallway.jpg?h=700&iar=0&w=1600)

# Child Life Program

We understand that a hospital stay or visit can be extra tough for children and their families. Our Child Life programs support the sensitive needs of our youngest patients and their whole families.

[Find a Child Life specialist](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22acceptingNewPatients%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5Btrue%5D%7D%2C%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_providerSpecialties.specialty.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Pediatrics%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=healthcare_professionals)

![nurse-doctor-with-child-in-hospital-hallway](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Images/medical-doctors/nurse-doctor-with-child-in-hospital-hallway.jpg?h=700&iar=0&w=1600)

## Why choose Sutter?

Hospitals can be scary places for kids. This is why we have people and programs in place to help your child feel more at ease. Child life specialists are trained to prepare children for procedures by using age-appropriate language and play.

Our goals are to promote development, provide support and distraction, offer activities for coping and fun, introduce anxiety-reducing strategies and support the entire family. These specialized child life teams work closely with children and their families during a hospital stay, through surgery and during visits to the emergency room.

### By the numbers

### 600+

Pediatric Providers

in our communities take care of kids’ health needs.

### 25+

Pediatric Specialties

are treated by compassionate doctors who are dedicated to children’s health.

### 6

Sutter Children's Urgent Care

in the Bay Area are dedicated to serving our youngest patients.

### 10

Sutter Hospitals

honored as America's best for 2024 by Healthgrades.

## Need a referral?

Chat live with our team Monday through Friday, 8:00 am — 5:00 pm, or call us at [888-834-1788](tel:+18888341788).

[Request a referral](https://www.sutterhealth.org/referrals)

## Treatments

-   [Animal assisted therapy](https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/animal-assisted-therapy)
-   Music therapy

Specialty programs

**Antepartum Child Life Services**

Child life specialists are here to support moms on bed rest or in the hospital by discussing how their experience affects their kids at home. We offer resources to meet your children's emotional and developmental needs and aim to make things easier for older siblings. Specialists can also help parents find enjoyable activities for kids both at the hospital and at home.

To speak with a child life specialist in the NICU or Antepartum Department, please call [415-600-0714](tel:+14156000714).

**Facility Dog Program**

Our trained canine companions bring joy to children at Sutter Children's Center, Sacramento. In 2003, our Child Life program introduced the Facility Dog program to help ease the fears of hospitalized kids. Our program dogs are graduates of Canine Companions for Independence and are specially trained to comfort and cheer up our youngest patients.

**Medical Clown Project**

Our inpatient pediatric and pediatric ICU patients in San Francisco receive a weekly visit from medical clowns. Using the healing powers of joy and laughter to balance stress and anxiety while recovering from illnesses, the Medical Clown Project provides a unique form of therapy to adults and children in healthcare settings.

**Music Therapy Program**

Our Music Therapy programs provide free therapy services from board-certified music therapists for patients and families. Using singing, songwriting, playing instruments and music-assisted relaxation, music therapy addresses physical and mental health needs.

It's common for children to struggle with expressing themselves in words. We believe music has incredible power to reduce the trauma of hospitalization, alleviate pain, encourage emotional expression and support healing and wellness. Our therapists collaborate with children and their families to provide personalized therapy, tailoring activities to each patient's age, condition and preferences.

Talk with your care team about participating in Sutter Children’s Center Music Therapy program in Sacramento. To learn more about the Music Therapy program at CPMC, please contact us at [415-600-0816](tel:+14156000816). To learn about making a charitable contribution to help expand the Music Therapy program’s free services, please visit the CPMC Foundation.

**Novack Family Child Life Services**

Our Novack Family child life specialists in San Francisco understand that a hospital stay or visit can be challenging for children and their families. We pair every child staying in the pediatrics unit, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and newborn intensive care unit (NICU) with a dedicated child life specialist. They’re here to help your little one and family cope with the potential stressors associated with their hospitalization and illness.

Child life specialists support children during medical procedures by encouraging understanding and cooperation. They provide therapeutic medical play, help children express their feelings about hospitalization, and offer activities that promote growth and development, helping children feel in control of their hospital experience.

###### Child Life Internship

Learn and develop your professional skills as an intern with Novack Family Child Life services. The Novack Family Child Life program accepts applications from current Mills College students each fall and spring and welcomes one qualifying student each semester. The internship follows the Child Life Council’s guidelines and timeline.

Please visit the [Child Life Council website](http://childlife.org/ "Please note you are leaving the Sutter Health website.") for dates, further requirements and details to apply.

## Lullabies and feeding

Music therapists are using the sound of parents singing to encourage independent feeding, thanks to our music therapy services.

## Tour our Children's Center in Sacramento 

Take a virtual tour of the Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento’s Children’s Center.

## Sutter spotlight

Health & wellness

### [Preschool Pointers – How to Give Your Preschooler a Healthy Start](https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/how-to-give-your-preschooler-a-healthy-start)

From toilet training to exercise and vaccinations, here’s what you need to know to give your little one a great start.

Health & wellness

### [Pediatric Checkups and Screening Tests](https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/pediatric-checkups-and-screening-tests)

Pediatric checkups and screening tests are one of the best ways to keep your child healthy. Learn more about checkups and screenings for your child.

Health & wellness

### [Top 5 Parenting Tips](https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/top-parenting-tips)

Read the top 5 parenting tips from pediatricians and get answers to common questions about vaccines, nutrition, anxiety, hyperactivity and more.

## Patient stories

[View all stories](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories)

-   [Patient story
    
    ### How a Hug Changed 4-Year-Old’s Hospital Visit
    
    ](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/how-a-hug-changed-4-year-olds-hospital-visit-2023563914)

[View all stories](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories)

## Child Life support for children receiving hospital care

Find a provider at Sutter who can introduce Child Life support to guide your child through care.

[Find a Child Life specialist](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?facets=[{%22i%22:%22acceptingNewPatients%22,%22v%22:[true]},{%22i%22:%22c_providerSpecialties.specialty.name%22,%22v%22:[%22Pediatrics%22]}]&verticalKey=healthcare_professionals)

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