Programs:
Child Life & Development
First.
The Child Life program at Bellevue was the first child life program at any public hospital in the state of New York.
Children of Bellevue has been an important part of setting the nationwide standard in pediatric care at public hospitals for over 40 years. We know what it takes to help kids. That’s why we provide the resources for a team of Child Life professionals who work with pediatric patients and their families at Bellevue - the first Child Life program at a US public hospital.
These amazing specialists are educated and clinically trained in the developmental impact of illness, injury, and trauma. They use a variety therapies to help children and families cope, adapt, learn, and develop with and through their health care and life experiences. Every pediatric patient has access to Child Life services – whether they’re receiving outpatient care or are in the hospital for an extended illness.
It doesn’t make getting a shot hurt less – but we’ll keep trying!
“TLC” Started Here.
The term “Tender Loving Care” was coined at Bellevue Hospital (not by Elvis) and Children of Bellevue is proud to be responsible for carrying on the tradition.
What We Achieved
Our Impact in Numbers
19,498
PATIENT ENCOUNTERS
Child Life Specialists as the bridge between scary medical stuff and a child’s world. They use distraction techniques and 'medical play' to lower anxiety and help kids process what’s going on. They aren't just there for the patient, either—they're looking out for the entire family to help everyone get through it together. The Child Life team at Bellevue Hospital facilitated 19,498 patient encounters this year, each one representing a bridge built between clinical requirements and a child’s emotional well-being. This impact is broken down into five critical pillars of support.
5,259
PARENTAL SUPPORT ENCOUNTERS
Child Life program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, parent support is a vital clinical necessity designed to ensure that the entire family unit remains resilient during a child’s medical journey. Parent support ensures that the family is an active and supported part of the healing team, reducing the long-term emotional impact of medical trauma on both the child and their caregivers.
Therapeutic play in child life is a purposeful, structured intervention used to reduce anxiety, facilitate emotional expression, and educate children about medical experiences. Child life specialists use it to help patients cope with hospitalization by transforming scary medical situations into familiar, manageable, and engaging activities, often tailoring the play to the child's developmental level. (Association of Child Life Professionals)
5,004
PLAY (THERAPEUTIC & DEVELOPMENTAL)
What We Envision
As we look toward 2026, our vision is to transform Child Life from a supportive service into a universal standard of care across NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. We envision a future where no child ever has to face a medical milestone without a champion by their side.