Social Services
At Stanford Children’s Health, we nurture the whole patient and family. Providing family-centered care means partnering with you as a member of the care team and getting to know your child’s and your family’s unique needs and preferences. By learning what your individual family needs, we can work together to develop a plan that helps with care coordination, resource assistance and emotional support throughout your child’s health care journey.
Contact a Social Worker
Most of our medical services have dedicated social workers. Patients who use those services will be partnered with a social worker.
Please call our main office at (650) 497-8303 for questions, referrals or help contacting your social worker. Social workers are available at the hospital Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You may also request a social worker by asking a nurse or member of the medical team to make a referral.
Spiritual Care
Chaplains are spiritual care providers who work with patients and families to access spiritual strengths and resources. Chaplains offer care and support when patients and their families search for meaning in the midst of illness and hospitalization. In addition, chaplains can be advocates for families and patients whose traditions, practices and values are important in daily life and in decision-making. Chaplains educate and collaborate with team members in providing culturally and spiritually sensitive and appropriate care.
Contact a Chaplain
Board certified chaplains comprise the core of the Chaplaincy Services staff at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. Clinically trained on-call chaplains are available to patients, families and staff 24/7 for support, education, ritual and consultation. Chaplains are available in the hospital from 8 a.m.– 12 p.m. (midnight) Monday through Friday. A Spanish speaking chaplain is also available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On-call chaplains are available from 12 p.m. midnight to 8 a.m., weekends and holidays. To reach a chaplain, you may call (650) 497-8000 and ask for the 2PRAY pager (pager # 27729) to reach the on-call chaplain.
Child Life and Creative Arts
Hospital stays can be confusing and frightening, especially for children and teens. Child Life specialists are members of your child’s health care team. They work directly with you and your child to help you relieve tension, express concerns and fears and feel more in control about your hospital experience. We use developmentally-appropriate education, preparation, support and therapeutic play to minimize stress to help children and their families cope positively with their health care experience.
NICH Program
Our research-proven Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare (NICH) program streamlines care for children with complex and chronic conditions. We coordinate care and establish a support network for your family so you can better manage your child’s multiple medical needs while maintaining a healthy life balance. Our team is available at all times for questions, needs, and concerns, and are here to support you within your community, school, and home, and to serve as a liaison between you and your child’s care team.
Contact us at (650) 441-9504 or email NICH@stanfordchildrens.org.
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