Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation

About Us

Founded as a Christian ministry of healing, Baylor Scott & White Health promotes the well-being of all individuals, families and communities. Baylor Scott & White Health aims to be a trusted leader, educator and innovator in value-based care delivery, customer experience and affordability.

Since Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation was established in 1978, we have distributed millions of dollars to support initiatives across Baylor Scott & White Health to advance this mission. Philanthropic support has a lasting impact on our ability to fund innovative research, train future leaders in healthcare, purchase advanced medical technology and offer programs that enhance care for patients and communities across North Texas.

The Need

When patients are diagnosed with life-changing illnesses, they often struggle with how to share the news with loved ones – especially the children in their lives. Serious illnesses not only drastically affect patients but also impact the children in their lives. Traditionally, child life specialists are found in pediatric hospitals – supporting children who are undergoing medical treatment. However, very few adult acute care hospitals serve the emotional needs of children whose parent or adult loved one is experiencing a health crisis. When patients experience a serious or life-limiting illness or injury, the effects reach far beyond their physical health. For those with younger children in their lives, child life specialists can help their loved ones understand and navigate the situation.

Our Response

Baylor Scott & White Health is one of the first health systems to add child life specialists to the adult health care team. Our Child Life Services team enters the child’s life at key times in a family’s medical journey. Any Baylor Scott & White staff member may offer the Child Life Specialist service to patients with a life-limiting illness or injury. Once the parent or guardian accepts, the process to build rapport with a child begins. To do this, a palliative child life specialist partners with the adult patient or other involved adults and creates a plan that includes:

• Preparing children for treatment plans and physical changes their special adult will experience.
• Helping families cope with extended separation during hospitalization.
• Setting up expectations for family life when their person returns home.
• Support when the medical journey doesn’t end with a cure.

Our child life specialists take time to build a rapport with each child. With listening as the primary tool, each specialist has a range of tools they can work with to connect with a child. These include bibliotherapy (books that address issues and provide guidance with relatable characters), medical equipment and procedure simulation (tell-show-do), self-expression materials, manipulatives and miniatures, legacy materials and normalized play opportunities.Child Life Specialist Cinda McDonald facilitates therapeutic play.

Real Impact

Since launching in 2011, the Child Life Services team has:

• Provided 37,040 therapeutic interactions
• Supported 24,100 children
• Served 14,481 families

How You Can Make a Difference

Baylor Scott & White’s Child Life Program relies on philanthropy and is in existence today thanks to generous donors. Every dollar donated translates into care for our patients and their families. Please join us as we continue providing the support our patients and their families need.

While it's impossible to put a price on the long-term welfare of a growing child and predict how they may respond to a serious trauma, our support is offered at no cost to families.