Child Life
Supporting Children Through Hospital Stays
A stay in the hospital can be unsettling, no matter how old you are. But for children, medical procedures, unfamiliar surroundings, and new faces can be particularly stressful. Child Life specialists at St. Luke's Children's Hospital work to ease this stress by providing emotional and developmental support to patients, their siblings, and their families. We strive to create a warm, nonthreatening, calm, supportive environment to help your child cope with the stress associated with the hospital experience.
Child Life specialists are here for kids at St. Luke’s Children’s, during hospital stays, before surgery in the pediatric pre-op area, in the emergency department, and in the cancer center.
To contact a Child Life specialist, please call (208) 381-4758.
Visitor Process/Application
If you or your organization is planning a service project or volunteer visit to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, the first step is to read through our guidelines. To be considered for a visit, individuals and organizations must complete and submit an application. Your application must be received at least four weeks prior to the intended visit. All requests are subject to the approval of the Child Life Department, Volunteer Services, and/or St. Luke’s Health Foundation.
Pre-Surgery Tour
Surgery can be scary for anyone, but especially for children who don't know what to expect. To help ease this uncertainty, St. Luke's Children's Hospital offers pre-surgery tours for children and their families. To schedule your in-person tour, call St. Luke's Child Life at (208) 381-6137.
Kid's Walking Tour of St. Luke's
Need an activity to keep the kids occupied? This fun and interesting walking tour for kids and families will help you have fun while getting to know our downtown Boise campus!
Donate Items
Our Child Life specialists take great care in making sure your gifts are put to their best use. Your donation may go to an individual child as a way to welcome him or her to the hospital, as a prize for getting through a procedure, as a birthday or Christmas gift, or as a gift during one of our Child Life events. Your donation may also be used in one of our playrooms or with individual patients at the bedside.
Child Life Locations
Medical Plaza
Idaho Elks Children's Pavilion: Boise
Medical Plaza
Clinic
St. Luke's Children's Cancer Institute: Boise
Clinic
Medical Center
St. Luke's Children's Hospital: Boise
Medical Center
Support the Kids and Families at St. Luke’s Children’s
You Can Make a Difference
You can make a real difference to kids and families facing medical challenges. We hope you’ll help us provide the exceptional healthcare these kids deserve. We encourage you to get involved by making a financial gift, sponsoring or attending events, or volunteering your time.