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Taking Compassion to New Heights

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Child Life & Music Therapy

Child Life & Music Therapy

Helping children and families express, cope, and connect through play, creativity, and music.
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Family & Sibling Support

Family & Sibling Support

Compassionate care for every member of the family, every step of the way.
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Spiritual & Cultural Support

Spiritual & Cultural Support

Honoring beliefs, traditions, and the spiritual needs of your family.
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Respite
Care

Respite
Care

Caring for a child with a serious illness is an incredibly demanding and emotional experience.
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Grief and Bereavement Support

Grief and Bereavement Support

The loss of a child is a heart-wrenching experience, and it can feel impossible to navigate the pain and sorrow that follows.
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The Dorion Family Pediatric Center

Read about how this donor-funded goal will support children and families in our community and how you can help.

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The Foundation of Community Hospice & Palliative Care generates philanthropic and community support for patient care services, family needs, and community programs.

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Community PēdsCare® is here for you, committed to helping you live better.

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866-253-6681

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Taking Compassion to New Heights

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Helping children and families express, cope, and connect through play, creativity, and music.

What is a Child Life Specialist?

A Child Life Specialist is trained to support children and teens during difficult medical experiences — like serious illness, end-of-life care, and grief. They use play, art, books, and conversation to help children:

  • Understand what’s happening in ways that make sense for their age
  • Express feelings like fear, anger, sadness, or confusion
  • Stay connected to their identity, interests, and joy
  • Cope with medical procedures, changes, and big emotions
  • Create meaningful memories with their family

Child Life Specialists also support siblings and parents, offering guidance on how to talk about illness, death, and feelings in a way that’s honest, gentle, and loving.

“Sometimes kids can’t say how they feel — but they can show you through a drawing, a puppet, or a story.”

What is Music Therapy?

Music Therapy uses the healing power of music to bring comfort, connection, and emotional support to children and families during serious illness and at end-of-life.

Led by a board-certified music therapist, these sessions may include:

  • Singing, songwriting, or lullabies
  • Playing instruments — or just listening together
  • Creating heartbeat songs or memory recordings
  • Music for relaxation, comfort, or celebration
  • Shared moments that bring joy, peace, or reflection

Music therapy can reduce pain and anxiety, support emotional expression, and provide meaningful ways for families to connect and create lasting memories.

“Even when words are hard, music still speaks.”

Supporting the Whole Child, Heart and Soul

In pediatric palliative and hospice care, emotional support isn’t extra — it’s essential.Through play and music, we help children and families find light, love, and connection — even in the hardest moments.

Compassionate care for every member of the family, every step of the way.
In pediatric palliative and hospice care, we understand that the impact of illness doesn’t just affect the child — it touches the entire family. That’s why our services are designed to offer emotional, practical, and grief support to parents, siblings, schools, and extended family members throughout the journey.

Support for Parents and Caregivers

We know that caring for a seriously ill child is incredibly emotional, and often overwhelming. Our team is here to offer you:

  • Emotional counseling and one-on-one support to help you cope with the challenges of caregiving, loss, and grief.
  • Guidance through tough decisions, helping you make choices that align with your values and wishes for your child.
  • Respite services to give you a break, so you can recharge, take care of yourself, and return to your child with renewed strength.
  • Practical support with things like meal delivery, transportation, and navigating healthcare systems.

We are here to support your mental, physical, and emotional well-being, because when you’re taken care of, you can give your child the best care possible.

Siblings’ Emotional Support

Siblings of a child with a serious illness may experience confusion, sadness, fear, and even guilt. We offer special programs to help siblings:

  • Express their feelings through art, play, and therapy that’s tailored to their age and developmental stage.
  • Understand the illness in an age-appropriate way, helping them process the changes happening in their family.
  • Participate in memory-making activities that allow siblings to feel connected to their brother or sister, creating lasting bonds and memories.
  • Grief support for siblings before, during and after loss, offering counseling, support groups, and remembrance activities to help them cope with their feelings.

We’re here to support siblings as they navigate their own emotions, understand the journey, and find healthy ways to express themselves.

Extended Family and Support Network

In addition to the immediate family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and close friends often play an important role in providing love and care. We offer support to the extended family by:

  • Family counseling sessions to help everyone understand the situation and offer meaningful support.
  • Educational resources help family members communicate effectively with the child, the parents, and each other.
  • Grief and remembrance programs to help the entire family cope after the child’s passing, including memory-keeping and special ceremonies.

We believe that no one should walk this journey alone, and we are here to help you lean on each other in meaningful ways.

“Our job is to support your whole family — emotionally, physically, and spiritually — through every moment of this journey.”

Honoring beliefs, traditions, and the spiritual needs of your family.
At Community PedsCare, we understand that spiritual and cultural beliefs are deeply important when facing serious illness and end-of-life care. Our team is committed to offering support that respects and nurtures the unique spiritual and cultural needs of your child, your family, and your traditions.

Spiritual Care for Your Family

Spiritual care is about providing comfort, meaning, and peace during challenging times. Our trained chaplains and spiritual care providers are available to:

  • Offer prayers, blessings, or rituals in a way that aligns with your faith or spiritual beliefs.
  • Provide guidance and comfort for families dealing with fear, grief, or uncertainty, helping them find peace and strength.
  • Create meaningful connections to faith traditions, including helping facilitate ceremonies, memorials, or any special observances that honor your child and your family.

We honor your beliefs and offer an open space for spiritual reflection, helping you navigate the emotional and spiritual aspects of this journey.

Cultural Support for Your Family

We understand that every family comes from a unique cultural background, and those traditions and values are deeply important, especially during times of serious illness. Our team is here to:

  • Respect and celebrate your cultural practices, ensuring that the care we provide aligns with your customs and traditions.
  • Provide culturally sensitive care, considering the role of community, family, and any specific rituals that bring comfort and peace to your family.
  • Connect and collaborate with community leaders or cultural resources that can help provide additional support, whether it’s religious, spiritual, or community based.

Our goal is to create an environment where your family feels seen, heard, and respected in every aspect of your child’s care.

A Compassionate, Holistic Approach

Spiritual and cultural support is an essential part of pediatric palliative and hospice care because it helps address the whole child and the whole family — not just their physical needs. We’re here to offer the guidance, comfort, and support that help you stay connected to what matters most during this journey.

We are committed to respecting your beliefs and traditions, providing care that brings peace and comfort to your family.

“In times of illness and loss, we believe that spirituality and culture offer essential comfort and guidance. We are here to walk alongside you, honoring your values and faith.”

Why Respite Care is So Important

Caring for a child with a serious illness is an incredibly demanding and emotional experience. As parents or caregivers, you give all your heart, energy, and attention to your child, but even the most devoted caregivers need time to rest and recharge. This is where respite care becomes essential.

Taking Care of Yourself So You Can Take Care of Your Child

As a caregiver, your own well-being is just as important as your child’s. Respite care gives you the chance to step away from the caregiving role, even for just a few hours or days, so you can rest, recharge, and take care of your own physical and emotional health. When you’re rested, you can continue to provide the best care for your child — with more energy, patience, and strength.

Reducing Stress and Preventing Burnout

The emotional and physical toll of caregiving can be overwhelming. Respite care provides a break to relieve the pressure and stress of constant caregiving duties. This time away helps prevent burnout, allowing you to return to your child with renewed energy and a clearer mind.

Strengthening Family Connections

When caregiving becomes all-consuming, it can be easy to lose sight of other important relationships within your family. Respite care allows you the time to reconnect with your spouse, other children, or extended family members. It gives you a chance to focus on relationships outside of caregiving, strengthening the bond between all family members.

Maintaining Your Family’s Routine

Caregiving for a seriously ill child often means that everyday routines are upended. Respite care helps restore a sense of normalcy for the rest of the family, whether it’s helping siblings get back to school, allowing you to run errands, or attending to personal needs. It gives you the flexibility to care for your child while maintaining balance in other parts of your life.

Peace of Mind for Your Family

When you take a breakthrough respite care, you can rest easy knowing your child is in the capable hands of professional caregivers who are skilled in providing comfort care. This peace of mind allows you to focus on caring for yourself without worry.

“It’s okay to take a break. You’re doing an amazing job, and by caring for yourself, you can continue to be the strong, loving caregiver your child needs.”

Respite care is not about stepping away from your child — it’s about giving you the time and space to rejuvenate, so you can continue to be there for them with the love and strength they deserve.

Grief and Bereavement Support for Families

The loss of a child is a heart-wrenching experience, and it can feel impossible to navigate the pain and sorrow that follows. Pediatric palliative and hospice care doesn’t end with your child’s passing — it extends to provide grief and bereavement support to help your family heal, find hope, and honor your child’s memory.

Why Grief and Bereavement Support Matters

Compassionate Guidance Through Grief

Grief is unique for everyone, and there’s no “right” way to grieve. Our team provides personalized grief counseling and support to help each family member — parents, siblings, and extended family — process their emotions at their own pace. We walk with you through the storm of grief, offering comfort and understanding every step of the way.

Safe Space for Emotions

Losing a child can bring a deep sense of loss, but it can also stir feelings of guilt, anger, or confusion. Grief and bereavement support offers a safe, non-judgmental space for you to express your feelings, explore your grief, and begin healing in a supportive environment.

Helping Siblings Cope

Siblings often feel the impact of loss deeply, yet they may struggle to express their grief in the same way adults do. Specialized support for siblings helps them process their

Honoring Your Child’s Memory

Our grief support services help families create lasting memories of their child through memory-making activities, such as keepsakes, photography, and special ceremonies. These moments of remembrance help celebrate your child’s life and legacy while helping you cope with the overwhelming pain of loss.

Ongoing Support

Grief doesn’t end after a few weeks or months. Our bereavement services are available for as long as you need them — whether that’s individual counseling, support groups, or check-ins at anniversaries or special milestones. We’re here for the long haul, offering continuous support as you learn to live with the loss and find a way to move forward.

Connecting with Others

Grief can be isolating, but you are not alone. Our grief support programs offer opportunities to connect with other families who have experienced similar losses. Sharing your journey with others who understand can bring comfort, solace, and a sense of community.

Healing After Loss — A Journey, not a Destination

Grief and bereavement support in pediatric palliative and hospice care is about more than just coping with loss. It’s about honoring your child’s life, celebrating their legacy, and allowing space for healing. You don’t have to go through this journey alone — we’re here to help you navigate your grief, find hope, and create a path toward healing that’s unique to your family’s experience.

“We are here to help you hold onto the love you shared with your child — and support you in finding new ways to carry that love forward.”