March is Child Life Month

Leah Stapleton, Emmalee Tresnan, and Danielle Eaves are Child Life Specialists at Community Hospice & Palliative Care. They work closely with children and their families in medical, home, and classroom settings to provide emotional support and help develop coping strategies for all involved. 

These Child Life Specialists serve children in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau St. Johns, Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Putnam, Suwannee, and Union counties. There is no typical day of work for these compassionate professionals, and all three love what they do. 

"I love being able to support children, especially on their journey through hospice. I sometimes think with being in the adult population people forget about the child or assume they are not aware of what is going on," explained Emmalee Tresnen, Child Life Specialist

"For me, I love the opportunity to be a positive part during the often stressful times in families’ lives," added Leah Stapleton, Child Life Specialist 

"I'm proud to have been here for twelve years and to have watched these kids grow up and graduate from Community PedsCare because aging out is such a huge success," said Danielle Eaves, Pediatric Child Life Specialist. "I think when people hear pediatric hospice and palliative, there's such a misconception that we are working with dying children, but in fact, we're helping children live their lives and to be kids. I feel that's the most important role we play as Child Life Specialists".