A Clinic for Children and Their Families Coping with
Chronic/Life Threatening Illness or Loss
UAMS Medical Crisis and Loss Clinic
The experience of a life-threatening illness or death of a family member can
be emotionally disruptive to a child's development, as well as to the child's
entire family. Frequently, children experiencing problems in adjusting to
loss or serious illness may demonstrate difficulties including increased
sadness and anxiety, withdrawal from friends, decreased school achievement
or medical nonadherence.
The Medical Crisis and Loss Clinic was developed
to assist children and families in coping with loss and change. It is a short-term
intervention focused on improving long-term adjustment.
Who to Refer?
The clinic is intended for parents whose child has died, or children and adolescents
who:
have experienced the death of a family member or close friend,
have experienced a loss of function from physical trauma, or
have difficulty coping with the diagnosis of a chronic or life-threatening
illness.
The clinic is not intended for children whose primary problem is physical
or sexual abuse, parental divorce, longstanding emotional problems or violent
behavior.
Who Comes to the Appointment?
The clinic is flexible in its approach. An appointment can be made for an individuals
child, parents or families.
Frequency of Visits
The initial visit is focused on understanding the issues facing the child and
family. Subsequent visits may vary from a one-time consultation, such as parents
requesting advice on how to talk with siblings, to several sessions, such as
adapting to changes that accompany loss or chronic illness. Parents may wish
to re-consult the clinic staff at a later point in time.
Staff
Jayne Bellando, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Pulliam, Psy.D.
Anne Stermock, Ph.D.
Wendy Ward-Begnoche, Ph.D.
Staff members are pediatric psychologists and faculty members of the University
of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Department of Pediatrics and on staff at Arkansas
Children's Hospital Appointments
Clinic appointments can be made by calling:
(501) 364-1830 Please ask specifically for the Medical Crisis and Loss Clinic.
UAMS Medical Crisis and Loss Clinic
James L. Dennis Developmental Center
1612 Maryland Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72202
The clinic is adjacent to the Arkansas Children's Hospital campus.