Illness, injury, and hospitalization can be very stressful for children and their families. As part of Nemours’ commitment to family-focused care, our social workers are specially trained to assess the overall psychosocial functioning of patients and their families in the medical setting and in their community. Social workers provide professional, culturally sensitive strategies to help children and families cope with illness, injury, and disability.
In Orlando
Social Work partners with Psychology and Psychiatry as an integrated team within the Division of Behavioral Pediatrics at Nemours Children's Clinic - Orlando. This division provides an array of services to help meet the psychosocial (mental, emotional, and social) needs of all families with children suffering from chronic health issues, as well as mood and behavioral concerns. These services include:
- Psychosocial care in multi-disciplinary clinics: Cystic Fibrosis, Nephrology, Diabetes, Healthy Choices, and Hematology/Oncology
- Consultative liaison services during in-patient hospitalizations and outpatient medical visits
- Traditional outpatient therapies (individual and family), as well as psychological testing and medication management services
Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Social work at the duPont Hospital is part of the Department of Patient and Family Services. This interdisciplinary team provides the best and most compassionate care possible.
How to Reach Us:
- Phone: (302) 651-4230 or (302) 651-4232
- Fax: (302) 651-5066
- Who We Are
Clinical Services Available
Discharge Planning
This service helps patients and families establish a safe and timely discharge plan.
Our social workers assist with:
- coordinating home equipment needs
- coordinating home health care needs
- referrals for placements in residential facilities
- coordinating ambulance transportation and Medicaid transportation providers
- coordinating school services
- coordinating family meetings to discuss discharge plans, when necessary
- referrals to and coordination with community services
Crisis Intervention
This service helps families coping with crises that may include trauma, death, life threatening/serious diagnoses, child abuse, and domestic violence. Our social workers assist with:
- helping families communicate with the medical team
- anticipating the family’s possible concerns or needs
- providing emotional support to family members
- helping families mobilize their support systems
- orienting families to the hospital system so that they are able to fully participate in their child's care
- coordinating safe discharge with outside agencies
- conducting staff debriefings after crisis
- providing bereavement and end-of-life services
Counseling and Support
- Our staff understands that illness or injury can have a profound effect on a family. Our counseling and support services include:
- helping patients, siblings, parents, and extended family members realize the impact that illness or injury may have on their lives
- discussing common reactions to illness or injury
- identifying coping strategies
- providing opportunities for children and families to express their feelings about the situation
- providing bereavement counseling
- assessing the potential for or presence of child abuse
- assessing the potential for or presence of domestic violence
- fostering family and patient involvement in patient’s medical careCommunity Referrals
Acting as community liaisons, we help families access resources such as:
- emergency assistance
- state or federally supported programs
- non-profit advocacy or service groups
- mental health resources
Case Management
Case management services are available for most patients with chronic illness and may include:
- ongoing assessment of the needs of patients and their families
- coordination of services
- discharge planning
- consultation regarding custody/consent issues
- information and referral
- transitioning to adult care providers
Advocacy
Our social workers provide many advocacy services, including:
- coordination with community agencies such as schools, non-profit organizations, and insurance companies
- serving as board members and liaisons to local non-profit organizations and community groups
- impacting government policies by serving on task forces and consortiums
- increasing community awareness of pediatric health care issues
- informing parents and young adult patients of their health care rights and responsibilities
- being a voice for patients and families in interactions with outside agencies and insurance companies