What is this this group for?
- The aim of this group is to help ease the transition out of the hospital system and back into daily life for children and their families.
- In the acute hospital setting, there are many support services to help mitigate or prevent issues such as pain, anxiety, stress, isolation, fear of the unknown, lack of support, and fatigue from the overall experience of being bound to the hospital; or in the most severe cases posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and acute stress disorder (ASD).
- This group was created to help families of children transitioning from the pediatric hospital setting foster healthy sustaining relationships when the additional support of music therapists, child-life specialists, social workers, and psychologists discontinues with discharge from the hospital.
Who can participate in this group?
- Children 7 – 12 years old who are transitioning out of the pediatric hospital setting and their parents, caregivers, and/or siblings.
- Due to the nature of the interventions and goals, there must be at least one sibling and at least one caregiver participating with the child transitioning out of the hospital.
- Maximum of 4 families and/or a total of 12 participants.
- If larger numbers of people are interested in the group, groups will be formed with children within smaller age ranges.
- Participants must have discharged from the hospital within the past 8 months.
What is the group structure?
- 6 weeks with 2 60 – minute virtual group sessions a week.
- Mix of virtual groups and independent family work with video guidance and music therapist support.
What are the goals of this group?
- Provide families with ways to bond through musical experiences
- Foster development of coping strategies
- Express and process emotions as a family unit
- Improve quality of life
- Provide connection/support from other families with similar life situations
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is an evidence-based allied health service similar to physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech language-pathology that uses music as the therapeutic tool to address physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and/or behavioral needs.
How much does the group cost?
- Due to a MUSE grant from the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association the first offering of the group will be free.
- If participating in subsequent offerings the cost of the group is $300 per family which covers all 12 hours.
Are there any requirements for participation?
- All participants must be willing to complete 4 assessments before the start of the group and following the completion of the group (2 for children, and 2 for parents/caregivers) to help us determine the effectiveness of the group.
- These assessments include:
- The Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (self-reported or parent reported)
- The Youth Quality of Life Instrument (self-reported or parent reported)
- Multidimensional scale of perceived social support – completed by both children and parents/caregivers
- Adapted Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) – completed by parents/caregivers. Survey will be adapted with terminology adjusted from helping in a professional capacity to caring for a family member with special needs.
