Center for the Spirituality of Children

The Center for the Spirituality of Children has been created to care for and nurture the spirituality of our patients throughout their hospital experience. This care and nurture is provided primarily, but not exclusively, through the use of Godly Play®—a form of sacred story that guides children into becoming more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives by connecting each child’s own experience with his or her relationship with the Divine. Godly Play® opportunities are offered to patients individually in their rooms, in patient groups and family groups, at scheduled story times on inpatient units and in the Godly Play® rooms attached to the chapels at each campus.

There are three additional facets to the work accomplished by the center:

• Continuing education for medical professionals and others interested in children’s spirituality—including an International Symposium on the Spirituality of Children
• Qualitative research
• Publishing

We believe that when a child is hospitalized, his or her world is changed forever. We are honored to be a hopeful, spiritual presence for children and their families at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.