By Kate Marino 

Patients at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU have a new space for hope, healing, and fun. The 3,400-square-foot Child Life Zone, made possible by $2.6 million in community funding, is now open in the Children’s Tower, serving as a therapeutic play space dedicated to hospital patients’ social and emotional well-being.

“Our team of child life specialists assists patients and families through education, coping strategies, and normalization of the health care environment,” said Bethany Fisackerly, child life manager at CHoR. “The Child Life Zone opens a whole new world of possibilities for our team to care for kids – and for them to interact with each other – amid their medical journeys. We’re immensely grateful to the donors who made this amazing space possible.”

The Child Life Zone was designed and constructed by the Teammates for Kids Foundation and is the 15th of its kind in the world. While most look similar, the Child Life Zone in the Children’s Tower highlights local touches, including a clubhouse modeled after the Native American longhouses of regional tribes, jerseys from the VCU Rams and other Virginia sports teams decorating the walls, and more.

To meet the funding needs of the Child Life Zone, Children’s Hospital Foundation secured a lead gift of $2 million from an anonymous donor as well as dual $300,000 donations from Estes Express Lines and Meta.

"Supporting Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU and its new Child Life Zone is a true privilege,” said Carrie Estes Johnstone, vice president of customer experience & innovation, Estes Express Lines. “This amazing space offers patients and their siblings a chance to escape, even if just for a little while, from the challenges of being in the hospital. It’s a place where they can immerse themselves in fun, creative activities and be whisked away to new worlds, forgetting about their treatments. After visiting and seeing the cool, engaging areas, I can say that even as an adult, I wanted to stay and play! It’s an incredible resource that brings joy and relief to those who need it most."

In addition to the clubhouse with ample space to explore, the Zone includes:

• Medical play area with interactive exhibits to help kids feel at ease in the medical setting
• Touch screen digital sensory table
• Virtual reality station
• Makerspace with 3D printer and other technology for pursuing creative endeavors
• Arcade and gaming lounge
• Photo booth

“Our child life team is simply tremendous in how they connect with kids throughout their health care experiences,” said Elias Neujahr, CHoR president. “Opening the Child Life Zone was a goal on the horizon when we built the Children’s Tower. It’s a great day that we can now offer amazing opportunities for patient creativity, relaxation and learning in this new space, thanks to the generosity of some wonderful partners in our community.”

Depending on their medical status and needs, patients may navigate through the Child Life Zone at their leisure or have structured sessions with a child life specialist to work on specific health goals.

“We are proud to support Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and continue investing in the long-term vitality of Virginia, home to our Henrico Data Center. The relationships that patients will form in the new Child Life Zone – with each other and their caretakers – will help support their well-being during hospital stays,” said Kelley McCall, community development regional manager, Meta.

Download images of the Child Life Zone space and ribbon-cutting.