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Spotlight:
Social Work works

Members of the Social Work Department. Front row (l-r), Isabel Bailey, Kate Ginnis and Jennifer Darling. Back row Betty Singer, Lois Green, Kathy Furlong, Kimberley Gallant and Susan Lambert.

t is well known that Children’s strives to care not just for the medical needs of its patients, but for the needs of whole families going through medical treatment. And a critical link to providing family-centered care comes from the hospital’s 68 social workers. These master’s-trained professionals work in all areas of the hospital, both inpatient and outpatient, and each has a unique role based on his or her specialty.

Lois Green, MSW, LICSW, has nine years of experience as a medical social worker, six here at Children’s. She works with families whose children are admitted on the General Pediatrics and Short Stay Services. “It’s very stressful for any parent to have a sick child,” says Green. “Parents are often left in a sort of limbo as they wait for a diagnosis. I concentrate on taking care of families while the medical staff concentrates on taking care of their children.”

Recently, Green worked with the parents of an 8-week-old baby who was facing dangerous breathing difficulties. The worried parents also had a 6- and 7-year-old at home in New Hampshire. Although the older siblings were being cared for by relatives, the parents felt the strain and stress of being away from their other children while staying with their baby at Children’s. Green listened to their concerns and helped them figure out ways to keep connected with their older children, such as starting a family journal of pictures and encouraging the siblings to express their feelings to their baby brother on the phone. As Green got to know the family better, she saw their need for financial assistance to offset the burden of being away from work. She connected them with resources and helped them take time to care for themselves as well as their children.

“This is an extremely rewarding job,” says Green. “No two families ever have the same exact needs. But in each case, it is so meaningful to help families feel even a little bit relieved of their stress.”

New Social Work director Susan Lambert, LICSW, is working to ensure that psychosocial factors are integrated in the delivery of health care at Children’s and that patients, families or other caregivers have access to social work. “So much responsibility is placed on families for decision-making and caretaking under very stressful circumstances,” says Lambert. “Social work joins with families in strengthening their capacity to develop options and plans that best meet their child’s health and developmental needs. This in turn contributes to improved medical outcomes.”

In celebration of March being Social Work Month, employees and staff are invited to a Social Work Open House in the Patient Entertainment Center, March 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. —CM