The Department of Clinical Social Work and Language Services provides comprehensive and compassionate family-centered services to children and their families in order to enhance their quality of life while in the hospital, at home, at school, and within their community.

The team firmly embraces the Children's Mercy's mission statement that states, "Patients and their families are treated with compassion in a family-centered environment onsite and in the community, that recognizes their physical, emotional, financial, social, educational, and spiritual needs."

Social workers serve in many different capacities both in the hospital and the community. Services are available free of charge and include the following:

Therapeutic Support

• Adjustment to illness
• Anxiety/grief/bereavement
• Lifestyle changes
• Crisis management
• Family concerns
• Caregiver concerns
• Supportive counseling
• Parent-child interaction
• Sibling support

Care Planning

• Advance directives
• Home care arrangements
• School/IEP/504
• Power of attorney
• Transition to adult care
• Legal issues

Community Referrals

• Financial assistance
• WIC-TANF/Medicaid
• Mental health
• Social Security/disability
• Early intervention services
• Temporary lodging
• Transportation
• Parent support and resources