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16 Comfort Items to Bring to Your Child’s Doctor Appointment There are a few tried-and-true ways to prepare your child for a doctor’s visit: Talk about it ahead of time. Pretend through play. Practice calming exercises like making a coping toolbox. Best of all? Bring a few comfort items! (Your child will love this step.) Put your child in

"My Friend Has Cancer:" Helping Adolescents and Young Adults Cope By Mary Laliberte: Normally, adolescents and young adults first experience cancer from older relatives who have been diagnosed. But what happens when a peer gets diagnosed with cancer? Mary Laliberte, Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Connecticut Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders

Diaper Connections Provides Crucial Support to Families By Luis Rivera: By: Luis Rivera, MSW Diapers are an incredible expense for families and many have a tough time affording the amount needed to keep their children clean and dry. An important new initiative addresses diaper insecurity and Connecticut Children’s is excited to be a partner in it to

Connecting the Dots: Care Coordination By Katherine Ramirez: By: Katherine Ramirez During this time of unprecedented hardships facing so many families, there is also tremendous opportunity for those who serve children and families to rise to the challenge and meet their needs. Connecticut Children’s 4th annual Care Coordination Forum

Beyond Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome: One Year Later By Timothy Crombleholme, MD: It’s a typical morning at home with 1-year-old identical twins. Ben, who is older by a few seconds, is pulling silly faces and giggling. Renny is crying and clinging to mom Kaelyn — who is doing her best to prepare snacks with one arm, since Renny is occupying the other. “It’s

What is Good Program Definition? By Scott Orsey: By: Scott Orsey Are you struggling to explain your program to potential supporters? Is your program a wild success and worthy of replication, but others just don’t get it? Are you looking to put pen to paper and document your program definition? A quick internet search will turn

How to Talk to Kids About Scary or Tragic Events in the News By Robert D. Keder, MD: In the wake of the mass shooting on August 27, 2025 at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, MN, children will likely have many questions. In addition to seeing disturbing footage on the news and on social media, they are also likely picking up on the stress and sadness

4 Quick Tips to Help Kids Sleep Better and Wake Up Energized By Lynelle Schneeberg, PsyD: This article was originally published in August 2021 and last updated in December 2023. Good sleep is essential for a good school year: during the day, a well-rested child has an easier time focusing and behaving. At night, quality sleep allows their brain to organize and store

Help Me Grow Forum: “It’s Time to Stand Up for Our Kids!” By: Jacquelyn M. Rose, MPH and Joann Petrini, PhD, MPH The 10th annual Help Me Grow National Forum, co-hosted by the Help Me Grow National Center and Help Me Grow Western New York, featured three days of shared learning and inspiration around best practices to collectively

At the Forefront of Newborn Screening By Debbie Ellis, RN, BSN: By: Debbie Ellis, RN, BSN It’s a tiny prick on a newborn baby’s heel, but it can have a huge impact on the rest of their life. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared newborn screening one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 21st century

Need Fetal Care for a High-Risk Pregnancy? 6 Factors to Consider By Timothy Crombleholme, MD: If you’ve just been told that your developing baby has a fetal condition that may require special expertise to be managed, you’re likely feeling all kinds of emotions. Your first instinct may be to search the web for information about this diagnosis and find the best fetal care

Leveraging Medicaid to Promote Children’s Health By Paul Dworkin, MD: As our country continues to grapple with how best to achieve meaningful healthcare reform, we have an auspicious opportunity to enhance opportunities for leveraging Medicaid to transform child health services to promote children’s optimal health, development, and well-being

Honoring Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month With Kids Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month provides an opportunity to teach children about the tremendous contributions Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have made in the United States during past and present times. At

Connecticut Children's President & CEO James E. Shmerling Announces Retirement After Decade of Leadership Hartford, Conn. – After a decade of transformative leadership, James E. Shmerling, DHA, FACHE, President & CEO of Connecticut Children’s, has announced his plans to retire at the end of 2025. His tenure has been marked by extraordinary growth, innovation, and an unwavering

First in Connecticut: Luna’s Story Technology that enables a devastating sports injury to heal itself? At Connecticut Children’s, it’s no longer beyond imagination. Connecticut Children’s recently became the first health system in Connecticut to use the BEAR® Implant to treat a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL