Certified Child Life Specialists at the Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH use their expertise to support children during hospitalizations by providing preparation, education, distraction, play, and coping tools. Our Child Life team works closely with the interdisciplinary team to promote family centered care, supporting the child and family’s physical and emotional needs.
The goal of the Child Life team is to maximize children’s understanding of the hospital in a way that is appropriate for their age and development while minimizing the effects of stress and anxiety in the hospital. Additional services that Child Life can provide are as follows:
- Sibling support
- Recreational support
- Medical play
- New diagnosis education
- Grief and bereavement support
- Parent education
- Therapeutic play
What is a Child Life Specialist?
Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) are bachelor’s and master’s trained professionals certified by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP). CCLSs have completed an internship in Child Life and completed the necessary coursework outlined by the ACLP. Upon passing the certification exam, they become certified in the field.
Learn More About Child Life Services
Child Life full time coverage is present in the following areas:
- Pediatric Medical Surgical Unit
- Pediatric Day Hospital
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
- Pediatric Emergency Department
- Pediatric Dialysis
Child Life can be consulted to the following areas:
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Surgical Areas
- X-ray
- MRI Scan
- CT Scan
- Nuclear Medicine
- Fluoroscopy
- Ultrasound
- Body Radiology
- Echocardiogram
- Endoscopy Areas
- Interventional Radiology
- Radiation
- Pre-Admission Testing
- Adult In-Patient Units
We encourage our patients to check out our new Activity Center and Teen Lounge.
We understand that being in the hospital, the days can be long and the unknown can feel overwhelming – especially to a child. Our goal is to use technology to transform the hospital experience from isolating to engaging for our patients - whether through a favorite video game, a virtual visit to the aquarium, or enjoying the distraction of a virtual reality gaming experience.
As part of the ongoing strategic growth of the Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH, our Child Life program seeks to be a leader in the realm of innovation and technology. As the result of the renovations to Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH, we are reimagining our hospital spaces, incorporating cutting-edge technology - interactive whiteboards in patient rooms, a dynamic teen lounge with gaming computers and the latest virtual reality systems, and an activity center designed for creativity and play.
While our “innovation inventory” is continually expanding, you can preview some of our favorite activities below.
Current Technology Infrastructure (as of April 2025):
- Aquabot 3000 – provides virtual adventures at the Florida Aquarium
- KindVR virtual reality systems
- Video game systems
- Evideon closed-network system for TV/movies
- iPads, on and off stands
- DVD players
- MRI compatible projector displays child-friendly images
- MRI movie goggles
- EyeClick Interactive projector
- Bedside projectors
On the Horizon:
- Expanding and upgrading gaming systems
- Logan Stolberg Gaming station and game seat for Teen Center
- 3D Printer
- Cricut work station
Millie and Quinn, Pediatric Facility Dogs
Quinn and Millie Valor are pediatric facility dogs at Muma Children’s Hospital at Tampa General who are handled by the Child Life team. Quinn and Millie provide comfort and distraction during procedures and help ease patients’ anxiety during stressful hospitalizations.
They are highly involved in rehabilitation sessions, encouraging children to reach their goals in a supportive and engaging way. Quinn and Millie are available Monday–Friday for animal-assisted therapy and bedside visits to provide additional comfort and support.
Program History
Our Pediatric Facility Dog Program began in 2020 with the introduction of Belle Valor. Due to the positive impact of animal-assisted therapy on our patients and families, the program expanded in 2021 with the addition of Millie Valor. Following Belle’s retirement in 2026, we welcomed Quinn Valor to our team.
The program was initially made possible through funding from PetSmart Charities and continues to thrive thanks to the generous support of donors through the TGH Foundation.
For more information or to give: Tampa General Hospital Foundation | Caring for everyone. Every day.
Meet Millie, Chief Snuggle Officer
Millie was trained by Valor Service Dogs and began working at TGH in 2021. She was named by cadets at the Sarasota Military Academy in honor of the WWII “Millie Mappers,” women who played a vital role in producing accurate maps for the military and government.
Millie enjoys playing fetch with patients in the inpatient rehabilitation program, helping motivate them to work hard and reach their goals in a fun and meaningful way.
Follow Millie’s journey:
Meet Quinn, Chief Support Officer
Quinn was trained by Valor Service Dogs and joined TGH in 2026. Quinn is named after the QinFlow Warrior Lite Blood Warmer, a device used by air medical teams to deliver warmed blood and fluids to critically ill patients experiencing shock.
Quinn enjoys supporting patients in the Pediatric Day Hospital by providing comfort during procedures, often laying with them to help reduce stress and anxiety.
Follow Quinn’s journey:
Learn More
To learn more about the organization that trains our Pediatric Facility Dogs: Trained Therapy & Service Dogs | Valor Service Dogs
We have an innovative way for pediatric patients to journey beyond their hospital beds for a wildlife adventure! TGH and the Florida Aquarium have teamed up to offer patients robot-guided virtual tours of the aquarium – right from Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH. Watch the video below to learn more about our robot tours!
Why Donate to Child Life?
Certified Child Life Specialists use their expertise to support children during hospitalizations by providing preparation, education, distractions, play, and coping tools. Donations to the Muma Children’s Hospital provide us with valuable resources that help support our pediatric patients through a range of activities including, but not limited to:
- Toys and games for distraction and normalization
- Arts and crafts for our Activity Room and Teen Lounge
- Prizes for completing a difficult procedure
- Small gifts and celebrations (birthdays, holidays, special events)
- End of chemo parties
- Rehab graduation celebrations
If you are interested in making a monetary donation to support Child Life, please reach out to slerette@tgh.org from the Tampa Genera Hospital Foundation for additional information.
For inquiries regarding toy donations, our wish list for items that we frequently need is available below. For additional information, please reach out to mumachildlife@tgh.org.
To make best use of our valuable community donations, we would like to provide some ideas for the types of toys and supplies that are most frequently utilized by our Child Life Team.
Wish List Items:
Infants and School-aged Children
- Legos and Mega Bloks (All ages)
- UNO cards, playing card decks
- Amazon gift cards for teens ($15 denomination maximum)
- Crayons/colored pencils/markers
- Marvel and DC Action Figures
- Dolls/Barbies
- Light-up toys (plastic, wipeable, no wooden or cloth parts)
- Infant teethers (new, unopened)/Rattles
- Rubber or plastic blocks (no cloth, no wood)
- Mobiles (no fabric)
- Fisher-Price developmental toys
- Leap Frog educational toys
- Coloring/activity books
Teens
- Make-up and Accessories
- Hair accessories
- Perfume/Lotion and Cologne Kits
- Spa and Nail Polish kits
- Blue tooth speakers
- Adult coloring books
- Sports Balls
- Over door basketball hoops
The safety of patients, families, and team members is of utmost importance. Please review our donation safety guidelines below prior to donating.
We do not accept donations that are:
- Used or gently used toys or clothing
- Used stuffed animals
- Collector items that have been gathered and stored over a significant period of time (sports cards, Beanie Babies, etc.)
- Handmade get-well cards, greeting cards and holiday cards
- Items containing latex (balloons, rubber balls, art supplies, etc.)
- Weapon-themed items (such as those containing guns, knives, swords, blood, violence, etc.)
- Racially and/or culturally insensitive items
- Gift-wrapped items (items will be unwrapped prior to being given to patients)
- Religious-themed items or messages
- New or used medical supplies or equipment
- Food, candy, beverages, etc.
- Bikes and scooters
- Roller skates/blades, skateboards, ride-on toys
For more information about Child Life Services, email mumachildlife@tgh.org.
