The Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department recently received a $50,000 grant from the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation to support a second year of closed circuit television programming within pediatrics. This is a renewal of a 2005 Starlight Starbright grant which funded the piloting of KidZone TV programming. KidZone TV produces interactive and creative children's programming aired on a designated television channel within the inpatient and outpatient pediatric units. This unique therapeutic modality allows large numbers of children the opportunity for interaction, self expression, and entertainment during the often stressful time of illness and hospitalization. The state of the art KidZone broadcast studio is equipped with technologically advanced video and editing equipment and is the first of its kind within children's hospitals nationwide. The studio is located at 1184 5 th Ave. inside of The Zone, a 3,000 square foot recreational and educational environment for pediatric patients and families. KidZone TV is perhaps one of the most visible and far reaching aspects of the Child Life Department at Mount Sinai .

The current grant will allow Mount Sinai 's Child Life Department to fine tune and expand KidZone TV programming and to educate staff at other Children's Hospitals on how to expand this creative approach to the psychosocial care of children. Mount Sinai 's national model showcases a full time KidZone Producer/Host, a Puppeteer, live programming twice daily, seven days a week, and taped programming that runs on a 24 hour loop. Mount Sinai patients confined to their rooms as well as those in outpatient areas can call in and interact with visiting athletes and entertainers, participate in game shows, cooking shows, art shows, and more. Children able to visit the KidZone TV studio can participate in program production behind and in front of the cameras. For more information on KidZone TV programming please contact producer Karen Sommers.

The Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation helps seriously ill children and their families through entertainment, education, and family activities. Their hospital grant program allows hospitals the opportunity to enhance the quality of care for pediatric patients. In addition to grant funding, the Starlight Starbright Foundation supports pediatric patients at Mount Sinai in other ways. On the horizon this year are two new Toys R Us Starlight sites which will enhance existing playrooms on the pediatric units. "Starlight is proud of our on-going relationship with child life at Mt. Sinai and we are thrilled to be able to bring so many important and wonderful programs and services into the hospital" says Elaine Siver, Executive Director of the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation of NY, NJ, CT

To learn more about the Starlight Starbright Foundation, click here.