Children’s Specialized Hospital (CSH), part of the Children’s Health network at RWJBarnabas Health, is the nation’s leading provider of inpatient and outpatient care for children from birth to 21 years of age facing special health challenges – from chronic illnesses and complex physical disabilities like brain and spinal cord injuries, to a full scope of developmental, behavioral and mental health concerns. CSH’s purpose is to provide world-leading, patient- and family-centered medical and rehabilitative care for children and youth with unique health challenges so every child can reach their full potential.
CSH is comprised of one state-of-the-art inpatient facility in New Brunswick, which provides comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation for infants through young adults (up to the age of 21) following a serious injury, illness, premature birth, major surgery, chronic illness or pain, or any other life-changing incident. CSH also offers pediatric Long Term, Respite and Palliative Care services for children with complex medical conditions. Their two Long Term Care (LTC) facilities in Mountainside and Toms River are home to many medically fragile children whose families’ current circumstances no longer allow them to be cared for in the home or other community setting. Additionally, CSH provides outpatient care covering an array of programs and services at 15 outpatient facilities across the state.
At the center of CSH’s care model is their philosophy to partner with every child and family in their health care journey and decisions. CSH’s Patient- and Family-Centered Care Department is comprised of Family Faculty, which are employees who are parents, caregivers and family members of children who have received or are still receiving services at CSH. Their own day-to-day experiences provide a unique perspective, understanding and empathy for families going through similar situations. The role of Family Faculty is to empower families to become strong advocates for their children. CSH also engages a 25-member Family Advisory Council to assist with hospital initiatives and further family centered care goals.
Patient and Family Centered Care at CSH
Patient- and Family-Centered Care is a way to ensure that we partner with the child and the family in everything we do. It is embedded throughout our Strategic Plan and is the standard of care throughout our hospital. PFCC affects both clinical and non-clinical staff.
PFCC believes:
- We partner with families in all that we do at all levels of healthcare.
- The family is the child’s primary source of strength and support.
- We build on the strengths of every child and family and support their choices and decisions about healthcare for their child.
- We are here to help families care for their children and make decisions about healthcare for their child.
- Every child and family should be made aware of options for support services.
- Families should be a partner in hospital decisions that may affect them and their child.
- Every child and family have the right to honest and unbiased information.
- Every child and family should be respected and his or her cultural diversity honored.
Examples of Family Faculty partnerships with staff and families include:
- We round with our families at all of CSH locations.
- Listen and speak with families who receive a new diagnosis.
- Offer support to new and existing families.
- Help our parents/caregivers with any questions or concerns they may have.
- Support families who are being prepared for discharge.
- Provide family to family resources.
- Offer the perspective of being a caregiver of a child with special needs.
- Organize and facilitate family/caregiver programs and support groups.
- Review written correspondence that will be sent to families and offer suggestions from a family perspective.
- Organize educational workshops for families on various topics pertaining to their child/children’s needs.
- Maintain resource boards and family resource rooms.
- Prepare and distribute monthly e-newsletters to families/caregivers.
- Discuss with families the value of their input and importance of completing their Press Ganey Patient and Family Satisfaction Survey and share a positive Google review.
- Partner with Leadership Team to present at hospital and system orientation on PFCC for all new hires.
- Family Faculty and Family Advisory Council are integrally involved in contributing to our hospital’s strategic planning process, community health needs assessment, and strategic initiatives to support our organizational goals.
- Facilitate staff in-services, such as First Impressions, Uniting Together to Support our Patients, Families and Each Other, and Creating Meaningful Connections with our Patients, Families and Each Other.
- Share information with all staff on the emotions families may go through and how this might affect all aspects of care and communication.
- Help staff to build positive relationships with patients, families and each other.
- Participate on the Hospital Board of Directors and all other hospital committees, workgroups and councils.
- Present at Regional, National and International Conferences on Patient and Family-Centered Care.
- Serve on local, state, and national committees.
Family Advisory Council
The Family Advisory Council has 25 members and is led by the Director of Family-Centered Care. The council is comprised of family members and staff at a 3:1 ratio. Family members receive a stipend. Members serve approximately a three-year term and are interviewed by the Director of Family-Centered Care and Family Faculty prior to joining the Council. The Family Advisory Council meets monthly to discuss progress towards annual goals and new areas where the Council can be of assistance. The Council collaborates with senior leadership and staff to establish annual goals that support the organization's mission and promote Patient-and Family-Centered Care.
The mission of the Family Advisory Council is to collaborate with Children’s Specialized Hospital leadership and staff to empower families to provide input for organizational policies and practices. The council supports the organization’s mission and promotes Patient- and Family-Centered Care by putting the child and family at the center of all activities.
In fulfilling its mission, the Family Advisory Council will work with leadership and staff to:
- Cultivate respectful, welcoming partnerships between patients, families, leadership and staff.
- Encourage collaboration between families and providers of patient care.
- Strengthen communication between patients, families, leadership and staff.
- Channel information and concerns from patients and families to organizational leadership.
- Offer effective solutions to patient-family concerns.
- Provide education and training that fosters an increased understanding of Patient-and Family-Centered Care values throughout the organization and community.
- Provide input for clinical programs to meet patient and family needs.
- Provide recommendations on operational issues that affect patients and families.
Family Advisory Council Resources (Developed by Families for Families)
Family Faculty and the Family Advisory Council, in partnership with staff, reviewed and developed many meaningful patient and family resources. Resources can be found on our Patient and Family Resource page.
2022 Partnership Award Recipients
The Institute for Patient -and Family -Centered Care (IPFCC) awarded Children’s Specialized Hospital its 2022 Partnership Award, highlighting inspiring and innovative partnerships among patients, families and health care professionals. CSH’s Center for Discovery, Innovation and Development CDID integrated a program to identify Social Determinants of Health. Partnering with CSH’s Family Faculty, thousands of families were screened and those needing support were referred to services.
2025 Recipient of the Children’s Specialized Hospital Friends of Nursing Award
Children’s Specialized Hospital's Family Faculty team was selected by the CSH nursing team for the Friends of Nursing Award during Nurses Week 2025.
Excellence in Quality Improvement Award
In 2014, the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA), through its Institute for Quality and Patient Safety, recognized the innovative Patient- and Family-Centered Care (PFCC) program at Children's Specialized Hospital (CSH), by awarding Children's Specialized Hospital the Excellence in Quality Improvement Award. According to Amy Mansue, President and CEO of CSP, "...Ms. Provenzano, Director Family-Centered Care, and her team have created a partnership with the families where we are working together, real time, shoulder to shoulder to improve the clinical care and patient experience for every child we serve..."
