Our Mission
ChildKind International is dedicated to improving the quality of pediatric pain care around the world.
Our Vision
Reducing pain for all children, no matter their site of care.
Untreated or poorly treated pediatric pain exposes children to unnecessary suffering, and leads to significant short and long-term negative consequences. Here at ChildKind we accomplish our mission through:
- recognizing healthcare facilities that have developed standardized, institution-wide, collaborative approaches to the treatment of children’s pain
- awarding an international certification of excellence in pediatric pain assessment and treatment
- promoting awareness of the damaging effects of inadequate pain prevention and treatment in children
- exchanging knowledge, best practices, and protocols in the prevention and treatment of pain
What We Do
ChildKind International works to reduce pain in children by educating, evaluating and recognizing healthcare facilities that have developed the highest standards in pediatric pain care. Institutions that meet those high standards are certified as a ChildKind Certified Hospital.
ChildKind also maintains an open-access resource library that serves as a clearinghouse for vetted information and policies on treating pediatric pain. Additionally, our team of leaders in the field provide assistance to institutions working to improve the quality of the pain assessment and treatment they provide.
How we do it
Research has shown that lasting change is more likely to occur when the desire for effective pain treatment is incorporated as a core institutional value and considered an essential system-wide element of care – similar to issues of safety and confidentiality. If a hospital can provide evidence that it has made such a commitment and has in place policies, protocols, quality audits, and ongoing educational activities that address pain, it can apply for certification as “A ChildKind Hospital”.
This certification, endorsed by twelve international organizations, is testimony to the fact that a hospital has made the comfort of those for whom it provides care a foundational value. This approach has been applied to the promotion of breast feeding through the hugely successful Baby Friendly Initiative, a joint WHO/UNICEF project which has been, at least in part responsible for an enormous increase in breast feeding in the developed and developing world.
The lure of a prestigious internationally recognized certification that attests to their ongoing commitment to providing a uniform approach to pain relief should provide an incentive for institutions to overcome whatever barriers they are encountering in providing pain relief for all children. By formalizing their approaches to pain management, they will foster our goal of compassionate pain prevention and relief, for all children, regardless of their site of care.
In addition to formally recognizing institutions, ChildKind is developing a user group for the sharing of up-to-date information. ChildKind also maintains a resource library that offers evidence-informed policies, protocols, and educational materials, so that lack of access to up-to-date information will not preclude the provision of appropriate pain relief.
To learn more about the impact of ChildKind Certification for your institution, visit our Benefits of Certification.