Children in hospitals are especially vulnerable.  In addition to dealing with the challenges that every growing child faces, these children must cope with the added burden of serious illness, trauma and other emotional and physical issues. In 2002, The Heart Touch Project began training volunteers with programs specifically designed for children with serious illness, trauma and those at the final stages of their life. These training programs use a developmental care model to explore the physical and psychological issues that are unique to infants and children.  Once volunteers have completed the required Heart Touch Project training program, they can apply to one of our partner hospitals or hospices.  The Heart Touch Project is honored to have established partnerships with premier hospitals and hospices in the Southern California area.  Our volunteers work in these premier hospitals/hospices NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit), Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Rehabilitation Services, Outpatient Pain Clinic departments and Pain and Palliative Care Units providing compassionate, therapeutic touch, improving the lives for them, their families and their caregivers.  Research* has shown that providing compassionate, therapeutic touch to infants and children who are in hospitals and hospices have many measurable benefits: