MADERA, Calif. – A project led by nurses and staff in the Explorer unit at Valley Children’s is helping ensure patients receive hair care that meets their needs while undergoing treatment.
The “Care in Every Curl” project provides hair hygiene products designed for patients with curly and textured hair, aiming to bring comfort and dignity to children during their hospital stay. The project is supported by the Guilds of Valley Children’s Pink Pig Fund, which raises money to cover costs for projects and items not covered in department budgets.
Valley Children’s already provides shampoo, conditioner and a small tooth comb, but there are times when those items do not address the specific needs of a patient.
“Textured hair can face complications with matting, tangling and hair loss if it isn’t taken care of properly,” said Marquita Parker, a unit aide at Valley Children’s.
Recognizing the gap, a group of nurses and staff came together to develop a solution.
“We want to make sure that everyone has what they need to feel good while they are in the hospital,” said Brittany Meyer, an acute care manager at Valley Children’s. “This is a small way to help with that.”
Each bag includes shampoo, conditioner, a comb, a brush or detangling brush, a satin bonnet, and a wave cap and shower cap as needed. The team is also developing a “healthy hair menu” that will allow patients and families to select products tailored to their needs.
While the project falls outside the team’s regular job duties, members said the work is deeply personal.
“Hair is part of who you are, and for a lot of kids and families, taking care of their hair is part of their everyday life, their culture and how they express themselves,” said Tamara Farris, a registered nurse at Valley Children’s. “Honestly, it feels like more of a purpose than a project.”
“As an African American who was once hospitalized and didn’t have the proper tools to care for my hair, it was very difficult,” Parker said. “Being part of this project and allowing those in need to receive the help I didn’t have is truly amazing.”
The team has begun distributing the bags on Explorer, an inpatient post-surgical unit, and hopes the effort leaves a lasting impression on patients and families.
“I really hope that the patients and their families feel seen, valued and safe,” Farris added. “I want the families to walk away saying, ‘they really thought about my child.’”
To learn more about the Pink Pig Fund, click here.
