Our Services

Lemieux Sibling Center

Description of Services

At Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, we’ve thought a lot about our families and we know siblings are important, too. The Lemieux Sibling Center in the main lobby provides a safe and supportive program for siblings of children receiving inpatient or outpatient services. The Lemieux Sibling Center will encourage brothers and sisters to play and learn in a supervised environment, allowing their parent or guardian to focus attention on the child being evaluated or treated.

The Lemieux Sibling Center is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). Reservations/appointments are recommended.

What does the center offer?

A hands-on learning experience to reduce anxiety and fears
Age-appropriate activities for children to play out their range of feelings
Therapeutic arts and crafts activities
An introduction to medical equipment in a positive atmosphere
Opportunities to ask questions regarding their sibling's hospital experience and get answers that they can understand
Education in a safe, fun and supportive atmosphere

Who can attend?

Brothers and sisters of inpatients and outpatients
Siblings ages 3 to 12 who are toilet-trained
Brothers and sisters who do not exhibit any symptoms of illness
Reservations/appointments are recommended. Due to state regulations, walk-ins can be accepted only when space permits.

Lemieux Sibling Center Guidelines

A parent or legal guardian must sign siblings in by completing a brief consent form with a health checklist and emergency contact information
The parent or guardian will be given a pager for use in the event they need to be reached by the staff
The parent or guardian must remain on the Children's Hospital campus while the children are in the Lemieux Sibling Center
Children may be in the Lemieux Sibling Center for a maximum of two hours per day
No food or drink is permitted in the Lemieux Sibling Center
The staff reserves the right to refuse entry to any child due to room capacity, disciplinary concerns, emotional distress or illness-related concerns.

When is the center open?