DOMAIN: Assessment; 1.5 PDU's The role of child life specialists requires current information about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) patient population and their families.  

DOMAIN: ​Assessment; 1.5 PDU's Age-appropriate, play-based communication is a foundational and necessary skill for child life professionals working in a variety of medical and community settings.

DOMAIN: Assessment; 1 PDU - Healthcare is in the midst of a changing climate. This changing climate is resulting in the presence of more short stay units and expedited admissions. Recording date: 2017

Certified Child Life Specialists possess skills and abilities to meet the unique needs of infants and their families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Core skills such as: assessment, preparation, education, psychosocial support, procedure support, and developmentally supportive interventions have translated successfully to this environment. In this presentation the developmental, psychosocial, and educational needs of this population will be discussed in depth, including assessment and intervention strategies unique to NICU patients, stressors families experience, and strategies to support the development of positive coping skills to foster optimal infant/parent and family bonding. Case studies, visual aids, and an opportunity for question and answer will be made available in this webinar.

DOMAIN: Assessment; 1.5 PDU's - Strength-based practice is a theoretical approach originally developed and employed in the field of social work.

This presentation will discuss changes in anesthesia practice (use of Versed versus use of interactive games via tablet) preoperatively for pediatric patients, aged 4 to 12 years, admitted for outpatient surgery procedures. This large urban pediatric hospital has routinely administered Versed to all pediatric patients prior to separation from caregivers. Recording date: 2017

The hospital experience is often times stress provoking for children and their families. In this presentation, the family systems and stress theories, as well as the ABC-X stress management model, will be explored. Through discussion and case studies participants will work through examples of how to incorporate these theories and models into their daily practice. Recording date: 2017

An overview of the core ethical tenets that are relevant to the special needs population within the healthcare setting will be presented. Each tenet will be defined and explored in detail. A discussion of ethical issues surrounding the care of patients with developmental and behavioral needs will follow, incorporating the core ethical tenets. The role of child life as an advocate will be explored through the use of case studies. Participants will have the opportunity to actively engage and share ethical concerns they have faced in their clinical practice. Group discussion will provide the opportunity to critically evaluate difficult situations participants have encountered. Recording date: 2017

Most child life professionals have become very competent at assisting children and families with health care experiences. However, sometimes child life specialists are asked to speak to children about other stressful events outside the realm of health care. This webinar is designed to increase the knowledge and comfort of the professional by identifying those child life skills that can be used in these non-traditional situations.

A combination of a physical transformation in the brain, peer comparison, and searching for identity makes adolescence a particularly challenging time in life. Further, teenagers generally experience an increase in stressors and a decreased ability to cope. It is often difficult to know how to connect with teens, providing enough distance to allow for independence while offering support in a challenging developmental stage. This webinar will offer a better understanding of teenagers from a psychological perspective. Further, participants will gain familiarity with therapeutic activities to connect with this particular population and promote positive coping. Recording date: 2017

As the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to rise, emergency departments (EDs) are treating more patients with ASD and similar conditions. These patients are especially vulnerable to the overwhelming stress associated with an ED visit.

The infant/toddler stage of development is highly impacted by changes in routine and structure. Surgery and procedures can affect coping and distress, especially since basic attachment is challenged at this time. Parents given opportunities to prepare and support their infant/toddler for surgeries and procedures can also increase their own coping. Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) can provide specific education that fosters opportunities for parent empowerment and optimizes these teaching opportunities by providing modeling and education encompassing developmentally appropriate considerations.

How might integrative child life and creative arts therapy practices function within interdisciplinary care communities to best support the psychosocial vulnerability in siblings of patients facing heart transplant or other serious illness, hospitalization and bereavement? This presentation explores the art-and play-based clinical approaches behind “Bridging Interventions” to support family-and-sibling-centered care in pediatric critical care settings. Recording date: 2017

Clinicians from a children’s hospital noticed a gap in developmentally appropriate resources for patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). To improve education, clinicians created a story about a cystic fibrosis patient admitted to the hospital. This presentation reviews literature related to diagnosis specific education and bibliotherapy, discusses the publication process, and highlights outcomes, which demonstrate bibliotherapy as an effective method for supporting and educating patients and families with cystic fibrosis. Recording date: 2017

Details of a completed research study will be shared that investigated the factors related to family members’ presence and satisfaction during fracture reductions in a pediatric emergency department. Results, conclusions, and implications for practice will be discussed, including the role of the CCLS in family presence and family-centered care and collaboration with ED providers, ED nurses, and orthopedic residents and providers in creating a culture of family centered care and family presence during procedures. Recording date: 2017

Providing comprehensive care in the NICU is vital to the growth and development of infants. Collaboration between nursing and child life can help improve the care for both the infant and family. At the end of this session, participants can expect to: 1. Describe the role of a child life specialist in the NICU 2. Describe collaboration between medical and psychosocial staff 3. Identify successes, barriers and next steps Recording date: 2017

Mental health is a growing area for many health care professionals; especially for child life who traditionally has focused primarily on medical experiences and interventions. Implementation of child life programming on a mental health and addictions inpatient unit has resulted in greater independence, reduced stress, increased socialization, and has improved the hospital experience for patients and their families through therapeutic and expressive activities. Recording date: 2017

The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a psychosocial intervention program, aimed at minimizing the stress experienced by patients with autism spectrum disorder, their parents, and the perioperative nurses who directly care for these patients in the outpatient surgery unit. The intervention program was shown to be effective at lowering the stress levels for patients ages 6–12 years old and parents of patients ages 2–5 years old. Recording date: 2017

This presentation discusses strategies for supporting families that utilize competing coping efforts in response to stressors. Whether attempting to cope with new diagnoses or end-of-life, stress is a shared experience. With limited space and time to process at an individual level, patients and families may respond with clashing coping behaviors. This session explores the specialist’s role in supporting multiple coping strategies, and provides an effective tool for navigating these experiences. Recording date: 2017

Propofol is a safe and widely used anesthetic. However, pain experienced during injection of propofol is very common with 85% of children reporting the association. This presentation will discuss research processes and results in a pediatric sedation unit as well as coping strategies used during propofol inductions and other invasive procedures. Recording date: 2017

The design of child and family programs offered in pediatric settings are often focused on the child, family and heath variables. In one pediatric hospital a steering committee involving patients and families was developed. Their feedback highlighted the need for a wide range of programming not currently available in this setting. This has resulted in community outreach to develop partnerships focusing on enhancing the quality of patient and family experiences. Recording date: 2017

This presentation will provide insight on how a chronic illness diagnosis impacts the entire family. Attendees will discover how this institution provides a specialized program that follows families through the critical first year of care in and out of the medical setting. Components of this program can be adapted into various child life environments; offering strategies and resources that can assist families in developing their “new normal” way of living Recording date: 2017

At a comprehensive cancer center, the child life program partners with an education non-profit to provide a writer-in-residence to support the unique needs of emerging adults, ages 18-25 years. Participants will learn about the rationale, development and processes for the program. Diverse, tailored writing experiences and legacy pieces will be presented. The observed benefits to the patient participants and others will be highlighted. Recording date: 2017

Children learn through sensory experiences. The medical environment is full of sensory experiences, but most are not pleasant. Child life must provide pleasant sensory experiences for children in the medical setting. The challenge comes in providing sensory experiences while navigating obstacles such as small spaces and sensory overload. This presentation will identify ways sensory play can support a child’s learning, ways children seek and process sensory information, and how to incorporate sensory play into interventions. Recording date: 2017

Patients with behavioral health needs are presenting more frequently and spending a greater amount of time within non-psychiatric health care facilities while awaiting appropriate placement or safe discharge. Child life specialists work within safety guidelines established by this hospital and in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to support these patients’ unique needs and promote optimal coping. Recording date: 2017

The amount of limited English proficient (LEP) patients and families present in hospitals continues to grow. In this presentation, attendees will learn about the role and characteristics of a medical interpreter and how to enhance meaningful interactions with LEP children and caregivers. Recording date: 2017

A panel of child life specialists will present the findings from their research projects. Research topics that will be discussed include comfort positioning, nurse and parent perceptions of a child’s pain and distress during IV starts, the relationship between mothers’ coping and children’s anxiety, and the effects of play and video on procedural behavior. Panelists will offer insight and suggestions on how to successfully complete a research project. Recording date: 2017

When treating eating disorders, a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach is preferred by many venues. Attendees will gain insight into the overall treatment of eating disorders and specifics of a pediatric inpatient re-feeding protocol. In addition,the role child life specialists, music therapists and art therapists can play, in conjunction with the medical staff, for comprehensive care will be explored. Recording date: 2017

As the field of child life expands and child life programming in non-traditional settings becomes more common, experienced child life professionals may identify opportunities for program development in their communities. These opportunities exist anywhere children and their families experience potentially distressing health-related encounters and may range from community-based hospitals to specialty clinic centers. This webinar will share strategies for reviewing area healthcare organizations and identifying those that may benefit from and be supportive of child life programming. Practical strategies for crafting a child life programming proposal and possible roles will also be shared. Participants will have a greater understanding of how to successfully lay the groundwork for child life programming.

The child life profession is beginning to evolve as the awareness of the field grows. There is an increase of newly Certified Child Life Specialists entering the field, limited traditional hospital positions available, and veteran specialists seeking professional growth in a non-traditional role. This shift is pushing specialists to obtain positions beyond the hospital walls and into community-based non-traditional roles.

The 'play lady' is both a historical pioneer and a theoretical construction in the field of child life. This presentation will explore the implications of the legacy of the 'play lady' by analyzing modern professional challenges faced by child life specialists through a lens of feminist theory. These empirically-based challenges include maintaining work-life balance, limited opportunity for professional advancement, balancing career and children, and professional insecurity. Recording date: 2017

Attendees will explore how weekly wrap up sessions can be facilitated as an opportunity for the intern to gain a greater understanding of self and specific clinical skills. Participants will have the opportunity to examine hands-on multimodal reflective practices used with students to instill professionalism and critical thinking needed for future career success. Recording date: 2017

This presentation will describe the successful partnership between Child Life Services and Foundation, that has yielded significant growth in in-kind and cash donations, and a decrease in unwanted donations. Presenters will describe a Community Relations Internship that has removed a significant workload from child life specialists, allowing them to focus attention to their clinical roles, and expand clinical reach. Presenters will describe a philanthropy program that has aligned child life specialists with grateful patient engagement. Recording date: 2017

Relationships with local and national organizations provide staff with resources and talent to create more engaging opportunities to help patients and families cope with the hospital environment. This presentation demonstrates how community partnerships, in-hospital special events, and radio station programming collaborate to create space for therapeutic play while also promoting staff morale. Attendees will be empowered to build collaborative partnerships in their communities that enhance patients’ experiences. Recording date: 2017

Knowledge, understanding and insight of adult learning can be applied both in clinical and academic settings. Come and explore how the principles and conditions of adult learning can enhance and strengthen your role in teaching, coaching, and guiding students and adults across disciplines. Recording date: 2017

A hospital and university developed an innovative approach to utilize department funding to expand the child life program’s resources through community assistantships. The assistantship program provided pre-professional work experience for students, as well as a mentoring and leadership role for a clinical child life specialist. Attendees will identify the development, implementation and evaluation of community assistantships, successes and barriers, benefits to the child life program and students, and cost-saving benefits. Recording date: 2017

Insufficient staffing plagues the child life world. Solo programs face particular challenges covering multiple clinical areas, large censuses, and 24 hour patient needs. This presentation shares one program’s journey from solo to duo, including foundational components for growth, advocating for the new position, strategies to secure funding, and components for a successful transition to a team of two including recruitment, orientation, reporting structures, scheduling, flexibility, communication, and collegiality. Recording date: 2017

It is evident that that child life services advance quality and outcomes in health care as well as the patient and family experience. This presentation will explore one hospital's journey to adapt to change by implementing a unique staffing model to best meet the needs of patients and families. The development of a task force, methods utilized to assist with ideas, and processes adapted to support changes will be explored. Recording date: 2017

Practicum experiences are valuable for all members involved – the students learning and the staff supervising. One hospital will share their journey in building a practicum program that prepares students in the foundations of child life and for their full-time internship, while also training staff in supervising and mentoring students to reach their potential. Recording date: 2017

Learn how children with chronic illnesses shared their perceptions of 'play in hospital', how they defined play, who and what were important for play, and how their chronic illness has an effect on their play behaviors and their lives. This presentation will also explore the implications of the research findings on child life practice and future research with children. Recording date: 2017

An academic child life program seized the opportunity to collaborate with a community hospital to assess the need for child life programming. An experienced child life specialist was hired as a consultant to develop a programming recommendation. Within 18 months the partnership resulted in a funded child life program and hiring of the first Certified Child Life Specialist. This session will highlight the components of this successful pilot project. Recording date: 2017

In the chaotic world of health care, it is easy for children to build fantasies about what happens behind hospital doors. This presentation will demonstrate how to alleviate these fears on a large-scale community capacity. Participants will be given the tools to assess, create, manage and evaluate a successful teddy bear clinic. Recording date: 2017

Through an engaging collaboration, child life and pediatric nursing partnered to create an interactive orientation program for nurses throughout a five-hospital healthcare system. Rich in developmental theory and skills training, the orientation program embraces research and supports translation of that knowledge into daily practice. In-depth training in child development, procedural support, and medication administration nurtures nurses’ skills in developmentally-supportive care, and positions them to serve as leaders in pediatric healthcare. Recording date: 2017

Clinical supervision is a professional relationship and a working alliance where a student’s work is reviewed and reflected upon to ensure that the quality of services and care provided to children and their families are being met. A supervision tool would document the student’s progression and help them develop a greater sense of self-awareness in a clinical setting as well as enhance the supervisor’s skills and professional development. Recording date: 2017

This multidisciplinary emergency department panel will discuss the implementation of the cognitive social process, communal sharing, and how it was used to initiate comfort positioning as a standard of care. Members of an emergency department team will discuss what made this approach work and why they plan on continuing to use it. Recording date: 2017

For anyone conducting interviews, Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) provide opportunities to observe specific traits and require candidates to “think on their feet” during the process. Strategically designed scenarios are created with desired job related attributes in mind and organized to reduce time spent interviewing. Through the MMI, interviewers make unbiased assessments while experiencing a true snapshot of the candidates’ job related skills and behaviors. Recording date: 2017

We have all faced hurdles in our practice when advocating for what we know is best for the patients and families we serve. What is the best way to bring about change so that it is realistic, achievable, and long-lasting? Learn how to use current evidence and basic quality improvement (QI) techniques to make impactful and sustainable changes in your institution. Recording date: 2017

Playrooms that are open/accessible 24 hours a day cannot always be supervised after child life staff leave the unit. Without consistent supervision, the playroom has the potential to become an unsafe environment for patients and families. Data gathered through the development and implementation of this test of change, will show hot to improve program safety and security while increasing operational efficiency of child life staff. Recording date: 2017