Emotional Safety: Intervention Pillar

Jenaya Gordon is the manager of the Child Life Department at Children's Hospital Colorado. As a Certified Child Life Specialist, she has worked with children and families in the emergency department, pediatric intensive care unit, neurosurgery unit, and inpatient surgical/trauma unit. Jenaya’s presentations address such topics as emotionally safe pediatric care, trauma-focused medical play, understanding and responding to children in crisis, trauma processing, and trauma-informed care. She authored the paper Emotional Safety in Pediatrics and was a contributing author in the Handbook of Medical Play Therapy and Child Life. Jenaya is a former board member with the Association of Child Life Professionals and continues to contribute her time as a committee member.

A mom, daughter, sister, friend, leader and Child Life Specialist.  Started in Child Life in 1993 and moved into leadership over 15 years ago.  Enjoy taking on stretch assignments, focusing on culture change and growing Child Life beyond the traditional pediatric environment.  Passion for traveling to beautiful locations around the world to hike and enjoy the great outdoors.

Sara is the Manager of Child life and Volunteer resources for Riley Children’s Health in Indianapolis, IN. With 35 years of experience in Child Life, she has enjoyed many roles supporting the profession locally and nationally. Her ACLP involvement includes being part of the initial CLCC Exam Development committee and Item Writer, various ACLP committees as a member and chair, and serving on the ACLP board of directors.