Emotional Safety Series Package

The package contains the five webinars that cover the Emotional Safety Framework at a reduced price. ACLP members completing the webinars included in this package will be recognized as emotional safety leaders. 

The Emotional Safety Webinars include:

  1. Emotional Safety: The other side of the patient coin (Introduction to Emotional Safety)
  2. Patient Emotional Safety: Screening & Assessment Pillar
  3. Patient Emotional Safety: Intervention Pillar
  4. Patient Emotional Safety: Environment Pillar
  5. Patient Emotional Safety: Staff Communication, Education, and Training Pillar
  • Contains 4 Component(s), Includes Credits

    This webinar will examine the importance of keeping pediatric patients not just physically safe during medical care, but emotionally safe as well. Clinical components of patient emotional safety will be explored as will the pillars for creating systemic change. This will be the introduction webinar to the emotional safety pillars that will be offered throughout 2021. Suggested domain: Ethics

    This webinar will examine the importance of keeping pediatric patients not just physically safe during medical care, but emotionally safe as well. Clinical components of patient emotional safety will be explored as will the pillars for creating systemic change. This will be the introduction webinar to the emotional safety pillars that will be offered throughout 2021.

    Suggested domain: Ethics

    Objectives: 

    Understand the ethical responsibility of providing emotionally safe medical care

    Examine the 3 clinical components of patient emotional safety

    Discuss the ethical responsibility of leading the emotional safety movement

    Explore how the 4 pillars of patient emotional safety will be used to create systemic change

    Jenaya Gordon (MA, CCLS, NCC)

    Manager, Child Life Department

    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.

  • Contains 4 Component(s), Includes Credits

    This webinar delves into the first pillar focused on creating systemic change regarding emotional safety: screening and assessment. The selection and implementation of psychosocially focused screeners will be discussed. There will be an exploration of practical communication tools that can be used to effectively share the assessment results and subsequent care plans. Suggested domain: Professional Responsibility

    This webinar delves into the first pillar focused on creating systemic change regarding emotional safety: screening and assessment. The selection and implementation of psychosocially focused screeners will be discussed. There will be an exploration of practical communication tools that can be used to effectively share the assessment results and subsequent care plans.

    Suggested domain: Assessment

    Objectives: 

    Explore current barriers to effective use of assessment/screening tools
    Identify current validated tools for psychosocial/emotional risk
    Discuss options for implementing these tools
    Examine ways to use your organization’s current technology systems to share results and plans with team members

    Jenaya Gordon (MA, CCLS, NCC)

    Manager, Child Life Department

    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.

    Kelly Wagner

    MS, CCLS

    Toni Millar

    MS, CCLS

    Toni Millar’s professional career as a CCLS has spanned over 25 years and has included clinical and leadership roles in healthcare systems, as well as supportive and leadership roles (President 2011-2012) in CLC/ACLP. Toni recently moved with her husband from New York City to Portland Maine to be closer to family and friends while exploring new professional options. 

    Lori Gottwein

    BS, CCLS

    Children's Wisconsin

    Lori is a child life professional with over 30+ years of clinical and leadership experience. She is currently Manager of Child Life and Creative Arts Therapies at Children’s Wisconsin where she oversees child life, creative arts therapies and sibling care. Lori has participated in a number of ACLP committees and workgroups including Education Training, Evidence-Based Practice, By-Laws Sub-committee and Patient Experience.  Lori is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership Administration at Concordia University. 

    Holly Clark

    MS, CTRS, CCLS

    Pediatric Potential, Inc. - Istanbul, Turkey

    Holly is dually certified as aChild Life Specialist and Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and is a Co-Founderof Pediatric Potential. She served pediatric patients with hematology,oncology, and acute medical rehabilitation needs for over twelve years as aCertified Child Life Specialist. Amid her tenure as a clinician, she provided avariety of psychosocial care interventions, led community reintegrationprograms, implemented support groups, and cultivated external donor and partnerrelationships. Holly’s global expertise spans from America, India, SoutheastAsia, Africa and the Middle East. For the past ten years, she has dedicated hercareer to promoting culturally responsive psychosocial care, as a professionalconsultant, governing board member, researcher, guest lecturer and medicalmission volunteer. 

  • Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    This webinar explores the second pillar of creating systemic change regarding emotional safety: Intervention. Tactics will be shared on ways to ensure the patient’s comfort and understanding regarding medical encounters. Concrete examples will be given regarding ways to empower patients and families to advocate for emotionally safe care. Strategies on gaining executive leader support will be shared. Suggested domain: Professional Responsibility

    This webinar explores the second pillar of creating systemic change regarding emotional safety: Intervention. Tactics will be shared on ways to ensure the patient’s comfort and understanding regarding medical encounters. Concrete examples will be given regarding ways to empower patients and families to advocate for emotionally safe care. Strategies on gaining executive leader support will be shared.

    Suggested domain: Professional Responsibility

    Objectives: 

    Understand the clinical components of emotional safety
    Explore current initiatives that support the clinical components
    Identify ways to empower patients and families to advocate for emotionally safe care
    Examine strategies to gaining executive leadership buy-in

    Jenaya Gordon (MA, CCLS, NCC)

    Manager, Child Life Department

    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.

    Traci Woods, BS, CCLS

    Executive Director Family Centered Care and Patient Experience

    AdventHealth for Children and AdventHealth for Women: Orlando, FL

    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 Barnett

    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. 

  • Contains 4 Component(s), Includes Credits

    This webinar delves into the third pillar focused on creating systemic change with emotional safety: Environment. Concrete examples will be given on making the physical environment conducive with socialization and healing. The ways staff values and culture can enhance the environment of healing will also be explored. Suggested domain: Professional Responsibility

    This webinar delves into the third pillar focused on creating systemic change with emotional safety: Environment. Concrete examples will be given on making the physical environment conducive with socialization and healing. The ways staff values and culture can enhance the environment of healing will also be explored.

    Suggested domain: Professional Responsibility

    Objectives: 

    Review literature discussing how the environment impacts patients and families.
    Explore current practices that create socially and physically healing environments.
    Examine ways to utilize team culture to positively influence emotional safety and family-centered care.

    Jenaya Gordon (MA, CCLS, NCC)

    Manager, Child Life Department

    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.

    Janet Cross, M.Ed., CCLS, CPXP

    As Administrative Director of Patient- and Family-Centered Care at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Janet is responsible for development, implementation, and evaluation of patient- and family-centered care initiatives as well as oversight of Child Life Services, Volunteer Services, Pastoral Care, Family Resource Center, Hospital School Program, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, Seacrest Studios, Patient and Family Advisory Councils, Patient Experience, Patient Education and the Gift Shop. Janet obtained her Master of Education from Vanderbilt University and her Bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University. She is a certified Child Life Specialist through the Association of Child Life Professionals and a Certified Patient Experience Professional through the Patient Experience Institute. Janet was awarded the 2012 Distinguished Service Award from the Child Life Council, is the recipient of the 2011 Judy Koonce Family-Centered Care Award, and was named a finalist as a "Woman of Influence” by the Nashville Business Journal in 2012. Janet has served in multiple leadership roles for ACLP including President, Director, Child Life Certifying Committee Chair, and Local Conference Planning Committee Chair. She has also served on the Ethics Committee, Governance Task Force, Patient Experience Committee, and as a Child Life Program Review Consultant. Janet contributed two chapters to Richard Thompson’s Handbook of Child Life and contributed to the Beryl Institute White Paper “What Patient Experience Can Learn From Child Life Professionals.” She was selected to participate on the Walt Disney Children’s Hospital Advisory Committee in 2018. She is also a member of the Nashville Ronald McDonald House Board of Directors and the Board of Directors for Cooper’s Troopers, a foundation for the support of siblings of children with cancer. She served as the chair of the Professional Advisory Group for the Clinical Pastoral Education Program in Nashville, 2017 and 2018.

    Stacey Koenig

    Senior Director, Patient and Family Services

    Children's Mercy

    Stacey is a dedicated professional with 30+ years of nonprofit experience improving the operations and culture of respected health systems.  She is a national leader who effectively engages internal and external stakeholders to bring diverse perspectives and engagement to achieve organizational goals and streamline processes.  She has a proven record of building programs that bring patient and family voice to the forefront that enhance relationships and produce successful outcomes across health systems.  Stacey established the Child Life and Music Therapy programs at Children's Mercy Hospital growing them both to the nationally recognized programs they are today.  Also established under her leadership she pioneered the development of formally hiring patients and parents on staff; together they work to ensure that within CMH there will be a culture of information sharing, participation, and collaboration between patients, families and staff and that all families will be treated with dignity and respect.

    Barbara Romito

    MA, CCLS

    Barbara Romito, MA, CCLS, has served as the Director, Child Life Program at the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for over 30 years. She oversees child life services and family centered care, developing innovative programs to enhance psychosocial care for children and families.  She has lectured extensively to a variety of interdisciplinary groups and published several research studies on psychosocial care of children and families.  She has held several board and committee positions for the Association of Child Life Professionals, including past president and is currently serving as the ACLP liaison to the American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Hospital Care. 

  • Contains 4 Component(s), Includes Credits

    This webinar explores the fourth pillar in creating systemic change regarding emotional safety: Staff communication, education, and training. Strategies will be discussed for implementing communication and education plans throughout medical systems. Suggested domain: Professional Responsibility

    This webinar explores the fourth pillar in creating systemic change regarding emotional safety: Staff communication, education, and training. Strategies will be discussed for implementing communication and education plans throughout medical systems.

    Suggested domain: Professional Responsibility

    Objectives: 

    Explore ways to collect institutional baseline emotional safety data

    Examine options for communication methods with outcomes that are reportable for concerns.

    Discuss different ways the initiative can be shared within individual organizations and beyond.

    Jenaya Gordon (MA, CCLS, NCC)

    Manager, Child Life Department

    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.

    Anna Ahrens

    Anna is a proud Certified Child Life Specialist with 22 years of healthcare experience. She currently serves as the Director of Transformation and Experience at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Health Network in Tacoma, Washington. She leads Patient and Staff Experience, Family-Centered Care, Child Life Services, Complex Primary Care, and Palliative Care. Anna holds a Master of Science in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College and a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development from North Dakota State University. 

    Brianne Ortiz

    Brianne graduated with her master’s degree in child life from the University of La Verne after completing her internship at CHOC in 2006. Following her internship, she joined CHOC as a certified child life specialist and has been serving the organization for fifteen years. Brianne worked in oncology, intensive care, and surgical services and then spent time as the department’s first clinical educator. She moved into the role as manager of child life and creative arts in 2017.  Brianne joined the ACLP’s Patient and Family Experience Committee in 2019 and now serves as Chair-Elect.