Storytime Snuggles: A NICU Reading Program

Joanne has been a certified child life specialist for 21 years and is an active member of the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).  Although her specialization is in hematology oncology and grief and bereavement, she also works in critical care and trauma setting at Cedars-Sinai.  Most recently, she started providing support in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  She supports patients and families by providing health education, therapeutic play and end-of-life support.  Joanne is passionate about providing education to future child life specialists as well as other members of the healthcare team, which include medical students, interns and residents as well as nursing students, social workers, chaplains, etc., on the unique needs of children and their families during hospitalization as well as through grief.  She also plays an active role in advocating and implementing Patient and Family Centered Care.  Most recently, Joanne became a member of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG) to be able to connect with other professionals and to stay up-to-date about children’s grief.

Amanda Williams is a Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Amanda has been a neonatal nurse for over ten years and has always been passionate about providing family centered and developmentally appropriate care to newborns. She has a talent for providing education to nurses, families, and other members of the care team. Additionally, Amanda is interested in quality improvement through simulation and has developed many high fidelity simulation experiences for her team which has allowed her to improve systems that influence patient care.