2009 Conference Program - Child Life Council

CONFERENCE PROGRAM 

Child Life 

Council 

27th Annual Conference 

on Professional Issues 

May 21-24, 2009 

The Westin Boston Waterfront 

Boston, Massachusetts

Child Life Council 27th Annual Conference on Professional Issues 

Schedule at a Glance 

Thursday, May 21, 2009 Pre-Conference Events 

8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Child Life Professional Certification Examination 

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Conference Badge & Tote Bag Pick-Up Open for Pre-Registered Attendees 

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. On-Site Registration Open 

8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Executive Board Meeting 

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pre-Conference Full-Day Intensives with Lunch (6 PDHs) 

1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Exhibit/Poster/Bookstore Set-Up 

2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tour of Children’s Hospital Boston (Limit 100) 

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. New Member/First-Timer Orientation 

Friday, May 22, 2009 

7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Conference Badge & Tote Bag Pick-Up Open for Pre-Registered Attendees 

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Exhibit/Poster/Bookstore Set-Up 

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. On-Site Registration Open 

9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Opening General Session and Emma Plank Keynote Address (2 PDHs) 

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch in Exhibit Hall, Posters and Bookstore Open 

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Plenary Sessions (1.5 PDHs) 

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Two-Hour Professional Development Seminars (2 PDHs) 

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Opening Reception and Bookstore in Exhibit Hall 

8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Johns Hopkins Alumni Event (Not a CLC Event) 

8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Wheelock Alumni Event (Not a CLC Event) 

Saturday, May 23, 2009 

7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Conference Information Desk Open in Registration Area 

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Committee Meetings with Breakfast 

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Exhibit Hall and Bookstore Open with Beverages 

9:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Two-Hour Professional Development Seminars (2 PDHs) 

11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch in Exhibit Hall, Posters and Bookstore Open 

1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Professional Development Workshops (1.5 PDHs) 

1:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Exhibit, Bookstore and Poster Break-Down 

3:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Professional Development Workshops (1.5 PDHs) 

Free Evening to Discover Boston 

Sunday, May 24, 2009 

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Professional Development Workshops (1.5 PDHs) 

9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Networking Roundtable Brunch for Child Life Professionals 

9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Student Brunch Event 

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Award Presentations and Closing General Session (2 PDHs) 

Cover Art: Beverly A. Mitchell specializes in brightly colored fine art paintings, drawings, and prints featuring flowers, landscapes, 

waterscapes, interiors, buildings, still lifes and abstracts. In this piece, Boston by Day, Beverly notes, the viewer is invited to come in and 

journey around the beautiful historic city of Boston, and get a taste of the magical energy that can be felt here. For more information about 

Beverly Mitchell please check out her website at www.beverlyamitchell.com.

Table of Contents 

Program Overview.........................................................2 

2009 Conference Program Committee Members..........2 

2009 Conference Host Committee Members................3 

C onference Location Information 

Boston, Massachusetts...................................................4 

Weather.........................................................................4 

Hotel Information..........................................................4 

Hotel Parking................................................................4 

Airport Transportation .................................................4 

C onference Registration Information 

Room Monitors..............................................................5 

Conference Badge & Tote Bag Pick-up Hours...............5 

Conference Receipt.......................................................5 

On-Site Registration Hours ..........................................5 

Professional Development Hours (PDHs) .............5 

E xhibit Hall Information 

Exhibit Hall Guest Passes..............................................6 

Participating Exhibitors.................................................6 

Bookstore.......................................................................6 

Name Badges.................................................................6 

Exhibit Hall Hours and Events......................................6 

C onference Workshop Schedule....................7 

S chedule of Events | Thursday, May 21 

Child Life Professional Certification Exam....................9 

Pre-Conference Full Day Intensives..............................9 

Hospital Tour – Children’s Hospital Boston...............10 

New Member/First-Timer Orientation Meeting..........10 

S chedule of Events | Saturday, May 23 

Committee Meetings...................................................12 

Two-Hour Professional Development Seminars .........12 

Lunch in Exhibit Hall..................................................13 

Poster Presentations.....................................................14 

Professional Development Workshops........................15 


S chedule of Events | Sunday, May 24 


Networking Roundtable Brunch 

for Child Life Professionals.......................................19 

Student Brunch Event..................................................19 

Award Presentations and Closing General Session......19 

C hild Life Council 

Executive Board...........................................................20 

Committee & Task Force Chairs..................................20 

Staff.............................................................................20 

O ur 2009 Conference Sponsors 

Gold, Silver and Supporter Level................................21 

P rogram Insert 

Registration Information, Fees & Policies......................1 

Registration Form, Parts 1 & 2................................... 2-3 

Save the Date: CLC 28th Annual Conference...............4 

2010 Call for Papers......................................................4 

S chedule of Events | Friday, May 22 

Opening General Session 

and Emma Plank Keynote Address............................10 

Lunch in Exhibit Hall .................................................10 

Plenary Sessions...........................................................10 

Two-Hour Professional Development Seminars..........11 

Opening Reception in Exhibit Hall.............................12 

Boston, Massachusetts | May 21 – 24, 2009 | 1

2009 Conference 

Program Committee 

2009 Committee Chair 

Melissa Hicks, ms, lpc, 

rpt, ccls 

Child Life Consultant 

Raleigh, nc 

Chair-Elect 

Kristin Maier, ccls 

Child Life Clinical 

Coordinator 

All Children’s Hospital 

St. Petersburg, fl 

CLC Board Liaison 

Barbara Blair, ccls 

Child Life Coordinator 

Providence St. Vincent 

Medical Center 

The Gerry Frank Center for 

Children 

Portland, or 

Suzanne Graca, MS, CCLS 

Child Life Specialist III / 

Acting Co-Director, Child 

Life Services Department 

Children’s Hospital Boston 

Boston, MA 

Lisa Ciarrocca, CCLS 

Child Life Manager 

Goryeb Children’s Hospital 

Morristown, NJ 

Sheila Palm, ma, ccls 

Child Life System Leader 

Children’s Hospitals and 

Clinics of Minnesota 

Minneapolis, mn 

Patricia Boettcher, ma pc, 

ccls 

Child Life Specialist II 

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital 


Cincinnati, oh 

Child Life Council 



The Westin Boston Waterfront 

In 2009, the city of Boston will play host to the Child Life Council 27th Annual 

Conference on Professional Issues. With its fascinating Revolutionary Period history 

and rich academic tradition, America’s “Cradle of Liberty” will provide the perfect 

setting for a conference program celebrating the Passion, Pride and Power of the Child Life 

Community. CLC invites you to register for the premier learning experience for child 

life specialists, and join the ranks of an anticipated 1,000 professionals, educators, 

and students united by a common passion and a shared commitment to professional 

excellence. 

In Boston, conference attendees will enjoy three days packed with educational 

opportunities designed to enlighten, engage, and inspire. With a host of seminars 

and workshops covering a wide variety of hot topics and issues, your biggest challenge 

may be choosing just one session for each time slot! 

At the opening general session, TV personality and stress management consultant 

Loretta LaRouche will apply her trademark humor and energy to the Emma Plank 

Keynote address. After the opening session, attendees have the opportunity to 

select from a special series of plenary sessions presented by three nationally recognized 

speakers: Diane Levin, PhD of Wheelock College; Jayne Singer, PhD, of The 

Brazelton Touchpoints Center; and Juliette Schlucter, a consultant in the field of 

family-centered care. 

The closing general session will feature the Distinguished Service Award presentation, 

and a dance production performed by The Adaptive Dance Program. A successful 

joint venture between Boston Ballet and the Department of Physical Therapy 

at Children’s Hospital Boston, The Adaptive Dance Program is designed to foster a 

love of dance in children with Down’s syndrome. 

In addition to thought-provoking educational sessions and events, the Annual 

Conference offers ample opportunities for attendees to tap into power of the child 

life community on an unrivaled scale. Connect with exhibitors, colleagues and 

friends while you refuel at each of the lively meal events taking place in the exhibit 

hall, and enjoy further opportunities to enhance your professional and personal 

networks with a free evening on Saturday and the networking roundtable brunch 

on Sunday. Looking to enhance your conference experience even further? Consider 

registering for one of several pre-conference intensives taking place on Thursday, 

including a presentation by internationally noted author, educator and grief counselor 

Alan Wolfelt, PhD (separate registration fees apply). 

We look forward to seeing you in Boston for this exciting event! 

2 | Child Life Council 27th Annual Conference on Professional Issues

2009 Conference Host Committee 

C o - C h a i r 


Child Life Specialist III 

Acting Co-Director, Child Life 

Services Department 


Boston, MA 

C o - C h a i r 

Claire White, MS, CCLS 

Assistant Professor of Child Life 

Wheelock College 

Boston, MA 

B o o k s t o r e 

Tricia Sherman, MBA, CCLS 


Director Pain Free Pediatrics 

Boston Medical Center 

Boston, MA 

Events 

Virginia “Dinny” Coleman, MS, 

CCLS 

Instructor, Child Life 

Coordinator, Graduate Child Life 

Program 

Wheelock College 

Boston, MA 

P u b l i c i t y 

Kristen Fowler, MS, CCLS 



Boston, MA 

S p o n s o r s h i p 

Lisa Cantore, MA, CCLS, CEIM 

Child Life Specialist 

Hasbro Children’s Hospital 

Providence, RI 

Ann Herzog, MS, CCLS 


Newton-Wellesley Hospital 

Newton, MA 

Volunteers 

Karen Swartz, MS, CCLS, CEIM 


Hasbro Children’s Hospital 

Providence, RI 

Colleen Hynes, MS, CCLS 


Children’s Hospital Boston at 

Waltham 

Boston, MA 

Laurie Fraga, MS, CCLS 


Floating Hospital for Children at 

Tufts Medical Center 

Rockland, MA 

registration 

Maureen Abramson, MS, CCLS 



Boston, MA 

Robert Wing, MA, CCLS 

Director of Child Life Services 

UMass Memorial Children’s 


Worcester, MA 

2009 Conference Program: Adjunct Reviewers 

Farya Phillips, MA, CCLS 

Program Coordinator/Child 

Life Specialist 

Wonders and Worries 

Austin, TX 

Amy Seitz, CCLS 

Child Life Specialist, Pediatric ICU 

CHRISTUS Schumpert 

Sutton Children’s Medical Center 

Shreveport, LA 

Chantal LeBlanc, BPs, CCLS 


IWK Health Centre 

Halifax, NS 

Canada 

Patrice Brylske, MPA, CCLS 

Director, Child Life Department 

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center 

Baltimore, MD 

Lori Takeuchi, CCLS 


Children’s Rehabilitative Services 

Phoenix, AZ 

Holly Spencer Kihm, PhD, CCLS, 

CFLE 

Assistant Professor 

Southeastern Louisiana University 

Mandeville, LA 

B oston, Massachusetts | May 21 – 24, 2009 | 3

Location Information 

As America’s “Cradle of Liberty,” 

Boston is steeped in colonial pride 

and full of classic charms. It is one 

of the oldest and most influential 

cities in the United States of 

America, with a plethora of museums, 

famous historical sites, and 

world-class entertainment venues 

securing its place among the top ten 

tourist destinations in the country. 

Local Attractions 

Please check the Annual 

Conference section of the CLC 

Web site for links to popular 

Boston attractions. 

Weather 

The temperature varies a good deal in Boston during the 

spring, but typically offers mid 60 degree (15-18º C) days 

followed by brisk evenings. A sweater and a jacket, in addition 

to lighter clothes, are recommended. Springtime can be a little 

damp in New England. 

Hotel Information 

Located in Boston’s fastest growing and most vibrant district, 

The Westin Boston Waterfront offers a premier waterfront 

location overlooking the city skyline and Boston Harbor. The 

hotel features a charming New England garden style lobby 

paired with 790 guest rooms and suites featuring Westin’s 

signature Heavenly Bed® and Heavenly Bath®. 

Guests can venture to nearby attractions with The Westin 

Boston Waterfront’s complimentary shuttle service, which 

offers transportation to/from Boston’s financial district and 

Faneuil Hall seven days a week. 

Special hotel rates for CLC Conference attendees are $149 per 

night, plus tax (single or double occupancy – each additional 

person is an extra $20 per night). Interested in extending your 

stay in Boston? This special rate is available to conference 

attendees from May 20 until May 27 (limited availability on 

conference shoulder dates). Be sure to book your room as soon 

as possible, as we anticipate the room block will fill up 

quickly. 

To make your room reservation online, go to the Annual 

Conference/Location & Hotel Information section of the CLC 

Web site and click on Reserve Your Hotel Room Now. Or, if you 

prefer to book your reservation by phone, please contact Group 

Reservations at 1-888-627-7115. Be sure to identify yourself as a 

Child Life Council conference attendee in order to ensure you 

receive the discounted group rate. All conference events will 

take place at the conference hotel with the exception of the 

tour of Children’s Hospital Boston. A complete list of room 

assignments for each of the conference sessions will be provided 

on-site, at the Conference Badge & Tote Bag Pick-up area. 

Stay at the CLC Conference Hotel 

By staying at the CLC conference hotel, you enable us to 

reduce the overall costs associated with producing the 

conference. These savings allow CLC to offer reduced 

registration fees and increased conference savings. 

Hotel Parking 

The Westin Boston Waterfront offers both valet and selfparking. 

Rates for valet parking start at $20 per hour ($41 

maximum per 24 hours/overnight). Rates for self-parking start 

at $16 per hour ($31 maximum per 24 hours/overnight). 

Public parking is available on Congress Street. These public 

lots are a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel, and the daily 

parking rates range from $10 to $30 per day. 

Getting There 

The Westin Boston Waterfront is located less than three miles 

from Boston Logan International Airport. There are several 

options available for transportation to and from the airport. 

For detailed information on each of these options please visit 

the Annual Conference/Location Information section of the 

CLC Web site. 

Taxi or Shuttle 

Cab fare to or from Logan International Airport will be 

approximately $25 each way. A shuttle service will cost less 

($12-$16 per person each way), but the trip may take longer, 

depending on how many stops the shuttle makes. Attendees 

must make reservations in advance for shuttle service. Contact 

the following companies for more information: 

Zebra Airport Shuttle, 

800-242-0064 

www.zebrashuttle.com 

Star Shuttle Inc, 

877-970-7827 

Group Code: 6005 

www.starshuttleboston.com 

Public Transportation 

Public transportation via the MBTA Silver Line is available to 

and from Logan International Airport. The trip from the 

airport to The Westin Boston Waterfront takes approximately 

five minutes, but you should allow 30-40 minutes depending 

on the Silver Line schedule. The trip costs $2 each way. 

Driving Directions 

Download printer-friendly driving directions from the Annual 

Conference/Location Information section of the CLC Web 

site at www.childlife.org. 

4 

| Child Life Council 27th Annual Conference on Professional Issues

Registration Information 

Register for the conference online by the early registration 

deadline of March 16, 2009 for the best rates. The deadline 

for pre-registration is April 17, 2009, after which time, 

participants may only register on-site. Although we will do 

our best to accommodate everyone, those participants who 

register on-site may find there is only limited access to 

certain conference events. To avoid disappointment, we 

highly recommend that you pre-register well in advance of the 

conference. 

Complete registration information is available on the gray 

insert in this program. 

Room Monitors 

Room monitors are conference attendees who volunteer to 

assist with a series of important tasks at the beginning of a 

conference session. They assist speakers by distributing 

hand-outs (if applicable), checking on audio/visual set-up, 

and if necessary, checking off registrants as they arrive. If 

you are interested, please indicate the session you would like 

to monitor on your registration form. 

Conference Badge & Tote Bag Pick-Up 

Upon arrival, all pre-registered attendees should check in at 

the Conference Badge & Tote Bag Pick-Up area to collect 

their conference materials. This area will be open: 

Thursday, May 21, 2009 

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 


7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

IMPORTANT! 

Conference Registration and Receipt 

Participants who register online will receive an 

automatic registration confirmation and receipt via 

email. Please bring this receipt with you to the 

conference. On-site registrants may request a receipt 

at the time of registration. 

Conference General Sessions 

Friday, May 22, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 

Opening General 

Session & Emma Plank 

Keynote Address 

Sponsored by Texas Children’s Hospital 

Loretta LaRouche 

Founder and President, 

The Humor Potential Inc. 

Plymouth, MA 

sunday, May 24, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 

Award Presentations 

and Closing General Session 

The Adaptive Dance Program 

A joint-venture of Children’s 

Hospital Boston, Department 

of Physical Therapy and Boston 

Ballet, Boston, MA 

On-Site Registration 

If you miss the pre-registration deadline and find it necessary 

to register on-site for the conference, CLC staff will be 

available to assist you at a separate On-Site Registration 

Desk. Hours of operation are: 


8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 


9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Professional Development Hours 

Conference attendees receive Professional Development 

Hours (PDHs) necessary for recertification for the Certified 

Child Life Specialist (CCLS) designation. Basic registration 

for the 27th Annual Conference includes opportunities for 

up to 14 PDHs. Up to 6 additional PDHs are available to 

those attending pre-conference intensives. 


Exhibit Hall Information 

The Exhibit Hall is consistently rated as one of the most 

popular features of the conference, and each year attendees 

look forward to viewing the latest innovative products and 

services available to support their efforts in helping children 

and families. The following group meal events will be held in 

the Exhibit Hall, and are included as part of your basic 

registration fee: 

• Lunch, Friday, May 22 

• Reception, Friday Evening, May 23 

• Lunch Saturday, May 23 

Exhibit Hall Guest Passes 

For conference attendees interested in bringing a guest to 

visit the Exhibit Hall, guest passes are available for $80 for 

Friday (includes lunch and reception) and $40 for Saturday 

(includes morning beverages and lunch). All attendees 

entering the Exhibit Hall will be required to wear their 

conference or guest badge in order to be permitted entry at 

the door – no exceptions, please. 

Participating Exhibitors 

The following is a list of exhibitors scheduled to participate 

in the Exhibit Hall as of November 2008. For more information 

on exhibiting, please contact the CLC office at 800- 

252-4515 or conference@childlife.org. 

• Aging With Dignity 

• Alicia Rose “Victorious” Foundation 

• Association of Hole in the Wall Camps 

• Camp Mak-A-Dream 

• CaringBridge 

• Diversionary Therapy Technologies 

• Education, Inc. 

• Emspiration LLC 

• FLAGHOUSE 

• FLAVORx, Inc. 

• The Gathering Place 

• The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp — 

Hospital Outreach Program 

• Hugworks 

• Kids Health Pals 

• Kidzpace Interactive 

• Legacy Products 

• LiteBooks.net 

• Make-A-Wish Foundation 

• Medical Memories 

• Patient Puppets Inc. 

• Phoenix Children’s Hospital 

• Playworks 

• Songs of Love Foundation 

• St. Baldrick’s Foundation 

• Swank Healthcare 

Bookstore 

Conveniently located in the Exhibit Hall, the Bookstore is the 

place to visit for the latest Child Life Council products and 

publications. Save money by taking advantage of conference 

discounts and eliminating shipping and handling fees! 

IMPORTANT! 

Name Badges 

Name badges are required for admission to all conference 

sessions and events. 

Exhibit Hall & Bookstore Hours 

exhibit Hall Events 

Friday, May 22 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open with Lunch 

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Reception 

Saturday, May 23 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Exhibit Hall with Beverages 

11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open with Lunch 


Conference Workshop Schedule 

FRIDAY, MAY 22 

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. 

SATURDAY, MAY 23 

9:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. 

1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. 

Plenary Sessions 

A. Play: An Endangered Species? 

Diane Levin, PhD, Professor of 

Education, Wheelock College, Boston, 

MA 

Two-Hour Seminars 

1. Sibling Voices: What Siblings 

Want You to Know! 

4. String Stories, Chalk Talks, 

and Other Transformation 

Narratives 

7. From Books to Bedside to 

Boardroom: Integrating EBP 

into Child Life Practice 

Two-Hour Seminars 

9. Build It and They Will Come: 

Creating and Using Gaming- 

Based Tools for Recreation and 

Therapeutic Interventions 

12. Therapeutic Entertainment in 

Healthcare Settings 

15. Effective Facilitation: A Key 

Component in Clinical 

Supervision 

Professional Development Workshops 

17. Journaling Techniques to Help 

Children and Families Coping 

with Medical Events: ‘Find the 

Friend at the End of Your Pen’ 

– Part 1 

20. Breaking Down the Barriers 

of Pill Swallowing through 

Behavior Modification 

23. Listen Carefully: What 

Patients with Developmental 

Disabilities and Their Families 

Can Teach Us 

B. Child Life – Champions of 

Patient- and Family-Centered 

Care: A Family Perspective 

Juliette Schlucter, President, 

Bridgekeeper, Malvern, PA 

2. Building Bridges Between 

Assistive Technology and 


5. Documentation Innovations: 

The Changing Face of 

Documentation in Child Life 

Practice 

8. Legacy of Leadership in 

Child Life: An Evidence- 

Based Practice Approach 

10. Boundary Waters: The Ebb 

and Flow of Interpersonal 

Relationships with Patients, 

Families and Staff 

13. Lessons From Youth: A Peer 

Support Model 

16. Beyond the Basics: Working 

with the Children of Adult 

Patients 

18. A New Tool for Your 

Toolbox: The Distraction 

Coaching Index 

21. Sleep Studies: A to ZZZ’s 

24. Acknowledging Adult 

Context: Understanding 

Parents of Ill & Hospitalized 

Children Via a Life-Course 

Perspective 

C. Developmental 

Opportunities for Partnering 

with Families, Jayne Singer, 

PhD, The Brazelton Touchpoints 

Center, Boston, MA 

3. Temperament and 

Personality: Child Life 

Assessments, Interventions, 

and Research 

6. Making the Complicated 

Simple: Helping Students 

Integrate Knowledge, Skills 

and Self 

11. Qualitative Methods and 

Child Life Research: Making 

Connections to Support 

Evidence-Based Practice 

14. CHYPS (Children and 

Young People’s Support) and 

Chocolate — A Children’s 

Survival Kit for Bereavement 

19. Our Journey: Starting a 

Non-Profit Organization 

Dedicated to Providing Child 

Life Services Beyond the 

Hospital Walls 

22. Transplant: Not Just Another 

Surgery 


Conference Workshop Schedule (continued) 

3:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. 

Sunday, May 24 

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. 


25. Journaling Techniques to Help 

Children and Families Coping 

with Medical Events: 

‘Find the Friend at the End of 

Your Pen’ — Part 2 

28. Expanding the Horizon: 

Integrating Alternative 

Therapies into a Child Life 

Program 

31. Supervising Millennial 

Students: Understanding 

Generational Differences 


34. Achieving Optimal Care: A 

Research Project with Patients 

Who Have Sustained Burn 

Injuries 

37. A Collaborative Approach to 

Care Using Child Life, Music 

Therapy, and Art Therapy 

40. Ten Ways to Support Children 

with Autism Spectrum 

Disorders While They Receive 

Care in Your Hospital 

43. Beyond Sesame Street: The 

Therapeutic Use of Puppets in 

Healthcare 

26. Professional Involvement: 

Connections That Keep Us 

Learning and Growing 

29. The Right Choice: Making 

Ethical Decisions in Child 

Life Practice 

32. Chronic Pain in Children: 

Addressing the Stigma 

35. Reconfiguring Hope When 

Faced With Unthinkable 

Situations: Reflection, 

Research and Application 

38. The Magic of Camp: 

Promoting Resilience 

Through Fun 

41. It’s All About Team Work: 

Working with Acquired 

Brain Injured Patients 

44. Poetic Justice: Mastering 

Hospitalization Through 

Words and Imagery 

27. Adapting Preparation & 

Support For Patients With 

Developmental Disabilities 

30. Eating Disorders: Feeding 

Self-Esteem 

33. Advocating with Evidence: 

Turning Evidence-Based 

Statements into Concise 

Family-Centered Hospital 

Policies 

36. Flexing Your Professional 

Development Muscles: A 

Strengths-Based Approach 

39. Snuggle-Up! Providing 

Developmentally Supportive 

Positioning for Infants in the 

Intensive Care Setting 

42. Appetite for Life 

Special Note Regarding Sessions 

Please plan to arrive at each designated meeting room at least 10 minutes prior to the time that the session is scheduled to 

begin. Sessions will start promptly at the appointed time, and once a session has begun, the doors will be closed. Out of 

consideration for other attendees and presenters, please avoid any room disruptions, and attend only those sessions that you 

have registered for, as room size and set-up are based on registration numbers. 

Presentation Levels Discontinued 

Those who have attended past CLC conferences may recall that sessions were once categorized by the level of professional 

knowledge or experience (beginning, intermediate or advanced) recommended in order for a child life specialist to 

participate. This year, in response to attendee feedback, the Conference Planning Committee elected to discontinue 

assigning practice levels to conference presentations. Instead, conference registrants are encouraged to review each session 

description carefully to determine if the content is appropriate for their professional development needs. 


Schedule of Events 


8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 

Child Life Professional Certification Examination 

The Child Life Professional Certification Examination will 

be administered Thursday, May 21, from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 

p.m. A separate application process is required to sit for 

this examination. The application deadline for the exam is 

March 31, 2009 for those educated in the U.S. and Canada. 

For complete information on certification and the application 

process, please visit the CLC Web site at www.childlife.org/Certification/. 

Examination participants are encouraged to register for the 

conference to take advantage of valuable educational and 

networking opportunities. Those who successfully complete 

this exam may apply PDHs (Professional Development 

Hours) accrued during the 2009 Annual Conference toward 

recertification. 

Pre-Conference Full-Day Intensives (Lunch Included) 

9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 

I. Helping Children and Teens Cope with Grief: 

A “Companioning” Philosophy of Caregiving 

$150 – All Attendees – Limited Space (100) 

Alan Wolfelt, PhD, Director, Center for Loss and Life 

Transition, Fort Collins, CO 

This inspiring workshop will enhance participants’ 

understanding of the adult helping role with children 

and teens in grief. A variety of important sub-topics will 

explore how to artfully “companion” children and teens 

impacted by death loss. The main theme explored: If 

children do not have safe places and people with whom 

they can mourn authentically, they are at risk for living 

in the “shadow of the ghosts” of grief. 

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

II. A Live Clinical Supervision Group for Child Life 

Professionals 


Gloria Mattera, MEd, CCLS, Director – Department of Child 

Life & Developmental Services, Bellevue Hospital Center, New 

York, NY 

Diane Rode, MPS, ATR, CCLS, Director, Child Life and 

Creative Arts Therapy Department, Kravis Children’s Hospital 

at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 

This unique, live-supervision opportunity provides an 

in-depth exploration of the importance and value of 

clinical supervision in child life practice. Participants 

will gain skills to begin developing their own supervision 

groups through the information and experience 

gathered from this session. Case material from participants 

will be used in the groups. 

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

III. The Leadership Journey: Chart Your Course 

$150 – Professionals Only – Limited Space (45) 

Jerriann Wilson, MEd, CCLS, Retired Director of Child Life, 

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Baltimore, MD 

Sharon McLeod, MS, CCLS, CTRS, Senior Clinical Director, 

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 

Sheila Palm, MA, CCLS, Child Life System Leader, Children’s 

Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 

Linda Skinner, CCLS, Professional Practice Chief, IWK Health 

Centre, Halifax, NS 

Traci Woods, CCLS, Child Life Clinical Coordinator, Florida 

Children’s Hospital, Orlando, FL 

This full-day intensive will focus on leadership development 

for child life specialists in a variety of settings who 

are at different stages in their careers. “Leadership is 

everyone’s business.” Although it will be useful for 

current managers or directors who are new in the field, 

it is also designed for those individuals who wish to 

grow and develop within their program, whether they 

are a one-person program or part of a larger group. The 

presentation will use a variety of methods such as 

didactic, experiential, assessment, and ice-breakers; 

there will be a heavy emphasis in each section on 

communication and adapting to or dealing with change. 

Vignettes of real-life examples will be used to clarify 

different versions of leadership. Some examples are 

committee leadership, effective team building, setting 

strategic goals both personal and professional, and 

presentation skills. Attendees will learn what changes 

they can control and what they can only influence. 

They will be asked to think about the kinds of skills and 

leadership position they want and to come to this 

session with a plan including where they are now and 

where they want to be. Participants will practice 

identifying and understanding the value system in their 

own organization and will be more effective at mobilizing 

others in their achievements to get things done. 

Thursday, May 21 


Friday, May 22 

Thursday, May 21, 2009 (continued) 

2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Tour of Children’s Hospital Boston 


Children’s Hospital Boston is a 397-bed comprehensive 

center for pediatric healthcare. As one of the largest pediatric 

medical centers in the United States, Children’s offers 

a complete range of healthcare services for children from 

birth through 21 years of age. 

Children’s is the primary pediatric teaching hospital of 

Harvard Medical School, where most of our physicians hold 

faculty appointments. Children’s is also home to the world’s 

largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, 

where its discoveries have benefited both children and 

adults since 1869. Current initiatives have attracted a record 

$176 million in funding; including more federal funding 

than is awarded to any other pediatric facility. 

Since U.S. News & World Report began ranking hospitals 19 

years ago, Children’s Hospital Boston has consistently been 



9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 

Opening General Session & Emma Plank 

Keynote Address 

(2 PDHs) 

Sponsored by 

Loretta LaRouche, The Humor Potential 

The Emma Plank Keynote address will be given by Loretta 

LaRouche, an international stress management and humor 

consultant. Loretta is founder and president of The Humor 

Potential, Inc, a company offering programs and products 

for lifestyle management. Her special brand of optimistic 

psychology has an incontestable positive effect on the 

health of all that are exposed to her. She is also a wellrecognized 

TV personality on PBS and bestselling author. 

Loretta is on the Mass General advisory council for anxiety 

and depression and was recently awarded the National 

Humor Treasure Award. 

rated as one of the top two pediatric hospitals in the country. 

This year, Children’s is ranked second nationally and 

remains the number one pediatric hospital in New England. 

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 

New Member/First Timer Orientation 

Sponsored by 

The New Member/First-Timer Orientation is a great 

opportunity to join veteran CLC members and staff for an 

informative overview of CLC and the Annual Conference 

on Professional Issues. Whether you are a new member, a 

first-time conference attendee or potential member, this is 

a great opportunity to learn how to make the most out of 

networking opportunities and professional development 

through the Child Life Council. This event will set the 

stage for a successful conference experience and has a history 

of launching lasting friendships. Refreshments will be 

served, and participants are sure to leave with their questions 

answered! 

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

Plenary Sessions 

A. Play: An Endangered Species? 

(1.5 PDHs) 

Diane Levin, PhD, Professor of Education, Wheelock College, 

Boston, MA 

Play is vital to optimal social, emotional, physical and 

cognitive development in the early years. Yet there are 

many factors at work today that are robbing children of 

the full benefits of play—such as the time children 

spend in front of a screen instead of playing, the many 

electronic and highly structured toys linked to the 

media that take control of play away from children, and 

the pressure in schools from the youngest ages to focus 

on early teaching of basic skills and test scores rather 

than on establishing a healthy foundation for learning 

through play. This session explores the many forces at 

work in today’s society that are endangering play, how 

endangering children’s play can undermine their 

optimal learning and development, and what we can do 

to promote healthy play in these times. 

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 

Lunch and Bookstore in Exhibit Hall 

Enjoy a casual meal and great conversation with fellow 

conference attendees and exhibitors. Don’t forget to 

take time to visit each exhibit booth, and learn more 

about the latest programs, products and services available 

to child life specialists. 

B. Child life – Champions of Patient- and Family- 

Centered Care: A Family Perspective 

Juliette Schlucter, President, Bridgekeeper, Malvern, PA 

Sponsored by 

Child Life professionals value a model of patient- and 

family-centered collaboration. This presentation shares 


the barriers and boundless opportunities for healing 

partnerships through the eyes of a family and offers 

programmatic infrastructure for child life to lead and 

advance patient- and family-centered care in their 

organizations. 

C. Developmental Opportunities for Partnering 

with Families 

Jayne Singer, PhD, The Brazelton Touchpoints Center, 

Boston, MA 

Dr. Singer will review the process by which the 

Touchpoints Approach to understanding children’s 

development enhances children’s social and emotional 

competence and functions as a strong support for 

parents. Dr. Brazelton’s “Touchpoints Approach” offers 

opportunities to help parents and children through 

predictable phases of development that can bring 

disorganization before developmental growth spurts. 

These become opportunities for understanding the 

child, and confirmation for parents. As children 

approach a spurt, they often experience periods of 

frustration and regression. This is likely to be an 

anxiety-laden time for parents, as well as other 

caregivers, and can place strain on relationships between 

parents and their children’s additional caregivers. If 

parents understand the underlying reason for their 

child’s regressive behavior, they can better support and 

comfort their child. This can be especially powerful for 

parents and children as they experience the process of 

shared caregiving with child life professionals. 

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. 

Two-Hour Professional Development 

Seminars 

(2 PDHs) 

1. Sibling Voices: What Siblings Want You to Know! 

Sandra Ring, MS, CCLS, National Outreach Director, 

SuperSibs!, Buffalo Grove, IL 

This panel presentation will allow siblings to voice their 

thoughts and feelings about what helped them the most 

during their journey with a sibling battling cancer. 

They will also give insight to what interventions were 

not helpful – as well as what additional support they 

wish had been offered. 

2. Building Bridges Between Assistive Technology and 


Eileen Mapes, CCLS, Information and Outreach Coordinator, 

Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative, Wilmington, DE 

This presentation bridges the gap between child life 

clinical practice and assistive technology—equipment 

that assists people with disabilities to maintain and/or 

increase their independence. Information will be 

provided regarding identifying and obtaining appropriate 

equipment for patients and families. 

3. Temperament and Personality: Child Life 

Assessments, Interventions, and Research 

Eugene Johnson, CCLS, MA, Child Life Specialist, Children’s 

Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX 

Child life specialists intuitively include a patient’s 

personality as part of their overall assessment. From this 

assessment the CLS will tailor an intervention appropriate 

to the patient. This dynamic workshop will explore 

the role of temperament and personality in a CLS’s 

assessment and interventions. 

4. String Stories, Chalk Talks, and Other 

Transformation Narratives 

Jon Luongo, MS, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Malmonides 

Infants and Children’s Hospital of Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY 

When a child arrives to the hospital, a family story 

unfolds. This interactive presentation will teach playful 

storytelling techniques for use in preparation, coping 

support, and more. In addition we will explore the field of 

narrative medicine as well as developmental and cultural 

rationale for storytelling as a hospital learning tool. 

5. Documentation Innovations: The Changing Face 

of Documentation in Child Life Practice 

Stacey Chambers, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, 

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, 

Child Life Services, Nashville, TN 

Ashleigh Lester, CCLS, CIMI, CPST, Child Life 

Specialist, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at 

Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN 

Documentation is a task that demands commitment 

from the child life specialist. Professionals recognize its 

value but struggle to maintain successful and consistent 

charting practices. This presentation will focus on 

strategies for implementing effective documentation 

and quality assurance of the technologically advancing 

medical record. 

6. Making the Complicated Simple: Helping Students 

Integrate Knowledge, Skills and Self 

Belinda “Bindy” Sweett, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, 

British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital Child Life Department, 

Vancouver, BC 

This presentation will enhance participants’ student 

supervision skills and their enjoyment of the supervisory 

process through exploration of supervisory models 

and discussion. A student supervisor who can embrace 

personal and professional imperfections, collaborate 

with students in supervision and continue to learn will 

be successful and effective in many ways. 

Friday, May 22 


Saturday, May 23 

Friday, May 22, 2009 (continued) 

7. From Books to Bedside to Boardroom: Integrating 

EBP into Child Life Practice 

Amy Curry, CCLS, Child Life Specialist II, Texas Children’s 

Hospital, Houston, TX 

Rose Resler, CCLS, CFCS, Director of Child Life Specialist 

Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 

Learn how to utilize evidence-based practice in 

common child life situations using case studies and 

scenarios. EBP combines the best available evidence 

with clinical expertise and patient preference to 

improve outcomes. Explore how EBP can be used when 

working with patients and families, working with 

students, or advocating policy changes. 

8. Legacy of Leadership in Child Life: An Evidence- 

Based Practice Approach 

Senta Greene MA, CCLS, CEO & Chief Consultant, 

Full Circle: A Professional Consulting Agency, 

Stevenson Ranch, CA 

Stephanie Hopkinson, MA, CCLS, Child Life 

Specialist, Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles, Lead 

Consultant and Curriculum Design Specialist: Full Circle: 

A Professional Consulting Agency, Senior Adjunct Faculty, 

Pacific Oaks College, Los Angeles, CA 

This highly engaging seminar will explore the concepts 

of effective leadership and provide participants the 

opportunity to critically reflect on their own leadership 

styles, preferences, and abilities using models and tools 

of evidence-based practices as a core framework. 

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 

Opening Reception in the Exhibit Hall 

Come and join your child life colleagues for food and fun. 

Take a stroll through the Exhibit Hall, enjoy tasty treats, 

renew old acquaintances and make new ones! 


Saturday, May 23, 2009 

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. 

Committee Meetings with Breakfast 

For Current Committee Members 

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. 

Exhibit Hall and Bookstore Open with Beverages 

9:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. 

Two-Hour Professional 

Development Seminars 

(2 PDHs) 

9. Build It and They Will Come: Creating and 

Using Gaming-Based Tools for Recreation and 

Therapeutic Interventions 

Patrice Brylske, MPA, CCLS, Director, Child Life Department, 

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Baltimore, MD 

Arun Mathews, Director, HOPEConnectsKIDS Research 

Initiative, Hobbs, NM 

Cy Khormaee, Academic Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation, 

Academic Evangelism, Washington DC 

For patients suffering from life limiting or chronic 

conditions, access to technology provides exciting ways 

to play and communicate when disease or fatigue 

prohibits their participation with their peers. 

Participants will increase their knowledge of current 

research, gaming program implementation, and the 

power of video games for self expression. 

10. Boundary Waters: The Ebb and Flow of Interpersonal 

Relationships with Patients, Families and Staff 

Jeanine Clapsaddle, LAMFT, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, 

Children’s Hospitals and Clinics Child Life, Minneapolis, MN 

Cindy Walsh, RN, CPON, Nurse Manager, Children’s 

Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 

Child life specialists and nurses work as a collaborative 

team to help patients and families reach goals for overall 

health and wellness. This seminar focuses on the need 

for, and implementation of, a professional boundary 

education program. The benefits of a collaborative 

approach, and tangible tools for practical application 

will be shared. 


11. Qualitative Methods and Child Life Research: Making 

Connections to Support Evidence-Based Practice 

Toni Crowell, MS, CCLS, Academic and Clinical Specialist, 

The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON 

This seminar will provide an overview of qualitative 

methods of research including phenomenology, 

ethnography, and grounded theory. How child life 

specific inquiries can be formatted into these methods 

will be integrated into this seminar. Through examples 

and hands-on activities, participants will also have 

opportunities to engage in analyzing and interpreting 

qualitative data. 

12. Therapeutic Entertainment in Healthcare Settings 

Chris Brown, CCLS, Director of Child Life and Family 

Centered Care, Dell Children’s Medical Center, Austin, TX 

Jim Newton, President & Founder, Hugworks, Hurst, TX 

Paul Hill, Executive Producer, Hugworks, Hurst, TX 

Audience members will be involved in the exploration 

of therapeutic interventions, the qualities of entertainment, 

and the provision of “therapeutic entertainment” 

via the interactive sharing of songs and small group 

storytelling. Guidelines will be articulated to evaluate 

and encourage the therapeutic potential of various 

entertainment presentations in the healthcare setting. 

13. Lessons From Youth: A Peer Support Model 

Lisa Herman, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, 

British Columbia Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC 

Kristina Jackson, RN, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, 


Pamela Wong, MSW, RSW, Social Worker, 


A life-threatening diagnosis can significantly impact an 

adolescent’s development. This workshop will discuss the 

rationale for developing a model of peer support, and 

follow one hospital’s journey to develop a youth support 

group. Participants will gain insight on working with 

youth from a documentary style video made by youth. 

14. CHYPS (Children and Young People’s Support) 

and Chocolate — A Children’s Survival Kit 

for Bereavement 

Carol Page, HPS, ADCE, hospital play specialist, 

Wycombe General Hospital Paediatrics, Bucks, UK 

Jackie Youens, HPS, NNEB, hospital play specialist, 

Wycombe General Hospital Paediatrics, Bucks, UK 

This presentation will share the pioneering role of two 

hospital play specialists working with a UK bereavement 

charity to establish support groups and design 

resource material for bereaved children and their 

families. Included are practical skills for bereavement 

work, criteria for setting up groups, and creating 

age-appropriate literature. 

15. Effective Facilitation: A Key Component in 

Clinical Supervision 

Catherine Leopard, MA, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, 


Lynne Palazzolo, RN, Clinical Project Administrator, 


Effective facilitation is the key component in establishing 

clinical supervision environments that truly support 

the growth and development of child life professionals. 

Participants will learn facilitation skills involved in 

managing group dynamics and the stages of group 

development in order to establish high quality and 

responsive clinical supervision programs. 

16. Beyond the Basics: Working with the Children 

of Adult Patients 

Kathleen McCue, MA, CCLS, LSW, Director, Children’s 

Program, The Gathering Place, Beachwood, OH 

This presentation will review the services child life 

specialists may provide to children of seriously ill 

adults. Individual versus group interventions, psychoeducational 

versus emotional-supportive interventions, 

specialized services to high risk populations such as the 

children of single parents will be covered. Liability 

issues and court involvement will be addressed. 


11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 

Lunch, Posters, and Bookstore Open in Exhibit Hall 


Saturday, May 23, 2009 (continued) 


11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 

Staffed Poster Presentations 

Rapid Process Improvement: Change is Good... 

You Go First! 

Carrie McCabe, CCLS, Child Life Specialist II, Lucile 

Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA 

Kit Leong, RHIT, CPHQ, Quality Manager, Lucile 

Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA 

From the perspectives of a child life specialist and a 

quality manager, participants will learn practical 

ways to effect change within their organization by 

using child life expertise as an integral part of a 

multidisciplinary team in a Rapid Process 

Improvement (RPI) project. 

Supporting Families with Spatial Frame Devices 

Stacey Chambers, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Monroe 

Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN 

This poster shares the unique ways in which the child 

life specialist and the multidisciplinary team provide 

psychosocial support for patients requiring an 

orthopedic spatial frame device. Services are provided 

for patients and families during clinic visits, 

hospital admissions, and school re-entry in order to 

promote optimum coping. 

Using the Scientific Method to Examine Why 

We Do the Things We Do: The Case of Coming 

and Going 

Joan Turner, PhD, CCLS, Assistant Professor, Mount Saint 

Vincent University, Halifax, NS 

The purpose of this poster is to illustrate the process 

of examining a component of child life practice using 

the scientific method. A review of theory and 

research findings will be presented that directly speak 

to the practice of “coming and going” as a means for 

facilitating the development of rapport. 

Meet the Parents: Implementing a Parent/ 

Caregiver Support Group 

Lizann McLaughlin, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Inova 

Fairfax Hospital for Children, Falls Church, VA 

Cynthia Clarke, CCLS, CEIM, Child Life Specialist, Inova 

Fairfax Hospital for Children, Falls Church, VA 

Cami Frickman, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Inova Fairfax 

Hospital for Children, Falls Church, VA 

A parent/caregiver support group can broaden and 

enhance a child life program’s quality of care. 

Important considerations include logistical planning, 

garnering staff support, and implementing creative 

and therapeutic activities so that a group provides the 

best opportunity for parent/caregiver support, 

expression, and empowerment. 

Helping Tweens and Their Parents Through 

Their First VCUG 

Marci Lewis, MPH, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, 

Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical 

Center, Valhalla, NY 

The purpose of this poster session is to share 

information on how child life, pediatric urology and 

pediatric radiology departments collaborated to meet 

the needs of tweens undergoing a VCUG and their 

parents. 

Who’s on Your Team? What’s Your Model?: 

Collaboration in the Emergency Department 

Christine Shadd, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, The Hospital 

for Sick Children, Toronto, ON 

Sandy Bever, Child Life Specialist, The Hospital for Sick 

Children, Toronto, ON 

Melissa Bates, Child Life Specialist, The Hospital for Sick 

Children, Toronto, ON 

Participants will gain valuable tools to create an 

outstanding interdisciplinary model of child life, 

volunteers and nursing in the emergency department. 

The history and development of child life and 

volunteer programs will be examined along with the 

creation of our collaborative approach. The uniqueness 

of our Shared Governance Model will be 

explored. 

On the Road to Recovery: Steering You and Your 

Team Away from Compassion Fatigue 

Catherine Leung, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Children’s 

Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre Pediatric Day 

Surgery, London, ON 

Nancy Morphet, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Children’s 

Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON 

Whether working within hospital or alternative 

settings, as a new graduate or seasoned CLS, compassion 

fatigue is an occupational hazard. This presentation 

will examine the stages of compassion fatigue 

and burnout, and identify the professional “roadblocks” 

and “detours” inherent in each of these stages 

pertaining to the child life profession. 


A New Synergy: Integration of a Child Life 

Specialist with Asthma Educator Certification 

Fused with the Modern Technology 

Nicole Almeida, MS, CCLS, Director, Child Life 

Program, The Children’s Medical Center at Winthrop 

University Hospital, Mineola, NY 

Kevin Kuriakose, MD, Post Doctoral Fellow in Pediatric 

Pulmonary Medicine, Winthrop University Hospital 

Pediatrics, Mineola, NY 

This session will examine how a child life specialist 

with asthma educator certification can utilize a 

computer-based intervention that could have 

potentially long lasting effects. The goal is to 

empower children and families with the tools to 

cope with the rigors of asthma and everyday life. 

Tracing the Paths of the Pioneers 

Lois Pearson, M Ed, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, 

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 

Civita A. Brown, MS Ed, CCLS, Coordinator of 

Internships, Psychology-Child Life, Utica College, Utica, 

NY 

This poster session will profile the lifetime 

contributions of four pioneers in the field of child 

life as a way to highlight our unique history and to 

increase awareness of the importance of the 

archives as a resource for ongoing professional 

development. 

Going in the “Write” Direction 

Amy Curry, CCLS, Child Life Specialist II, Texas 

Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 

Lindsay Herring, CCLS, CTRS, Manager of Child Life 

Services, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI 

Jennifer Fieten, CCLS, Program Services Manager, 

Starlight Children’s Foundation Midwest, Chicago, IL 

Searching literature for clinical or research purposes 

can often lead to the wrong articles or too 

few. Starting with a PICO question (patient 

characteristics, intervention, comparison intervention, 

and outcome) steers literature searches in the 

right direction. This powerful, easy-to-use EBP tool 

can save time, effort, and leads to better results. 

1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. 


(1.5 PDHs) 

17. Journaling Techniques to Help Children and Families 

Coping with Medical Events: ‘Find the Friend at the 

End of Your Pen’ — Part 1 

Susan “Boon” Murray, CCLS, Ed.D, CTRS, Professor, 

University of Wisconsin La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 

In this two-part workshop, attendees will learn and 

apply four classic journaling techniques (springboards, 

lists, poem-making, art-making) to empower patients 

and families to explore various aspects of self with 

a certified instructor through the Center for Journal 

Therapy. You will be able to format and customize 

paper or electronic journals for your setting. (Part 2 – 

Professional Development Workshop #25) 

18. A New Tool for Your Toolbox: The Distraction 

Coaching Index 

Brenda Gordley, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, University of 

Iowa Children’s Hospital, Iowa City, IA 

This presentation reviews a multi-site study examining 

parent-provided distraction. The resulting development 

and validation of the “Distraction Coaching Index” will 

be reviewed. Pivotal involvement and implications for 

child life practice will be shared. 

19. Our Journey: Starting a Non-Profit Organization 

Dedicated to Providing Child Life Services Beyond 

the Hospital Walls 

Kristjana Smith, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, St. Jude 

Children’s Research Hospital Child Life Department, Memphis, 

TN 

Elizabeth Cook, MS, CCLS, CCLS/Program Coordinator, The 

Center for Hope and Healing, Norfolk, VA 

Enhancement of child life services is an objective shared 

by all child life professionals. This presentation will 

outline the steps to creating a non-profit organization 

that the child life specialist can apply to enrich unit or 

department programming and broaden the scope of 

services provided to children and families. 

20. Breaking Down the Barriers of Pill Swallowing 

Through Behavior Modification 

Allison Pummell, TRS, Child Life Specialist, The Hospital for 

Sick Children, Toronto, ON 

Research has shown that over 26% of pediatric 

patients have difficulties with pill swallowing. Anxiety 

and stress regarding pill swallowing can lead to noncompliance 

with overall medical treatment. Behavior 

modification-based programs allow patients to learn pill 

swallowing techniques through positive reinforcement, 

shaping and modeling. 




Saturday, May 23, 2009 (continued) 

21. Sleep Studies: A to ZZZ’s 

Kandra Dorsey, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Children’s Mercy 

Hospital, Overland Park, KS 

Peter Moyer, CCLS, Child Life Specialist I, Children’s Mercy 

Hospital, Overland Park, KS 

What are common pediatric sleep disorders? How do 

physicians diagnose these disorders? What is involved in 

a sleep study? How can we as child life professionals 

help children and families cope with these traumatizing 

studies? These questions and more will be answered in 

Sleep Studies: A to ZZZ’s. 

22. Transplant: Not Just Another Surgery 

Melanie Sweat, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Children’s Medical 

Center Dallas, Dallas, TX 

This session will explore the various roles of the child 

life specialist on a solid organ transplant team including 

the pre-transplant evaluation, developmental assessment, 

and long-term support provided during the patient’s 

adjustment to a new chronic illness. 

23. Listen Carefully: What Patients with Developmental 

Disabilities and Their Families Can Teach Us 

Stefi Rubin, Licensed Psychologist and Family Therapist, MA, 

Associate Professor Child & Family Studies, Wheelock College, 

Boston, MA 

Evelyn Hausslein, MMHS, Project Manager, Support Brokers/ 

ARC of MA, Waltham, MA 

Using parent-authored memoirs and other media, the 

issues faced by youth and young adults with developmental 

disabilities as they transition to the adult systems 

of healthcare and social services will be highlighted. 

Discussion includes potential conflict between the 

philosophies of family-centered care and selfdetermination. 

24. Acknowledging Adult Context: Understanding Parents 

of Ill & Hospitalized Children Via a Life-Course 

Perspective 

Jennifer Chabot, PhD, CCLS, Associate Professor, Ohio 

University, Athens, OH 

Stephanie A. Rogerwick, MS, CCLS-IV, Supervisor/Child Life 

Specialist, Student Program Coordinator, Children’s Hospital of 

Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 

This workshop will look at key psychosocial issues and 

themes reported by parents in early, mid- and later 

adulthood who are facing the long term hospitalization 

of their children. We will share qualitative research data 

from parents trying to balance their lives while navigating 

their children’s healthcare experiences. A staff 

in-service training model pertaining to adult life stages 

will also be shared. 

3:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. 

Professional Development Workshops (1.5 PDHs) 

25. Journaling Techniques to Help Children and Families 

Coping with Medical Events: ‘Find the Friend at the 

End of Your Pen’ – Part 2 

Susan “Boon” Murray, CCLS, Ed.D, CTRS, Professor, 

University of Wisconsin La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 

This workshop will be a continuation of Professional 

Development Workshop #17. Only those who have 

registered for Workshop #17 are permitted to register 

for this session. 

26. Professional Involvement: Connections That Keep Us 

Learning and Growing 

Sharon McLeod, CCLS, CTRS, Senior Clinical Director, 

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Center Division of Child Life, 

Cincinnati, OH 

Erin Munn, CCLS, Child Life Training Coordinator, Johns 

Hopkins Children’s Center, Baltimore, MD 

Getting involved professionally beyond your daily 

clinical responsibilities — whether locally, nationally or 

internationally — provides opportunities to learn new 

skills, develop leadership abilities and contribute to the 

growth of the profession. Participants will learn about 

benefits of professional involvement, strategies for 

networking and create a professional involvement goal 

and action plan. 

27. Adapting Preparation & Support For Patients With 

Developmental Disabilities 

Heather Denton, Child Life Specialist, British Columbia 

Children’s Hospital Child Life, Vancouver, BC 

Amanda Lascelle, MS, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, British 

Columbia Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC 

Children and youth with developmental disabilities 

process information differently, and therefore, may 

require an adapted approach to preparation and support. 

This session will help the child life specialist explore 

assessment techniques and interventions that support the 

unique needs of children and youth with developmental 

disabilities while working collaboratively with families. 

28. Expanding the Horizon: Integrating Alternative 

Therapies into a Child Life Program 

Genevieve Lowry, M.Ed., CCLS, Reiki Master, Child Life 

Specialist, Private Practice, River Edge, NJ 

Elizabeth Olsen, MS, CCLS, CEIM, Reiki Practitioner Level II, 

NICU Child Life Specialist, Children’s Hospital of New York, 

New York, NY 

Integrating alternative therapies into programming can 

be as challenging as it is rewarding. This presentation 

will highlight healing arts modalities; Reiki, guided 


imagery, infant massage, and Saori weaving. Participants 

will learn guidelines for working with children and 

families in various settings and groups. 

29. The Right Choice: Making Ethical Decisions in Child 

Life Practice 

Deanna Warren, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Children’s 

Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX 

Beth Warrick, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Children’s Medical 

Center Dallas, Dallas, TX 

Participants will learn to value the importance of making 

sound ethical decisions in maintaining professional 

boundaries as a child life professional. Attendees will be 

provided with common pitfalls in making ethical 

judgments and learn theory-based techniques to 

promote psychological growth in moral reasoning and 

problem-solving. 

30. Eating Disorders: Feeding Self-Esteem 

Kristen Berksza, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Newton-Wellesley 

Hospital, Newton, MA 

Sacha Field, MS, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, MassGeneral 

Hospital for Children, Boston, MA 

This session will deepen the child life specialist’s 

understanding of his/her role in the treatment of patients 

with eating disorders. Topics include research-based 

eating disorder education, cultural implications, staff 

collaboration, and interventional tools. The goal is to 

help the child life specialist think critically about the 

therapeutic and supportive nature of their role while 

working on a multidisciplinary team. 

31. Supervising Millennial Students: Understanding 

Generational Differences 

Anita Pumphrey, MS, CCLS, Instructor, Louisiana Tech 

University, Ruston, LA 

This session will explore generational differences in the 

workplace with emphasis on understanding millennial 

students. Participants will explore ideas for adapting to 

the younger generation while guiding them to meet the 

expectations of the “traditional” and “baby boomer” 

generation who supervise them as interns and hire them 

as employees. 

32. Chronic Pain in Children: Addressing the Stigma 

Katherine Upshall, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Bloorview Kids 

Rehab Hospital Child Life Department, Toronto, ON 

Children suffering from chronic pain disorders that are 

often stigmatized require child life services that recognize 

and support their illness experience. We will discuss 

specific child life interventions that help these patients 

and families. Empirical research and data will be used to 

promote evidence-based child life practice. 

33. Advocating with Evidence: Turning Evidence-Based 

Statements into Concise Family-Centered Hospital 

Policies 

Kathryn Shamszad, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Texas 


Katherine MacDougall, CCLS, Child Life Specialist II, Texas 


Theresa Edmunds, MS, CCLS, Child Life Specialist II, Texas 


Evidence-based practice statements are an essential tool for 

incorporating family-centered care into hospital policies. 

Learn how to utilize child life and family-centered EBP 

statements to create and revise policies. Explore the 

step-by-step process through a case study of using an EBP 

summary to update visitation policies in the ICUs. 



Sunday, May 24, 2009 

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. 

Professional Development Workshops (1.5 PDHs) 

34. Achieving Optimal Care: A Research Project with 

Patients Who Have Sustained Burn Injuries 

Robyn Maria, CCLS, Hospital Play Specialist, Kidz First 

Children’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand 

Invasive procedures undertaken repeatedly can be 

traumatic experiences for the patient, parent and staff, 

especially when involving burn injuries. An overview of 

a research project will be presented that was initiated to 

assess the effectiveness of support currently provided 

during burns dressing changes and suggestions for 

improvement. 

35. Reconfiguring Hope When Faced With Unthinkable 

Situations: Reflection, Research and Application 

Jeané Liburd, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Program 

Coordinator, The Center for Hope and Healing, Inc., Norfolk, 

VA 

Michele Tryon, CCLS, Executive Director, The Center for Hope 

and Healing, Inc., Norfolk, VA 


Sunday, May 24, 2009 (continued) 


Transpersonal research methods can be used to inquire 

into our own exceptional experiences, clarify complex 

concepts like “hope”, and provide guidance in meaningmaking 

with children and families. This presentation 

will allow for reflection and ask participants to explore 

the reconfiguring of hope when faced with unthinkable 

circumstances. 

36. Flexing Your Professional Development Muscles: 

A Strengths-Based Approach 

Shawna Grissom, MS, CCLS, CEIM, Director, St. Jude 

Children’s Research Hospital Child Life, Memphis, TN 

Cara Sisk, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, St. Jude Children’s 

Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 

Discover how to capitalize on your strengths each day 

to find satisfaction in your work, enhance professional 

relationships, and increase your productivity in 

providing child life services in any setting. This 

presentation will outline the implementation of a 

strengths-based approach for professional development 

of child life specialists. 

37. A Collaborative Approach to Care Using Child Life, 

Music Therapy, and Art Therapy 

Jeff Dettorre, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Rainbow Babies & 

Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, OH 

Emily Darsie, MT-BC, Music Therapist, Board Certified, 

Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, OH 

Shari Racut, ATR-BC, PC, Registered Art Therapist, Board 

Certified, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Family and 

Child Life Services, Cleveland, OH 

Panel members will discuss interdisciplinary collaboration 

with a commitment to providing the most comprehensive 

care to patients and families. Discussion will 

include the benefits of teamwork, overcoming role 

ambiguity, and connecting and communicating with 

the larger medical team. Case examples and video 

segments will be used to enhance this discussion. 

38. The Magic of Camp: Promoting Resilience 

Through Fun 

April Uyehara, MA, CCLS, Association of Hole in the Wall 

Camps, Los Angeles, CA 

Cheering, laughing, singing, dancing, and playing – our 

favorite parts of camping! Medical specialty camps for 

children and families are increasing. Intentional camp 

programming fosters self-confidence, promotes understanding 

of medical conditions, and enhances coping 

and resilience for children and their families. Join us! 

Learn and experience the magic of camp! 

39. Snuggle-Up! Providing Developmentally Supportive 

Positioning for Infants in the Intensive Care Setting 

Julie Grassfield, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Dell Children’s 

Medical Center of Central Texas, Austin, TX 

Anne Claire Hickman, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Dell 

Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, Austin, TX 

Child life specialists in the neonatal and pediatric 

intensive care settings often focus on sibling and family 

support. This hands-on workshop will empower 

specialists to provide much-needed developmental 

support for infants, specifically looking at appropriate, 

developmentally supportive positioning techniques. 

40. Ten Ways to Support Children with Autism Spectrum 

Disorders While They Receive Care in Your Hospital 

Jill Hudson, CCLS, MS, Ohio Center for Autism and Low 

Incidence, Columbus, OH 

This session will identify ten characteristics of autism 

spectrum disorders and pair each with practical, 

easy-to-implement strategies that can be used to best 

support these individuals to create a successful experience 

in a medical setting. 

41. It’s All About Team Work: Working with Acquired 

Brain Injured Patients 

Gretchen Pace, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Children’s Health 

Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center, Chandler, AZ 

Holly Wilson, PT, MPT, Physical Therapist, St. Joseph’s 

Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 

This session will address the collaborative approach 

between a child life specialist and a physical therapist. 

It will provide participants with the opportunity to 

learn how team members work together to set and 

reach goals throughout the continuum of hospital care 

for children with acquired brain injuries. 

42. Appetite for Life 

Maureen Jones, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, 

Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON 

Heather Crawford, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, 


Brenda Robinson, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, 


A child life cooking program can extend across the 

diagnostic, developmental and cultural spectrum. The 

essential benefits for target populations of oncology, 

hematology, nephrology and rehabilitation will be 

identified. Case studies illustrating the application of 

this program will be presented and infection control 

policies will be considered. 


43. Beyond Sesame Street: The Therapeutic Use of 

Puppets in Healthcare 

Sara Reynolds, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Monroe Carell Jr. 

Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN 

Judith Ross, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Children’s National 

Medical Center, Washington, DC 

Puppets are creative and unique teaching tools that 

empower children to make their feelings known. This 

interactive session will give an overview of the use of 

puppetry in the hospital setting as well as provide 

attendees with techniques to make puppet interactions 

more successful and realistic. 

44. Poetic Justice: Mastering Hospitalization Through 

Words and Imagery 

Jean Sweeney, MA, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Maria Fareri 

Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center, 

Valhalla, NY 

The workshop presentation will outline the step by step 

implementation of a creative writing program. This will 

include the therapeutic benefits of poetry for the 

pre-adolescent and adolescent patient struggling with 

healthcare challenges. A collection of poetry created by 

the hospitalized patient will be presented and discussed 

during the workshop. 

9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. 

Student Brunch Event — Students Only 

Sponsored by 

9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. 

Networking Roundtable Brunch for Child 

Life Professionals 

Networking discussions are special small group discussions 

for child life professionals led by a networking facilitator. 

The purpose of these sessions is to give professionals 

a chance to meet in groups in order to explore a particular 

topic of special importance. These sessions allow participants 

to meet others with similar responsibilities and 

begin or continue building an informal network of child 

life colleagues. An excellent opportunity to make lasting 

professional connections and collaborate with your peers! 

Roundtables will be set up for the following topics: 

Adolescents 

Alternative Settings 

Bereavement 

BMT 

Burns 

Cardiac 

Child Abuse 

Child Life Education and 

Training 

Clinical Supervision 

Creative Arts 

Critical Care 

Cystic Fibrosis 

Directors/Leaders 

Emergency Department 

Ethics 

Hematology/Oncology 

Hospice/Palliative Care 

Hospital Relocation 

Infants 

International 

Intensive Care 

Internships 

Kidney Disease 

NICU 

One Person Programs 

Operation Smile 

Orthopedics 

Outpatient Clinics 

Pain Management 

Radiology 

Siblings 

Special Events 

Surgery 

Volunteers 


(Limited Attendance – Must Pre-Register to Attend!) 

This is a special program allowing students the opportunity 

to ask open-ended questions to child life professionals. All 

students are encouraged to register for this interactive event. 

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 

Child Life Distinguished Service 

Award Presentation 

The Distinguished Service Award is the 

highest award presented by the Child 

Life Council Executive Board, recognizing 

exceptional members for outstanding 

contributions to the field of child life. 

The 2009 Distinguished Service Award 

will be presented at the Closing General session to Sharon 

McLeod, MS, CCLS, CTRS. Sharon’s career as a child life 

specialist has spanned more than 32 years, and the Child Life 

Council has benefitted from her dedicated leadership and 

involvement for much of that time. She has directed two of 

the largest child life programs in the country, including her 

current position as the Senior Clinical Director at Cincinnati 

Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Sharon’s commitment, influence, and willingness to share 

knowledge are just a few of the reasons she was selected as 

this year’s award recipient. A full feature article detailing 

Sharon’s inspiring career will appear in the Spring 2009 edition 

of the Bulletin. 

Closing General Session 

The closing general session will be a dance production performed 

by The Adaptive Dance Program, a successful joint venture 

between Boston Ballet and the Department of Physical Therapy 

at Children’s Hospital Boston. The program reflects an innovative 

collaboration between the staff from both facilities and is 

designed to foster a love of dance and creative expression in 

children with Down’s syndrome. Although the primary goal 

of Adaptive Dance classes is for the children to experience the 

sheer joy of dance and music, program evaluation suggests that 

it has many other important benefits to the children who participate 

including improvements in their coordination, overall 

fitness, balance, focus, listening, self-esteem, self-expression, 

rhythm and musicality. 


The Child Life Council, Inc. 

CLC Executive Board, Committee Chairs, and Staff 

2008-2009 Executive Board 

Janet Cross, M Ed, 

CCLS 

President 

Director, Child Life 

Services 

Monroe Carell Jr. 

Children’s Hospital 

at Vanderbilt 

Nashville, TN 

Ellen Good, MS Ed, 

CCLS 

President-Elect 

Manager, Child Life 

Department 

Yale-New Haven 

Children’s Hospital 

New Haven, CT 

Barbara L. Gursky, MA, CCLS 

Immediate Past-President 

Director, Child Life Program 

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital 

at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital 

New Brunswick, NJ 

Sheri Mosely, MS, CCLS 

Treasurer 


Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children 

Orlando, FL 

Chris Brown, MS, CCLS 

Secretary 

Director of Child Life & 

Family-Centered Care 

Dell Children’s Medical Center 

of Central Texas 

Austin, TX 

Trish Haneman Cox, MS Ed, CCLS 

Member-at-Large 

Adjunct Faculty Graduate Early Childhood 

University of New Hampshire 

Durham, NH 

Nicole Graham Rosburg, MS, CCLS 



Texas Children’s Hospital 

Houston, TX 

Barbara Blair, CCLS 



Providence St. Vincent Medical Center 

The Gerry Frank Center for Children’s Care 

Portland, OR 

Ellen Hollon, MS, CCLS 



Irwin, PA 

Diane Hart, MA, CCLS 

CACLL Liaison 

Director, Child Life Department 

BC Children’s Hospital 

Vancouver, BC 

Jill Koss, MS, CCLS 

CLCC Senior Chair 

Director, Child Life 

Cook Children’s Medical Center 

Fort Worth, TX 

2008-2009 Committee & Task Force Leaders 

Archives Management Group 

Civita Brown, MS, CCLS 

Lois Pearson, M Ed, CCLS 

Bulletin Editorial Panel and Focus 

Review Board 

Joan Turner, PhD, CCLS 

Randall McKeeman, MS Ed, CCLS 

Child Life Bill of Rights Task Force 

Cathy Humphreys, BASc, CLSt Dipl, CCLS 

Child Life Certifying Committee 

Jill Koss, MS, CCLS 

Stacey Koenig, MSM, CCLS 

Kathleen “Kitty” O’Brien, MA, CCLS 

Child Life Education & Training Committee 

Anita Pumphrey, MS, CCLS 

Elizabeth Daniel, M Ed, CCLS 

Conference Host Committee 


Claire White, MS, CCLS 

Conference Program Committee 

Melissa “Missi” Hicks, MS, LPC, RPT, CCLS 

Kristin Maier, CCLS 

Evidence-Based Practice Committee 

Amy Curry, MS, CCLS 

Rose Resler, CFCS, MA, CCLS 

Nominating Committee 

Barbara Gursky, MA, CCLS 

Professional Resources Committee 

Belinda “Bindy” Sweet, CCLS 

Kathryn “Kate” Shamszad, MS, CCLS 

To access additional contact information, please visit the online Member 

Directory through the CLC Web site. 


Professional Staff 

Executive Director 

Shari Rager 

Assistant Director 

Danea Koss 

Manager of Conference & 

Professional Development 

Ame Enright 

Manager of Certification 

Genevieve Thomas 

Manager of Communications & 

Marketing 

Melissa Boyd, MS, CCLS 

Resource Development 

Coordinator 

Sharon Ruckdeschel 

Membership & Database 

Coordinator 

Jennifer Lipsey, MA 

Program Assistant 


CLC Would Like to Thank Our 2009 

Conference Sponsors (as of November 2008) 

Gold Level ($10,000) 

S ilver Level ($7,500 – $5,000) 

A nnual Supporter Level ($2,500) 

Children’s Medical Center Dallas 

MassGeneral Hospital for Children 

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children 

UCSF Children’s Hospital 

UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center 

Yale – New Haven Children’s Hospital 





June 10-13, 2010 

The Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel 

Phoenix, Arizona 

The Division of Child Life at Cincinnati Children’s 

Hospital is proud to sponsor Child Life Council’s 

Twenty-Seventh Annual Conference on 

Professional Issues. 

Abstract submissions for the CLC 28th Annual 

Conference will be accepted through the CLC Web site 

beginning June 15, through July 30, 2009. 

For more information, and 

to view a sample abstract, visit www.childlife.org. 

Leading the way in minimizing stress and maximizing coping. 

www.cincinnatichildrens.org

Notes

Notes

Congratulations 

Texas Children’s Hospital ® 

congratulates the Child Life Council 

on 27 wonderful years of helping 

children and families. And best wishes 

for many more years to come! 

© 2008 Texas Children’s Hospital. All rights reserved. 


congratulates the Child Life 

Council and salutes our Child 

Life Specialists for their 

extraordinary contributions 

to patient care. 

www.childrenshospital.org 

B oston, Massachusetts | May 21 – 24, 2009

The Child Life Council is 

pleased to invite you to 

the 27th Annual Conference on 

Professional Issues. As the premier 

educational experience for child 

life professionals, the Annual 

Conference will bring together 

a dynamic group of attendees for 

unparalleled professional 

development and networking 

opportunities. 

Child Life Council, Inc. is the leading 

membership association serving 

child life professionals as they 

empower children and families to 

master challenging life events. CLC 

has more than 3,800 members. 

© copyright 2008 Beverly A. Mitchell 


11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 240 

Rockville, Maryland 20852-2529 

www.childlife.org

2009 Conference Program - Child Life Council

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