Child Life Wild Life: Recent Episodes
Jessica Lewin, CCLS
Jessica Lewin, CCLS & The Child Life Mentor, sits down with Certified Child Life Specialists, students, and professionals to talk about topics surrounding the field of child life. Come and gain tangible next steps and confidence as you learn how to use your child life skills, protect your mental health, and glean inspiration, hope and ideas. I'm so happy you're here!
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Kate Hamelin, about her 20 years of experience working on the burn unit.
Starting her career as a social worker working within the child welfare arena, she pivoted unexpectedly into child life and has never left.
Throughout this episode, we take a peek into the burn ICU's complexities, discussing the delicate balance of providing care and preparing young patients for the stark realities they may face. Kate's expertise shines as she shares the strategies for explaining the ICU's intricacies to children and the therapeutic methods that alleviate the excruciating process of healing. It's a candid glance into the lives of those who find purpose in the pain and seek to ease it, not just for the patients but also for their families, clinging to the promise of life beyond the bandages.
She shares with us the balance of skills needed when working in the burn unit to have the urgency and adaptability needed when working in the ED but also the creativity that comes when working with long term patients on intensive care units.
Join us for an episode that not only inspires but also empowers, offering a wealth of wisdom for those eager to make a difference in the world of child life and emergency care.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with three child life professors to see what the world of academics looks like. Please welcome Cara Smith, Savannah Kelly, and Amanda Butler to the podcast.
Learn about the ways in which these three have kept things interesting in the classroom throughout the pandemic, and kept the key skills of child life at the forefront of their careers as professors through assessment, building rapport, advocacy for the field and their students, coping support and more.
Join us in appreciating the profound role these specialists play in shaping lives, and take away a treasure trove of career advice for those embarking on—or already navigating—the rewarding journey of child life academia.
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Erin Tukua, about utilizing her previous job experience as a professional photographer to elevate her techniques she uses with patients and families in the child life profession.
Inside this creative episode, we spotlight Erin's innovative practice of using photography as an intervention to help families navigate their child's hospital stay. She opens up about her experiences during her practicum and internship, and how she uses her camera lens to capture moments of joy and coping, essentially turning the hospital into a canvas brimming with resilience and hope. From celebrating milestones to providing a sense of normalcy for bereaved families, Erin's photography intervention is creating a positive impact throughout the hospital.
Erin also shares how she uses her photography to meet the developmental needs of babies in the NICU, masterfully integrating the art of photography into meeting medical and psychological needs. Her struggle against imposter syndrome, her strategies to extend her unique skills across the hospital, and her advice for others looking to incorporate their passion into their practice, all make for an intriguing conversation. So, tune in to get inspired by Erin's journey that is not only about nurturing young lives but also about embracing one's passions in the most challenging environments.
You can follow Erin on Instagram as @erintukua.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Shira Miller, about her almost 2 decades of experience working within the same hospital, moving up the clinical ladder and creating the COAST (Children of Adults Support Team) Program.
COAST program and the ways in which child life services have evolved to support not just end-of-life situations but the entire spectrum of a parent's health challenges is a remarkable example of how child life can expand within the hospital setting.
Shira takes us through the development of a dedicated team to address the emotional demands of this work, safeguarding against burnout and ensuring that both families and specialists are well-cared for. This proactive and holistic approach to family support, stresses the importance of clear communication and the dedication of the COAST team to foster resilience in the midst of adversity.
Shira has so much to share in her passion for educating staff on the important principles and best practices that is child life. Rather than get defensive, seeing a child be put in a comfort position before she enters the room, it tells her that the staff is learning developmentally appropriate care and for that she is grateful. Child life is essential, but is not typically available 24/7. In order for patients and families to continue to get the best care possible, it's imperative that we not hold our services to a higher than thou mentality. We must share what we know in order to provide outstanding patient care.
Tune in to this episode for a deep and inspiring look at the transformative power of empathy and expertise in the midst of healthcare challenges.
You can follow Shira on Instagram at @shiramiller81.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Melissa Schmautz, about her 17 years of experience, wisdom, and compassionate practices in child life and palliative care.
Melissa tells stories about helping families navigate the heartbreak of acknowledging death with their young ones, offering a rare glimpse into the delicate art of conveying the incomprehensible to the most innocent among us. As we unravel Melissa's professional work, she casts light upon the nuanced complexities of teaching child life courses alongside her poignant firsthand experiences in various hospital units. Her journey—punctuated by the establishment of youth advisory programs, deep involvement with children's oncology camps, and the start of several palliative care organizations—provides invaluable lessons for those in pediatric care.
Melissa also outlines for us the difference between "memory making" and "legacy building"; buzz words often talked about in the child life profession that she has a great deal of experience in utilizing and incorporating with her patients and families. Melissa thoughtfully details the importance of including siblings and employing therapeutic resources during these impactful times.
Lastly, working alongside those that are terminal can be heavy on the heart and mind. For fellow healthcare professionals, she extends practical advice on maintaining mental health amid the emotional tides of our work. This episode is not merely a collection of insights and stories, but a tribute to the resilience and empathy that define child life specialists like Melissa Schmautz, and a testament to the profound impact one person can have on many lives.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Maddie Bozikis, about her experience navigating autoimmune diseases as a student and professional.
Having battled with autoimmune diseases since high school, Maddie takes us through a profound journey of courage and resilience in the face of persistent health challenges. As Maddie unveils her experiences, we explore the unique hurdles she has encountered while balancing the demanding child life profession and personal health. This episode offers enlightening insights and practical advice on advocating for oneself, particularly in a challenging career environment, making it a must-listen for anyone facing similar struggles.
Delving further, we focus on the heightened stress Maddie underwent while applying for internships as she grappled with her diagnosis of alopecia in college. This discussion underlines the critical importance of maintaining both physical and mental health during high-stress periods. Maddie enlightens us on the intricate dance between autoimmune diseases and mental health, offering practical steps to make the child life profession more inclusive for individuals with physical or mental impairments.
Maddie's journey of managing her autoimmune disease throughout her studies and career is a beacon of hope and inspiration for all those dealing with chronic illness, making this episode an essential listen.
You can follow Maddie on Instagram as @Maddie_bozikis.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Kelsey Champion, about her almost decade experience working in the Emergency Department; a department she wasn't quite sure she'd land in originally, but has really found her calm in the chaos.
Navigating the high-stakes world of an emergency department requires a special blend of skills and heart, something Kelsey Champion possesses in abundance. As she shares her behind-the-scenes stories from the trauma bay, you'll be captivated by her ability to swiftly forge connections with young patients in crisis.
Amidst the urgency of alarms and the precision of medical staff, Kelsey reveals the nuanced dance of nonverbal communication and patient advocacy that can turn a frightening experience into one handled with understanding and care. Her insights into the child life specialist's role during trauma activations are eye-opening, showing us how integral these professionals are to the pediatric healthcare team. Her stories underscore the profound effect of their presence, not just for the patients, but for the medical personnel who rely on them to bring empathy and clarity to the chaos.
Join us for this inspiring journey through the eyes of a professional who embodies the dedication and compassion at the heart of pediatric emergency care.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Jessica Correnti, about her personal experience with grief and how that has shaped her in her private practice providing support to grieving siblings and families.
With an extensive background in ICU settings and grief support, Jessica joins us to illuminate the intricacies of supporting children and families through some their darkest moments. Her narrative, woven from both personal heartache and professional triumphs, reveals the profound impact of community engagement for specialists in private practice and the delicate dance of offering solace to those in the midst of tragedy.
Embarking on a journey from the fast-paced environment of hospital work to the autonomy of private practice, Jessica offers us a candid look into the unique challenges and coping strategies honed over her 15-year career. She shares the stirring story of her own loss and the birth of an organization dedicated to bereaved families, as well as her progression into virtual counseling to reach those in need across distances.
As an author, she has written books including "The ABCs of Grief," and "Forever Connected"; both of these books demonstrate her commitment to aiding others in navigating the complexities of mourning, further highlighting the resilience of those she serves.
You can follow Jessica on Instagram as @kidsgriefsupport.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and seasoned CCLS, Shani Thornton, about how child life specialists can understand the differences between toxic positivity, burnout, and compassion fatigue.
Together, Shani and Jessica peel back the curtain on the child life profession's hidden struggle with toxic positivity. Shani, with her 16 years of experience, offers a wealth of knowledge, encouraging a shift from a culture of false cheerfulness to one that embraces genuine emotion and fosters deep, empathetic connections with both children and their families.
The reality of burnout and compassion fatigue in our field is a silent crisis many of us face. Shani and Jessica share personal stories and professional insights into how these instances can chip away at our passion. They dissect the fine line between momentary stress and the long-term effects of emotional labor, providing strategies for resilience. The discussion goes beyond identifying the problem, offering listeners a lifeline in practices that prioritize authentic connections and self-awareness, both crucial for maintaining mental well-being in the emotionally charged atmosphere of child life work.
This episode is a tribute to the courage it takes to stay true to oneself and the children we serve amidst the rise and fall waves of the work we do .
Articles talked about in the episode:
https://www.griefworkcenter.com/compassion-fatigue-vs-burnout/
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/compassion-fatigue-vs-burnout
https://www.dvm360.com/view/compassion-fatigue-often-unavoidable-adapting-critical
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-toxic-positivity-5093958
You can follow Shani on Instagram as @childlifemommy.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Kat Attermeier, about utilizing pain management tools through her work in the radiology department.
Today, Kat finds herself at home in the radiology department, a place where she once felt intimidated. She has grown to embrace the pace and challenges that come with building quick rapport with patients. Kat educates many staff on atraumatic care, child life principles like how to use play, and pain management. She has a unique perspective on leadership skills and the importance of dialogue between staff, nursing leadership, and doctors in training.
We also dive deep into the critical subject of pain management in pediatrics. Kat gives us permission to ask the "Why?" questions to better gather data, gain confidence when educating others, and fully understand the benefits of what we advocate so hard for as a child life specialists.
Come and learn about the pros and cons of numbing creams, cold sprays, and the J-Tip injection. We discuss how to introduce these tools effectively to children and how to ensure a more positive experience, with less pain and more understanding. Her insights and experiences point to the wildness of the profession, where no two experiences are alike, and the need to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in child life and pain management in pediatrics.
You can follow Kat on Instagram as @kattermeier
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Meredith Murray, about how her lifelong magnetism towards babies led her to a career in the NICU.
Meredith shares her journey, from finding her calling in the challenging environment of the NICU, to becoming an essential support system for families and their newborns in critical care.
We take an in-depth look at the nuances of working in the NICU, and Meredith shines a light on the strategies she uses to support babies effectively - like containment, positive touch, positioning and sound control - to reduce overstimulation. But there's more than just hands-on baby care. We also discuss the administrative complexities of the NICU and skills and traits important to hone when working in this routine yet ever-changing environment.
Meredith shares her dreams of expanding into maternal fetal medicine. Whether it's managing donations, mentoring interns, or forming deep connections with families, Meredith’s experiences are filled with inspiring moments.
Join us on this emotional ride with Meredith Murray, and get moved by her passion and dedication to the NICU.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Caitlyn Morton, about what her experience has been like as a one-person program (and also an independent contractor!)
Reflecting on her experiences as a former patient, Caitlyn delves into how she had to differentiate her experiences from her patients' and the pivotal role her mentors played in navigating this change. Caitlyn also brings her perspective of operating a one-person program. Not only does she manage patient care, but she also handles donations and various other admin tasks, emphasizing the critical importance of time management and prioritization.
Get ready to be inspired as Caitlyn generously dishes out success tips for anyone considering a career in child life. She speaks candidly about her journey to becoming a child life specialist and the confidence she has garnered through her experiences.
Caitlyn's story is particularly compelling as she has not only lived with a chronic condition, but she also shares her interaction with a child life specialist in her past, shaping her perspective and approach in her career. Tune in for this enlightening conversation!
You can follow Caitlyn on Instagram as @caitlynhope11 OR @copeandhopechildlife
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Samantha Krawiec, about what her experience transitioning from teacher to child life specialist.
From managing a classroom to navigating the hospital environment, Samantha's journey from a burnt-out kindergarten and third-grade teacher to a fulfilled child life specialist is sure to inspire you.
Samantha shares her experiences, describing a typical day in her new role, where she works in two distinct units (ED and Psychiatric Unit) in a hospital lacking a child life department. She touches on the parallels between teaching and child life, demonstrating how her teaching skills have become invaluable assets in her current profession.
Samantha encourages those contemplating a career in child life to take the leap and trust the process. She explains how the most profound part of her journey isn't the change in career, but the deep connections she has forged with her patients. You'll discover through Samantha's journey the power of perseverance and the joy of landing your dream job. Tune in for an episode brimming with resilience, determination, and invaluable life lessons.
You can follow Samantha on Instagram as @sammmy_cakes
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Andrea Lerude, about her experience being a "service line" child life specialist and all that her role entails.
Andrea fosters open communication with her colleagues, juggles patient care, and maneuvers the delicate art of cold calling patient's families in an effort to advocate for child life preparation and support.
Providing continuity of care in various neuro clinics, including neurosurgery, physical medicine, and rehabilitation, Andrea deals with a wide array of patient conditions. She assesses the daily clinic schedule, offers critical handoff information to child life specialists in the inpatient unit, and supports her teammates in various ways. We'll also delve into the intricate process involved in procedure clinics for EMGs, Botox injections, and other tests.
Andrea highlights the importance of camaraderie over competition and leaves us with some action steps to consider when contemplating a service line role. Her story and insights will leave you more informed about the crucial role child life specialists play in bridging the gap in patient care. Tune in for this inspiring conversation.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with friend and CCLS, Madeha Ayub for a conversation surrounding advocacy and empathy.
Madeha is a strong advocate for the special needs and autistic communities with her dual credentials as an Emergency Department Certified Child Life Specialist and Pediatric Occupational Therapist.
Join us as we unravel the critical aspects of working with special needs children, and the importance of understanding their preferred communication styles. Madeha emphasizes the importance of creating a calming environment, and interestingly, it's more about what you take out than what you add in.
The conversation then shifts gears towards understanding neurodiversity and why we should celebrate individual differences, not just accept them. Her perspective on neurodiversity urges us to reevaluate what we think we know about autism.
Tune in for an episode that combines professional insights, personal experiences and a refreshing perspective on special needs and autistic communities.
You can follow Madeha on Instagram as @seedsforspecialneeds.
Tik Tok/Instagram Influencers with Autism:
@kaelynn_vp
@fidgets.and.fries
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Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Stephanie Barta, about how she has navigated a spectrum of unique environments from community hospice to gender diversity clinics, and most notably, dental clinics.
How does child development education shape a dental clinic? What's it like being the solitary child life figure in a pediatric hospice? Prepare to be enlightened as Stephanie unravels the triumphs and trials of these diverse roles throughout our conversation.
Stephanie's journey is punctuated with riveting stories of collaboration with speech and occupational therapists in the dental world, using play as a crucial tool to achieve objectives. Imagine the challenge of transforming a child's reluctance towards dental care into acceptance within eight to ten weeks.
Walk away with practical insights as Stephanie shares her strategies working with patients who've had challenging experiences, and her advice for those eager to venture into unique, community-based roles. Tune in for an episode filled with wisdom that you simply can't afford to miss.
To get in contact with Stephanie, reach out on LinkedIn!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-barta-ma-ccls-a01b5b245/
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Raquel Cooper, about her experience working on an adolescent unit. She highlights all of her unique techniques in creating meaningful bonds with teenagers.
Raquel unveils the importance of not only engaging with young patients but also communicating effectively with their parents and siblings. She also shares the joy she experiences in connecting with teen patients and the activities that are most popular amongst adolescents. Raquel enlightens us on the power of peer-to-peer interaction and how it can foster comfort and support.
As we go deeper into our conversation, Raquel reflects on the importance of developing inclusive and interactive activities, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. You'll learn about the variety of activities available in a teen room and the therapeutic activities she has done with teenage patients.
Plus, you won't want to miss her intriguing tale of how a Harry Styles poster became a motivational tool in her patient's care plan. Join us as we discover the world of working with primarily adolescent patients.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and first-year CCLS, Cami Schafer, about what her experience has been like during the first 6 months of working as a Certified Child Life Specialist.
In this episode, Cami bravely shares her journey, starting from her practicum, through her internship experiences, to her current position in a level one trauma center's emergency department. We delve into the challenges she faced during the pandemic, her fight against imposter syndrome, and her relentless prioritization of mental health.
Cami doesn't stop there, she shares the nitty-gritty details of her current position, offering us a unique peek into the reality of working in an emergency department. She reveals how she brought about a restructure of the child life department and prepared for her certification exam. Cami also enlightens us on the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and creating a support system in her line of work, something every professional can learn from.
Whether you're an aspiring child life specialist or a professional in any field grappling with similar challenges, this episode is for you!
You can follow Cami on Instagram as @cami.schafer
Quiz For Learning Styles mentioned in the show: http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml
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Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Aimee Karas, about her experience working in labor and delivery and an outpatient fetal center.
Ever wonder what it's like to be a child life specialist in an environment dominated by adults? Aimee details her journey, from working in inpatient hematology/oncology, radiology, and postpartum to the creation of new child life roles that better serve patients. She generously shares insights on grief and bereavement in labor and delivery/postpartum, and her essential role as part of the psychosocial team.
She talks beautifully about how she customizes child life principles to effectively serve an adult population. She uses medical play and education to clarify procedures using actual medical equipment right at bedside for the parents/caregivers.
Experience her journey as she supports families from the fetal center to the NICU, providing a familiar and comforting presence throughout their hospital journey.
In wrapping up this enlightening episode, Aimee provides invaluable advice for those aspiring to advance in the child life profession. Tune in and be inspired by her journey, her dedication, and her unwavering commitment to provide comprehensive care to her patients.
You can follow Aimee at @aimsnoelle on Instagram.
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Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and fellow school child life specialist, Cassie Wilke, about her experience working in a middle-high school for her first school year (2022-2023).
Cassie passionately demonstrates the value a child life specialist brings to a school environment, despite the intricate licensing requirements in Minnesota. She shares her unique insights into staff retention difficulties in schools and the impact on students. Listen in as we discover the pivotal role an empathetic and understanding child life specialist can play in fostering partnerships between teachers, parents, and students.
In the final part of our discussion, Cassie paints a vivid picture of a day in her life, discussing her day-to-day tasks and her open-door policy. She shares valuable insights into understanding and effectively implementing 504 plans, a type of accommodation plan for students with disabilities, as well as all the other hats she happens to wear.
This episode is a must-listen if you're interested in the world of child life in schools, or simply want to understand how resilience and creativity can shape one's professional path.
You can follow Cassie at @_cassandrapaige on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friends and CCLSs, Rachel Calvert and Nicole Boik, about navigating salary discussions, counter-offering, and gauging organization's culture in order to be navigate compensation
Are you ready to master the art of salary negotiations and self-advocacy in the child life profession? Nicole Boik and Rachel Calvert, both seasoned child life specialists, join us to shed light on this essential topic. They share their unique experiences and perspectives on navigating salary discussions, counter-offering, and gauging an organization's culture. You can expect to gain practical strategies that will empower you to tackle challenging conversations and maintain your mental health.
As we journey with Nicole and Rachel through their diverse careers, expect a wealth of knowledge on self-advocacy, leadership, and physician advocacy in shaping a thriving pediatric oncology program. We also delve into the importance of transparency in compensation discussions and the nuances of the pay augmentation hierarchy system.
From negotiating job offers to understanding child life compensation and market ranges, Nicole and Rachel’s experiences offer invaluable insights. We explore the best time to ask for a pay increase, the power of professional relationships, and how to use them to unlock opportunities. We end on a high note, discussing how to use your child life skills in various roles and why you should never underestimate the art of networking. Tune in for this thought-provoking conversation and learn how to effectively stand up for yourself and the child life profession.
You can connect with Rachel via email at rachel.calvert@fairview.org.
Nicole can be found on Instagram as @childlifemilsolife.
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Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and seasoned CCLS, Kelsey Mora, about being a dual Certified Child Life Specialist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor as well as her unique work in a non-profit setting.
Kelsey discovered her passion for child life profession after losing her friend, Ben, to Leukemia. Her journey took her from working in a hospital setting from 2012-2021, to transitioning into private practice, and ultimately spearheading a non-profit organization (Pickles Group) catering to the needs of children and teens affected by a parent's cancer. Kelsey is the chief clinical officer for the non-profit organization.
Being a new parent during a global pandemic, Kelsey didn't just adapt, but she embraced change and reinvented herself. She ventured into a new journey, got licensed as a therapist, and expanded her scope of work. Now, as a dual certified child life specialist and therapist, she uses her in-depth knowledge and experience to support her patients more efficiently.
This conversation offers a unique perspective on balancing management of a non-profit organization while seeing a variety of therapy clients for mostly medical needs where she can use her child life lens.
You can follow Kelsey on Instagram as @childlifetherapist and @picklesgroup
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Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friends across the pond - Cath Hubbock, Deanna Kenward, and Katie Lane - three UK-based Play Specialists. Together, we unravel the intricacies of child healthcare in the UK, a unique perspective that has transformed over the years.
This conversation unveils the hurdles and opportunities related to Play Specialist training--from recruiting mentors in the healthcare system to the significance of trust-building when handling sick children. We also probe the complexities of recognizing the value of play in a healthcare setting and introducing oneself as the "Play Specialist" in trauma situations.
Much like child life, the field of play specialty is evolving and the pressures, responsibilities and emotional tolls that come with the profession are very simliar to what child life specialists experience in the United States.
This insightful episode will leave you more informed about child healthcare, the role of Play Specialists, and the importance of play in nurturing a child's development and wellbeing in a medical setting. It's an episode designed to enlighten, inspire, and prompt reflection.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and Canadian CCLS, Abby Tigchelaar, about her experience working with patients who are being treated for eating disorders.
Abby's experience is unlike any other, working in a unique unit dedicated to children battling eating disorders. She paints a vivid picture of her journey, conveying both the challenges and rewards she encounters, while providing a deeper understanding of family-centered care, therapeutic interventions, and the importance of normalization and distraction on the unit.
Abby's work is truly inspiring, and she shares the intricate process of using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) sessions to help these young patients manage their struggles. The extraordinary perspective Abby offers, viewing nutrition as a procedure and medication, will open your eyes to the different facets of treating eating disorders through a child life lens. Abby also candidly discusses the challenges involved in transitioning patients out of the unit and the role of the Canadian health care system in supporting these families.
Tune in and be moved by Abby’s wild ride through the world of child life, her fervor for her work, and her dedication towards making a difference.
You can reach out to Abby to collaborate or ask questions using her email: childlife.abby@gmail.com or through her LinkedIn (Abby Tigchelaar).
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friends and seasoned CCLSs, Kizzy Marco and Cara Graneto, about stepping out of the field after 10+ years.
Have you ever found yourself questioning your career path and how it’s interwoven with your identity? This is the crossroads both Kizzy and Cara have experienced and courageously navigated. After 10+ years, they decided to step away from the field.
Cara and Kizzy outline the challenges and struggles they faced during this shift in careers, including anxiety, depression, and identity issues. They recount how their identity was significantly tied to their profession in child life, their journey through these turbulent waters, and how they finally discovered a balance between their personal and professional lives once they were on the other side.
In an increasingly demanding world, it's important to ask if we are getting out what we put into a job, and if we constantly feel the need to prove our worth, can that relationship last? Cara and Kizzy, now successful in their new roles, reflect on this and also express their thoughts on how child life is evolving and ways child life specialists can protect their mental health by managing how much they hold their identity within the limits of their job title. Their experiences and insights are valuable for anyone reevaluating their career path or grappling with their identity as a child life specialist. Don't miss this candid conversation about career transitions, personal growth, and finding your own path.
You can follow Kizzy in her new role at @livelaugh.luigi and @canineassistants.
Cara can be reached via email at cara.graneto@gmail.com.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with three students who have gone through the process to becoming a child life specialist and successfully achieved their final step -- passing their certification exams. Please welcome Olivia Stephan, Tara Mullin, and Sophie Schuller to the podcast.
Olivia completed her internship in fall 2022. She is a new CCLS in pre-op/ED and passionate about trauma-informed and family-centered care. Tara has her B.S. in Applied Health Science, M.A. in Higher Education, and currently wrapping up her ED.D. in Executive Leadership for Mental Health and Human Services. She also recently completed an internship and started her first job last month (July 2023). Sophie completed her internship recently as well and is currently working as a float/PRN child life specialist at a large free-standing children's hospital.
This episode is brimming with invaluable insights as these students talk about their personal experiences with the complexities of internships, practicums, and the all-important certification exam. They share some of their tried-and-tested resources and study strategies, and their unique survival tips for those tough times when you feel like crying because the pressure and stress is too much.
Listen and learn as they discuss how they tackled the dreaded imposter syndrome, navigated through job applications, and expertly handling the pressure of the certification exam. They share some extraordinary wisdom on maintaining balance and finding sanity during the exam preparation. Plus, they discuss the immense benefits of a strong support system to manage stress, optimize student experiences, and explore varied interests within the field.
Here are a list of each student's absolute must-have study item:
Tara's: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IrPiaURxAfic0v7t5OPkyHzBdZLyECyI?fbclid=IwAR2wE_bUW63nIO7V_Lrcl7cGvjjFVibKJFgSYs_Jo76cwJEWQdPWdECm6FE
Olivia's: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1A5OAkB3AWnhwImP2ZNR05WNqS9vqnzbP?fbclid=IwAR2wE_bUW63nIO7V_Lrcl7cGvjjFVibKJFgSYs_Jo76cwJEWQdPWdECm6FE
(specifically under "Notes and Outlines" -- "Study Guide for CCLS Exam" PDF)
Sophie's: https://education.childlife.org/products/aclp-child-life-certification-exam-study-guide#tab-product_tab_contents__6
To reach out to students - use the following Instagram accounts below.
@olivia__stephan
@tara_mullin_
@soph_schuller
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with four students who have completed or are currently completing their internships - Regan Corsi, Maureen Pushea, Olivia Horn, and Catarina Benninghoven.
Regan and Maureen are both completing their internships during the summer of 2023 and provide insight and knowledge about what it's like in-real-time being an intern. Olivia Horn completed her internship this past spring and is now working as a child life specialist in the Emergency Department. During this interview, she had received her offer for this position but wasn't starting until the following week.
Catarina completed her internship this past spring and is now working as a child life specialist in outpatient clinics (focusing on urology, ortho, dermatology, and allergy).
These vibrant students share their unique experiences from their time in the field, their educational backgrounds, and the strategies they used to navigate the competitive internship application process. They also provide valuable tips on how to stay organized, manage time effectively between coursework and the internship, and the importance of self-care.
They emphasize the importance of building connections and researching to maximize the benefits of the child life field. We also discuss how to save money, the pros and cons of living alone versus with others, and how to advocate for oneself in the professional world.
Finally, we delve into the highs and lows of the internship experience and the importance of personal growth and self-belief in achieving our dreams. We explore the journey of becoming a child life specialist, how it pushed them to grow and develop, learning on the fly, and being in a role that they once admired.
Tune in and embark on this enlightening journey with us.
To reach out to students - use the following Instagram accounts below.
@regancorsi
@maureenpushea
@oliviarhorn
@cat_benn OR @princesschildlife
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with four students who have completed practicums - Haley Alexander, Jenny Cazares, Aislinn DiRito, and Connor Jensen.
Haley is currently a Patient Care Tech in an outpatient pediatric hematology/oncology clinic but will be transitioning back into a student role as a child life intern in August 2023. She holds a B.S. in Psychology, an M.S. in Child Life, and a BLS certification. Haley completed an accelerated 7-week practicum. Jenny Cazares has completed her undergrad in Psychology and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Child Life. She will also be completing an internship this fall. She recently completed a practicum in the spring of 2023. Aislinn is a child life student in her final year of undergrad, pursuing a degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Lifestyle Medicine. She is fresh from her practicum program this summer where she had a wide variety of exciting opportunities to observe procedural preparation and support which she unpacks during this episode. Connor has been pursuing child life for the past 7 years. He obtained his master's in 2020 and completed an international practicum in 2021. Connor will also be completing an internship this fall.
These four students don't stop at sharing their experiences, they dig deeper, sharing practical tips on handling practicum tasks, the art of being diligently organized, and the necessity of having a backup plan for self-care and coping techniques. They stress the importance of preparedness and adaptability. Their stories and insights highlight the importance of open communication, seeking out learning opportunities, and advocating for oneself.
These students do not sugarcoat the challenges. They candidly discuss juggling practicum and internship applications, the emotional exhaustion that can accompany the application process, and the reality of confronting doubts and fears. Yet, they also emphasize the incredible benefits and growth opportunities a practicum provides - the confidence it builds, the insights it offers, and how it helps in developing one's philosophy in child life.
So, whether you're preparing for your practicum, midway through it, or reflecting on your experiences, this conversation is guaranteed to inspire!
To reach out to students - use the following Instagram accounts below.
@haleyanna_alexander
@Jennydcg
@aislinn_not.aslan
@jensen_connor10
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with four graduate students - Casey Campo, Lindsey Lightfoot, Caleb Shannon, and Caitlin Breen.
Casey is already certified as a child life specialist, currently working in a float position. She is obtaining her Master's in Child Life Studies. Lindsey is obtaining her Master's in Child Development with a Child Life Concentration in a 3 year in-person program. Caleb is graduate student studying Child Life while also working as a Child Life Assistant. Caitlin is completing her Master's in Child Life while simultaneously working at a children's hospital and completing her internship.
As the conversation unfolds, we delve into the twists and turns of obtaining a master's degree, strategic class selection, and the importance of mentorship. These students shed light on the importance of being proactive in your career journey and how hospitals can support those looking to pursue higher education in this field.
Whether you're an aspiring child life specialist, or simply interested in what a master's program entails, this episode will provide you with a wealth of inspiration, insights, and practical advice. Tune in and get ready to be inspired!
To reach out to students - use the following Instagram accounts below.
@caseycampo
@Lindseygracel
@caleb_s_
@caitlinbreen__
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with several undergraduate students - Mollie Wolf, Olivia Karson, and Maddie Sassa.
Mollie is a senior in her child life program and is about to start her internship. Olivia is a senior majoring in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Youth and Society. Maddie has an Associate of Applied Science in Human Services with a concentration in Child, Youth, and Families and is currently obtaining her BA online in Child Life & Health and Social Services & Community Programming with a minor in disability studies. She currently works as a 2-year-old preschool teacher.
The episode kicks off with the students' individual journeys into the field of child life. They discuss how they each discovered this rewarding profession, emphasizing the importance of volunteer hours, practicums, and preparing for internships.
We talk quite a bit about the irreplaceable role of supportive professors and professionals and the importance of learning from peers in the field. As they navigate their academic journey, they stress upon the necessity of hands-on experience and the influence an experienced mentor can have on shaping one's career.
So, whether you're a current student looking for inspiration or contemplating a career in child life, this conversation promises to be a treasure trove of invaluable advice.
To reach out to students - use the following lines of communication below.
Mollie: on Instagram as @m.wolf18
Olivia: on Instagram as @oliviakarson
Maddie: via email at maddiesassa33@gmail.com
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Starting this week, enjoy 5 days straight of student panels that will walk you through the big key areas of pursuing child life (undergraduate education, master's degrees, practicums, internships, and certification exam tips) by panels of child life students and specialists who have recently completed each step!
Welcome back to The Child Life Wild Life Podcast with your host, Jessica Lewin, CCLS, The Child Life Mentor.
Season 3 will officially drop Monday, August 7, 2023- starting with a week of Student Series Panels that will walk you through the big key areas of pursuing child life (undergraduate education, master's degrees, practicums, internships, and certification exam tips) by panels of child life students and specialists who have recently completed each step!
After launch day, every new podcast episode will be released once per week on Mondays to get you started for the week!
To be the first to know when an episode is released, don't forget to subscribe!
Follow along on Instagram at @thechildlifementor.
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and former supervisor/school principal, Ryan Portenga, about their shared experience working in a small, rural middle-high school last year. Back in 2021, Jessica sent out proposals to school districts across southwest Michigan hoping to break into the school setting as a Certified Child Life Specialist. Ryan, after careful consideration, was the only principal to take a chance on Jessica and invited her to interview for their open social worker position, knowing Jessica's passion was in child life and she was unqualified for the MSW role.
Throughout this conversation, Jessica and Ryan talk about their year in the school, the impact child life has made on students and families, and how Ryan himself has had a change in perspective after watching a child life specialist in action for the first time.
Ryan also talks directly to school principals, hiring agents, and superintendents emphasizing step-by-step instructions on how having a child life specialist on the team is feasible with just a little creativity and innovation.
Ryan also speaks to the child life specialists listening about how he recommends proposing future child life positions in schools- how to formulate emails, what to expect when coming into a school for the first time to drop off a proposal and meet the principal/superintendent, and more.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Bridgette Danielson, CCLS, about her experience working in an inpatient psychiatric facility as a child life specialist.. Bridgette is passionate about trauma-informed care, mental/behavioral health, self-care, family-centered care, and working with students.
Over the last five years, Bridgette has presented at numerous conferences and collegiate courses, served on several hospital committees, and was president of a regional child life organization.
Pediatric behavioral health care admissions are at an all time high. The American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health in October 2021 (https://www.aap.org/en/advocacy/child-and-adolescent-healthy-mental-development/aap-aacap-cha-declaration-of-a-national-emergency-in-child-and-adolescent-mental-health/) due to increased mental health challenges exacerbated by COVID-19 and continued social injustice.
Bridgette beautifully discusses her child life role while working with patients once they’ve been admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility.
You can follow Bridgette at @beedanielson on Instagram.
For more information or to get in contact with Bridgette, you can reach out to her directly at bridgette.danielson@cchmc.org
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Child Life on Call's Katie Taylor interviews Jessica Lewin as an expert in the schools.
Jessica proposed and created a child life specialist position in a rural middle-high school during the 2021-2022 school year. Over halfway through the school year, Jessica sat down with Katie to talk about some of the things she finds most useful for parents, child life specialists, and students to know including the importance of talking about mental health (even suicide), leaning into a child life specialist's deep understanding of psychosocial development, and the impact a child life specialist position has had on a middle-high school in just a few short months.
You can connect with Katie Taylor at using her website or Instagram below.
Website: childlifepodcast.com
Instagram: @childlifeoncall
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with friend, Sabrina Alinejad, CCLS, about what her experience has been like as a new Certified Child Life Specialist working her first job in the Pre-Op Unit (Surgery).
Sabrina walks us through what it was like for her as a practicum and internship student, how she best navigated studying for the certification exam, things she didn't expect to feel during her first year working as a child life specialist, and how she's adjusted her expectations throughout her child life process.
You can follow Sabrina at @playwithchildlife on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with one of her best friends, Allison Parker, about her experience transitioning from pursuing child life all the way up to certification to switching gears and teaching kindergarten instead.
Walking away from child life was never something that Allison intended for her career. But with COVID hitting at just the right time, deciding she wanted to stay close to home, and eventually meeting her now-husband, it just didn't feel like the right time in Allison's life to become a child life specialist.
Allison utilizing so many of the child life skills she learned right in her classroom- advocating for her students, using developmentally appropriate language, assessing student's understanding, educating them on things her students can't imagine they can do and then watching them master a new skill.
You can follow Allison at @ajzylkaparker on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with friend, Amanda Wright, CCLS, about what her experience has been like as a new Certified Child Life Specialist working her first job in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Amanda is so animated in her stories that she shares honestly about her child life journey, though sometimes disappointing, always the right path. She talks about her experiences as a student- both practicum and internship, how she studied best for the certification exam, the highs and lows of her position now as a Certified Child Life Specialist, and more!
You can follow Amanda at @wright_sister on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with friend, Paige Ronsen, about her journey through child life and how she continues to use that knowledge and experience in where she is today as a Program Director for a Boys and Girls Club in Seattle.
Paige talks about what it's like now being in a supervisor role and interviewing people for jobs (unlike how she's spent the last couple years being the interviewee for child life). She talks about the ways she performs child life skills and duties everyday and Jessica echoes how child life should be viewed more as a "verb" rather than a "noun". We're all out here using our child life skills in some capacity. It's what we do, not always who we are (given our formal titles).
Paige shares the guilt she experienced leaving the child life field (for now) and how she practices "gut checks" with herself to discover if what she's doing is fulfilling her passion and expectations in some capacity.
There are so many wonderful tips and nuggets for child life specialists, students, and professionals in this episode. You won't want to miss this!
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with friend, Lauren Kosiewski, CCLS, about her experience transitioning from a full-time child life specialist in a hospital setting, to now a full-time organ donation liaison.
Leaving the field for Lauren was absolutely terrifying. She worked so hard to become a CCLS and to earn that title. She has had to navigate feelings of enormous guilt and fear to now feeling more at peace in her professional life than ever before. While Lauren does the same skills today as she did working in the hospital as a child life specialist, she now feels valued and appreciated every single day. She is also able to lean into growth both professionally and personally in a way she wasn't able to experience working as a child life specialist.
For support or to get in contact with Lauren, you can reach out to her directly at laurenkosiewski@gmail.com
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with friend, Jessica Wadium, CCLS, about her experience advocating for herself and the profession in the midst of pushback.
Experiencing pushback against providing child life services can be a very difficult experience for any professional. Overcoming pushback is usually discussed with the focus on having a "happy ending" - the nurse that didn't want you in the room is now your work BFF and you sing Kumbaya together.
However, Jessica views overcoming pushback differently. To her, overcoming pushback is about the process of doing what is within your circle of control, while also focusing on self-care, to promote the well-being of yourself and the services you provide. How others respond is outside your circle of control, and therefore Jessica urges us to discuss overcoming pushback as a process and not an outcome.
For support or to get in contact with Jessica, you can reach out to her directly at jessica.wadium@gmail.com
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with husband, Sam Lewin, MA, LLPC,
about his experience working as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor. Sam works with children, adolescents, families, couples, and groups regarding their depression, addictions, anxieties, relationships, and more. His main therapeutic modalities include psychodynamic therapy, solution-focused therapy, existential therapy, and EMDR.
Jessica and Sam speak heavily on the importance of understanding development and psychology and how that's affected each of their work in the helping profession.
Sam is Jessica's biggest cheerleader. Jessica spends some time quizzing him on all things "child life" and surprisingly (and not so surprisingly) Sam does extremely well!
This episode is jam-packed with giggles, knowledge, and wisdom. There may have even been a few tears shed. You'll have to listen to find out!
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and past mentee, Rylee Martin, about what it was like navigating the internship process with a cohort behind her for support.
Rylee was one of Jessica's students at the 2020 Coffee and Confidence Student Retreat in Indianapolis.
By the end of the retreat, Jessica felt so strongly that Rylee knew her stuff - developmental theory, how to elaborate and showcase her skills in an interview, and definitely had a knock-out application. But when Rylee didn't get her internship the first round, it was a shock. Rylee kept a positive attitude and knew that there was something more in store for her. She just had to be patient. Her story is unique and Rylee gives great advice to future intern applicants for what to do vs. what to skip when applying for internships.
You can follow Rylee at @rylee_anne11 or plants_n_kindness (for any plant lovers) on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with friend, Morgan Merritt, CCLS, about what her experience has been like in long-term care. Morgan is passionate about medically fragile children and is an advocate for accessibility in the disabled community. She is so creative in the interventions she chooses with her patients and through all the revamps she has done for the program.
Morgan is a storyteller, comedian, and teacher all in one. You will listen to every word she says, laugh, and come away with so much knowledge and wisdom.
You can follow Morgan at @play.cope.love on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and past mentee, Kaitlyn Baron, CCLS about the importance of finding yourself a mentor. Having someone in your corner that you can rely on and who is your own personal cheerleader and sounding board is invaluable.
When Jessica met Kaitlyn, Jessica was immediately drawn to Kaitlyn's experiences as a student/professional. Kaitlyn graduated with her bachelor's in psychology and a master's in social work in 2019. She was working as a licensed children's mental health therapist until COVID and decided to become a child life specialist instead.
She became frustrated with her role as a therapist when she realized the fee for service style jobs, needing to work nights/weekends in order to accommodate children's schedules (therapists unfortunately work when everyone else doesn't), and the limitations she had with her license being state licenses only, limiting her ability to move.
You can follow Kaitlyn at @kaitlynbaron882 on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Courtney Rosborough, CCLS, about her experience working in a school setting as an Emotional Behavioral Specialist (EBS). Courtney is passionate about using her child life lens in a school setting, where her main focus is supporting the social and emotional well-being of her students.
Throughout this conversation, Jessica and Courtney exchange stories about working in a school setting and how the skills of a hospital child life specialist so easily transfer to a school setting.
This is a unique episode where Jessica actually is asked a few questions from her guest in order to make this even more conversational (due to the fact that Jessica is currently working in the schools as a CCLS) and brings her perspective into the episode.
You can follow Courtney at @childlifeclassroomconnection on Instagram.
To read Courtney's ACLP bulletin article, click below: https://www.childlife.org/membership/aclp-bulletin/fall-2019-table-of-contents/back-to-school-child-life-interventions-in-the-education-system
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Sarah Buckland, CCLS, about her experience working in an Advocacy Center as a child life specialist. After hearing about advocacy centers during a course in college, though only just a glimpse of all she does now, Sarah was immediately drawn to work with this population of children.
As child life specialists, we are so aware of trauma's effect on development, coping, and whole person health. Our main focus in school is hospital trauma: life limiting illnesses, procedures, emergent care, and more. But Sarah works with a different kind of trauma. The children she supports appear healthy- they can run and play and most often are not physically hindered, but they have been injured and most likely by someone they trust. It is a different kind of trauma. And most definitely a space where child life needs to be more heavily utilized.
Sarah's journey to child life is unique- and actually started later in life and with a clown nose. You'll have to listen to find out all the wisdom that Sarah has to share for both child life specialists and students alike.
For more information or to get in contact with Sarah, you can reach out to her directly at sbuckland2007@gmail.com
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with friend, Meaghan Myrick (now CCLS), about being a mom and a student while trying to become certified. While everyone experiences different challenges in their pursuit of child life, parents pursuing child life experience some very unique challenges along the way. There were times throughout Meaghan's journey where she found herself questioning how she could actually manage to do this (school, work, volunteering, practicum, internship) and still keep things "normal" for her family.
Something Meaghan quickly realized on this journey was that things were never going to be "normal" ever again, and that was okay! There were sacrifices that had to be made; dinner didn't always get cooked and sometimes her child may have eaten chicken nuggets for the third night in a row. There were days that she may have been late for carpool line--but it is 100% possible to pursue child life as a parent AND as a student.
So, while there are challenges that come along the way with being a parent and pursuing child life, the rewards exceeded the challenges for Meaghan. She often found that being a parent influenced so much of her practice as a student pursuing child life (volunteering, practicum, internship) and will only make her a more well-rounded CCLS as she moves into her career.
You can follow Meaghan at @untraditionallychildlife on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Welcome back to The Child Life Wild Life Podcast with your host, Jessica Lewin, CCLS, The Child Life Mentor.
Season 2 will officially drop Monday, January 24, 2022 - where there will be four new episodes for you to listen to immediately.
After launch day, every new podcast episode will be released once per week on Mondays to get you started for the week!
To be the first to know when an episode is released, don't forget to subscribe!
Follow along on Instagram at @thechildlifementor.
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Stefani Williams, CCLS, about creating, coordinating, and rockin' a facility dog program at her women's and children's hospital. Stefani began this journey just 2 years into being a Certified Child Life Specialist and was given her canine friend, Asteroid, to assist her with providing psychosocial care to children and families throughout their hospital experience in 2019.
Throughout these last couple years, Stefani has been wowed by Asteroid's ability to handle a variety of experiences with patients and families. Stefani talks about the parts of this job that aren't all glitz and glam like Instagram has you thinking, including the literal dirty details. She also touches a little bit on imposter syndrome and how that played a role, especially during the beginning of her journey when she was navigating if she was still, truly, a CCLS or just the "dog lady" at the hospital.
Stefani is full of wonderful, real life stories about the different patients and families she and Asteroid have impacted over the last couple years.
You can follow Stefani and Asteroid at @hh_caninesforcoping on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Tessa Whitten, CCLS, about her experience working on the Hematology/Oncology Unit for the last three years. Tessa is a woman of faith and is the definition of "joy".
Tessa talks about meeting the complex needs of such a high acuity population and how she holds space for patients and families to process feelings. She also loves to create unique opportunities for legacy building as it's often that she works with terminally-ill children.
Tessa is vulnerable with us throughout this interview and talks about the highs and lows she's experienced working on this unit as well as how it's affected her mental health.
You can follow Tessa at @tessadiane23 on Instagram.
To check out the Brene Brown video on Empathy we mention, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw&feature=emb_imp_woyt
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Jess Minnick, CCLS, about bouncing back after a COVID-related job loss. Jess has unique experience working in an outpatient ENT clinic where she worked side by side with a pediatric otolaryngologist (say that three times fast).
At the ENT clinic, she supported children and families during visits, office imaging and testing, and even followed them to the outpatient surgery center to provide child life support before and after surgery. She also worked alongside pediatric allergists and speech pathologists.
Her position was unfortunately dissolved in December 2020 due to COVID-related budget cuts and Jess talks to us about what that was like mentally and emotionally. She talks openly about imposter syndrome and the determination it took for her to start over and believe that she was still capable of being a child life specialist even after an immense blow to her self-esteem and confidence.
You can follow Jess at @give.play.love on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Sarah Somers, CCLS, about balancing motherhood in the field of child life. Sarah works in a children's hospital within an adult hospital and sees patients in multiple areas of the hospital daily. She works 40+ hours a week and has a passion for helping students succeed through their hospital's internship program.
Sarah shares in this episode how her job as a child life specialist impacted when and how her family was formed. She talks openly and honestly about her miscarriage and how that played a part in when she felt comfortable and ready to expand her family again.
Sarah has been married to her husband for almost 8 years. She loves being home and going for walks with her family, including her four-legged fur baby.
You can follow Sarah at @sleblanc26 on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and past practicum student, Lindsey Thompson about what it's been like for her as a student to balance her faith and passion for child life.
Lindsey is currently a student at the University of Pittsburgh pursuing her Master of Science degree in Applied Developmental Psychology with a concentration in Children with Special Health Care Needs and Child Life. She is currently completing her child life internship in Northern Virginia. She's passionately involved in raising service dogs through a student organization at Pitt and will be receiving her second service dog in training this upcoming fall!
During Lindsey's practicum last year, Jessica and Lindsey bonded over their faith. Since then, Lindsey has been involved in Jessica's child life Bible study, Capital 3 in One, as a small group leader. Lindsey and Jessica have reminded each other multiple times that God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called.
You can follow Lindsey at @lindseyxthompson on Instagram
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Kelly Wagner, CCLS, about what it's like to be a supervisor/coordinator to child life interns. Kelly has been a child life specialist for 11 years working primarily with hematology/oncology populations. A lover of knowledge and willing to try new things, she has held a number of roles from one-person program to student program coordinator, manager of a small child life department to her most recent endeavor as CCLS/Facility Dog Handler.
Kelly's passion for child life specialists and their work extends to her participation in the ACLP Patient Experience Committee where she participated in the creation and proliferation of the Emotional Safety Framework which aims to hold the emotional safety of pediatric patients and families as equally important to their physical safety during healthcare experiences.
Kelly held the position of Student Program Coordinator for 3 years coordinating internships and practicums for students at her previous hospital. She currently sits on the Internship Committee at her hospital (year 4) which selects interns 2 times a year and provides recommendations for the growth of the training experience for child life students. She has precepted students in proton radiation centers, PICU and hematology/oncology inpatient.
You can follow Kelly at @embarkmedicaldogs on Instagram
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Jess Cheung, CCLS, about burnout. Jess shares her authentic journey through child life as not all sparkly and beautiful, but as one of self-discovery and triumph as she navigated burnout as both a student and now as a professional.
Jess talks openly about her experience setting boundaries in order to protect her mental health and the perks of having an amazing, supportive manager- which isn't always the norm!
To help combat the burnout, Jess loves cooking, watching a lot of reruns of TV shows, and finding silly comics to put on her work computer to bring herself daily joy.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Laura Sufka, CCLS, about forming and creating her child life private practice from the ground up. While Laura is still in the "infancy" stage of creating her private practice (she started 4 months ago), she still has a lot of wisdom to share such as what things to consider prior to starting, how long it took for her to cook up this idea, important realizations to have about yourself and your scope of practice and more.
Laura and I briefly touched on the topic of when you can move into private practice as supported by the ACLP. Here are the links where we gathered our information regarding the amount of hours and requirements needed prior to seeking out work in the community:
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/147/1/e2020040261
https://www.childlife.org/docs/default-source/about-aclp/cbp-on-cl-practice-in-community-settings.pdf
You can follow Laura at @childrenscopingconnection on Instagram or here's a direct link to her website: www.laurasufka.care
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Kizzy Marco, CCLS, about creating, managing, and rockin' a facility dog program. Kizzy has nearly a decade of experience in the field and has worked with her 9-year-old partner, a Golden Retriever named Ralph Lauren, for almost eight years.
Ralph is a celebrity at his hospital which puts a spotlight on the child life program at large, but especially in how Kizzy interacts with patients, families and staff. It's not every day that the CEO of a hospital knows a child life specialist by name. Throughout my conversation with Kizzy, I witnessed her enthusiasm for her facility dog program, her initiative in getting things done for the better, and her motivation to continue to grow this niche field.
Kizzy highlights the clinical, goal-based nature of this work, which distinguishes it from volunteer/therapy dog programs (what most people are familiar with). A facility dog program is championed by Certified Child Life Specialists who can do the clinical work that volunteers can't such as assisting with a procedure, assessing a patient/family, and end-of-life support.
You can follow Kizzy and Ralph at @RalphInTheRockies on Instagram
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Becca Miedema, CCLS, about their shared faith of Christianity and how that looks in the field of child life. Faith is not often something discussed in a professional setting, however, for both Jessica and Becca, their faith is something that they feel is a huge part of who they are and what they bring into each patient and family interaction.
Becca is easily located on her unit (Emergency Department) by her bright pink, rainbow sprinkled donut backpack she carries around with a giant bubble wand sticking out! Patients who get admitted tell their new CCLS “Oh yea! I met the donut backpack girl!” And that's Becca!
You can follow Becca at @engravedonhishands_ and @childlifehq on Instagram and at childlifehq on Tik Tok.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Jess Foster, CCLS, about transitioning into the community as a Victim Services Coordinator for her local sheriff's department. Being the sister and wife of police officers, the role has allowed Jess to blend her knowledge as a civilian, law enforcement spouse and a Certified Child Life Specialist to advocate for positive growth and supportive services.
Jess has always had a passion for the criminal justice system. She is now utilizing the knowledge and skills of a child life specialist in the law enforcement field to support the community and victims of crime.
You may reach out to Jess via email for questions at jlvanho1@gmail.com
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Kirsten Black, CCLS, about boundaries in the child life profession. Kirsten entered the child life field as a second career, already having experience working alongside children and families in other capacities.
Having worked in a Cystic Fibrosis clinic, hospice, palliative care, and now a pediatric emergency department has provided Kirsten with a wealth of knowledge in regards to navigating boundaries.
She's also presented on boundaries and enjoys educating staff and child life professionals on the importance of maintaining those boundaries in order to protect yourself and others.
You can follow Kirsten at @kirstenmblack on Instagram
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Meredith Norton, CCLS, about their experience as child life practicum student coordinators/supervisors. Meredith and Jessica have both been child life specialists for going on 6 years and both have a passion for helping students succeed. Meredith portrays herself as an active learner, humble, human and constantly self-assessing how to improve her skills and interactions with patients, families and students.
Meredith shares her wisdom on what she looks for in a practicum student, expectations for applications and interviews, and what are some big no-no's both on paper and in interviews.
You can follow Meredith at @emeredithrenee_ on Instagram
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with Katie Altieri, CCLS, about fellowships as Katie has recently completed her first year of professional experience as a child life fellow in a children's hospital setting. She talks about the additional mentorship provided in this unique entry-level opportunity.
Katie is passionate about helping other students who are pursuing the field and hopes that this episode will bring encouragement and practical advice to students and professionals alike. Following the completion of her fellowship, Katie will be working as a CCLS in a community hospital setting serving patients and families in the Chicagoland area.
You can follow Katie at @katie_altieri on Instagram or linkedin.com/in/katherine-altieri
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with Canadian friend, Alexx Friesen, CCLS, about bereavements and end-of-life support within the child life profession. Alexx provides tangible examples of what end-of-life support has looked like at her one-person program and how she's continuing to learn how to utilize self-care during these traumatic experiences.
Alexx is passionate and comfortable talking about her experiences and challenges with bereavements and throughout the last two years, has found herself uniquely working with children of adult patients within palliative care, oncology, and end-of-life experiences.
You can follow Alexx at @childlifealexx on Instagram and Twitter.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friends, Jessica Hotchkiss, CCLS and Michelle Finneman, CCLS about how to start a program from the ground up. Jessica and Michelle provide listeners with tips for what to be thinking about when starting a program, what their days looked like (especially in the beginning) and how they're hoping to grow their program now that they've been in this role for two years at their 2-person program.
Coming from larger child life departments, Jessica and Michelle had to quickly learn how to manage their time and budget in order to avoid burnout, bring their services in without being "pushy", and prioritize education and meetings in order to get the word out about their services.
You can follow their combined Instagram at @childlifers, or their individual accounts @j.hotchkiss and @m.finneman14
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Elizabeth Fox, CCLS, about burnout in the field of child life. Elizabeth provides tangible examples of what some of the warning signs were for her, how she got out of burnout, and how she's continuing to practice self-care and boundaries.
Elizabeth is passionate about mental health and respecting healthy boundaries. She is constantly working on creating and maintaining her own boundaries and is eager to share with us during this episode about all things mental health.
You can follow Elizabeth at @emfox on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend, Katie Taylor, CCLS, about balancing motherhood in the field of child life. Katie shares stories of how her professional goals and aspirations changed once she became a mother and helps bring awareness and normalization to the ups and downs of balancing a full-time job and being a full-time mom.
Katie runs her own podcast, @childlifeoncall, where she interviews parents about their journeys and experiences related to having a child with an illness or medical condition. She is passionate about helping caregivers.
You can follow Katie at @childlifeoncall on Instagram.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa
Welcome to The Child Life Wild Life Podcast with your host, Jessica Lewin, CCLS, The Child Life Mentor. I'm so excited that you're here!
The podcast will be released on launch day - Friday, June 18, 2021 - where I will release multiple podcast episodes at once. When I'm excited about something, I want to binge! You too?
After launch day, every new podcast will be released once per week on Mondays to get you started for your week!
Grab some coffee, your steering wheel (if you're driving) or just sit back and relax with a journal handy because there are going to be some good nuggets in these episodes. I promise you that.
To be the first to know when an episode is released, don't forget to subscribe!