The Association of Child Life Professionals, Inc.

"After 43 years of having the honor to provide support to patients and families at Shriners Children’s in Portland Oregon, I have retired. My whole career was spent at Shriners!! Before there were classes to learn child life skills, I basically taught myself the skills that made me into the best professional and successful CCLS I could be!! I did have more child development courses and was “grandfathered” into Child Life in the 80’s. I had a few CCLS’s that I worked with and who role modeled skills. Over the years I became a leader and influencer within the hospital! I did eventually sit for the test in 2003 and became a staunch advocate for child life interventions and support throughout the hospital. It’s so rare to have one’s entire child life career completed in one facility, especially in these times. I wish ALL Child Life Specialists (and those pursuing CCLS) the best in your careers." -Cynthia Millard, Retired CCLS

??? ??FLASH GIVEAWAY! ????? ACLP Members! Enter this 24-hour giveaway to win 1 of 2 ACLP merch packs!!! You'll get pens, notepads, glitter wands, stickers, badge reels, a tote, and ??SURPRISE?? items. Head over to Instagram to learn how to enter! #childlife #childlifemonth #childlifespecialist #CCLS #giveaway.

Congratulations to CCLS Debbie Wagers, Creator of ONE VOICE, on winning the 2025 Distinguished Service Award! Debbie's career has spanned many units, organizations, and initiatives, which you can read more about in our upcoming Summer 2025 Bulletin Issue. For now, we want to share a summary of her journey and impact from her nominator: Debbie discovered child life in a college careers class and thought, “Hmm…that sounds cool.” She has since called child life her “soul mate of jobs.” Her love for connecting with children and families kept her in clinical work far longer than she ever anticipated, rather than transitioning to a leadership role earlier in her career. In fact, she once thought she would only be a child life specialist until she was about 45 years old, believing that as she got older, she’d be expected to act like a grown-up (she’s affectionately known by generations of patients as “Crazy Debbie”). She says it has been the honor of a lifetime to learn from countless patients and families about the unwavering love of a family, the resilience of children, parents, and siblings, and the courage and strength they all exhibit. One of her favorite 9-year-old patients once said about child life, “They’re one of the most coolest things in the world. I mean, who wouldn’t want to hang out with them? Who wouldn’t want to?” Spot on, 9 year-old kiddo! You can congratulate Debbie by signing an e-card here: https://ow.ly/iJIM50VmuPE

Here's how membership impacted a child life student and intern: “As a child life student and intern, my membership has given me access to tools that helps me grow and stay informed about best practices, making it easier to succeed in this incredible field.” -E. Crimi As a member of ACLP, you’ll gain access to resources and opportunities designed to support all seasons of your professional journey. Use code EMPOWER2025 to join ACLP at a special discounted rate—now through March 31, 2025. Professional members save 10% and student members save $15. Learn more about membership and perks here: https://ow.ly/OEXs50V4x0H

UPCOMING WEBINAR: Ensuring Comfort and Cooperation: Strategies for Supporting Autistic Children in a Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic with Elise Huntley, CCLS, MA This webinar will explore the importance of eye exams for autistic children, the challenges they face during exams, and evidence-based strategies for child life specialists by highlighting the integration of child life services in a pediatric ophthalmology clinic to support autistic patients, including identifying those who may struggle during exams and implementing tailored strategies to improve their experience. Date: April 8 Time: 1 PM EST 1 PDU: Assessment, Intervention, DEI Register today! https://ow.ly/4M4X50VkiMA

We’re thrilled to introduce to you the NEW ACLP Forum, an exclusive space for ACLP members to network, share resources, ask questions, and support one another. Whether you're seeking advice, sharing best practices, or connecting with fellow child life specialists, this is your go-to platform!? How to Get Started: Log into your account on the ACLP website Join the ACLP Forum by using this direct link or by clicking on “ACLP Forum” on the top navigation of your ACLP Profile Dashboard Bookmark the direct link to the ACLP Forum webpage for easy access: https://lnkd.in/eC-qbqXi Explore, ask questions, and join the conversation! This is a pilot launch, and we want to hear from you! Your feedback will help us refine the forum and ensure it meets your needs. Share your thoughts and submit your feedback to let us know how we can improve. You can find a feedback link in your email announcing the forum launch. Need help accessing the ACLP Forum? Email [email protected]. #childlife #childlifemonth #CCLS #childlifespecialist

The following ACLP Committees are seeking new members! Do you have expertise or interest in any of the follow? Learn more about time commitments and application questions in our 2025-2026 Call for Volunteers Guide: https://ow.ly/vNga50Vkiwb Committees Seeking New Members: Awards Benchmarking Bulletin Community Based Practice Conference Program DEI Committee (accepts students) Internship Accrediation Oversight Journal of Child Life Mentorship Pathway to the Profession Patient & Family Experience Publications

"I began my journey with arthritis at 6 years old. After months of experiencing severe joint pain, I was referred to a rheumatologist and diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and began treatment for my condition. I had wonderful child life specialists who truly changed my life and lead me to where I am today. I am currently enrolled in a Child Life Master’s program and credit my child life journey to the wonderful healthcare team at Scottish Rite. In my final semester, I am completing a clinical internship and have the opportunity to work with children and families at CHRISTUS Children’s in San Antonio. I truly don’t know where I would be without the wonderful child life specialists who helped me through my journey and I hope to have that same impact on the lives of the patients and families I work with. My child life specialists and future patients are my 'why'!" -Claire Brenner, Graduate Student & Child Life Intern @christuschildrens

Introducing the 2025 Child Life Conference Keynote Speaker, Tanmeet Sethi, MD! Dr. Sethi is a board-certified Integrative Family Physician, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Washington, author, activist and TEDx speaker who has dedicated her career to care for the most marginalized patients in Seattle’s refugee, uninsured and homeless populations as well as global communities traumatized by manmade and natural disasters. She has benefitted extensively from the important work of child life professionals in the inpatient setting as well personally as the mother to a child with a chronic, degenerative illness. Her first book, Joy Is My Justice: Reclaim Yours Now, (Hachette, 2023), is a radical call to claim Joy as our birthright, the deepest liberation we can know and a path to power through oppression. We hope you'll join us in Los Angeles to hear from Dr. Sethi in her keynote "Cultivating Joy in Challenging Times" along with a wide variety of psychosocial care professionals on supporting children and families and cultivating your own professional wellness! Register today: https://ow.ly/gQ4f50VkbQP

Anywhere you find a child life specialist you will encounter compassion, generosity, and a tenacious dedication to the emotional and psychosocial well-being of all children. No matter the setting, patient, or circumstances, child life specialists show up for children and families determined to make a difference in their experiences with illness, injury, and trauma. Thank you to Bonnie Hiers for sharing this photo of a CCLS at the bedside of a patient, exemplifying CCLS's role in the hospital setting! #childlife #childlifemonth #childlifespecialist #CCLS