The Association of Child Life Professionals, Inc.

"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

Give a WOW to Hematology/Ontology CCLS Sydney Houzenga for Going above and beyond in the workplace by starting a family support group in the clinic setting at Kentucky Children's Hospital! From their nominator: Sydney needs a wow for starting a family support group in the clinic setting. What a great way to bring kids and families together in a supportive environment - wow! Thank you for making a positive difference and for making port access easier for kids in clinic everyday! You rock Sydney! You go, Sydney! Anyone can submit a Give a Wow for a colleague here: https://lnkd.in/gH58Wsvh

Check out five unique presentations and posters on leveraging technology in your child life practice! Impact of Virtual Reality Simulation to Prepare Children Undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Brianne Newman, CCLS; Hope Wright, BS, CCLS; Jennifer Staab, CCLS, MS; Claire Simonsen Pilot Testing Surgery Prep: A Virtual Reality Perioperative Walkthrough for Pediatric Patients with Tracy Reyes Serrano, CCLS Reality Check - Using Virtual Reality Social Support for Adolescents Living with Serious Illness with Shaindy Alexander, CCLS, MSc; Riann Horan, CCLS & Sherry Xueer Cheng, CCLS, MSc “It Helped Me Forget I Was Here”: Using Virtual Reality as a Child Life Tool in Pediatric Hospitalization with Sherry Xueer Cheng, CCLS, MSc AI in Child Life: Leveraging AI for Enhanced Care and Support with Amanda L. Lockett, CCLS, MS, MEd Learn more and register here! https://ow.ly/kJts50Vic4U

Abdulrahman's Oasis is looking for 3 dynamic speakers to be part of the first Plank Talks Series at this years National The Association of Child Life Professionals, Inc. Conference. If you have an innovative idea, inspiring story or motivational message for the field of child life, apply before March 28: https://lnkd.in/gpqP2FHu

LAST CHANCE: Applications for the One-Person Program Conference Scholarship Close Today! Sponsored by the enCourageKids Foundation, ACLP is proud to offer one, One-Person Program Conference Scholarship to the 2025 Child Life Conference in Los Angeles, CA, May 22-24, 2025. This scholarship includes: One full-conference registration Choice of one tour of local program during the conference Access to the 2025 Conference Lightning Pass Hotel accommodations up to three nights (room and tax only, recipient is responsible for incidentals) Round trip airfare to and from the event up to $550 Per diem: $200 to cover things such as ground transportation to/from airport and food & beverages Hurry and get your application in! Know someone in an OPP? Tag them! Learn more and apply here: https://ow.ly/5bNC50Vk3Jq #childlifeconference #childlife

Volunteer your skills and expertise for an ACLP Committee that is in need of support! ACLP is seeking passionate volunteers to contribute their expertise and help shape the future of the child life profession. As a committee member, you’ll play a key role in developing resources, initiatives, and programs—aligning with ACLP’s Strategic Plan to strengthen our profession. ACLP committees drive key initiatives, including expanding professional education, advancing research, strengthening member engagement, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. By volunteering, you help move this work forward and make a lasting impact while earning PDUs, developing leadership skills, and forming meaningful connections. Application Timeline: March 17 – Call for Volunteers Opens March 31 – Call for Volunteers Closes May – Applicants Notified of Committee Selection June 1, 2025 - May 31, 2026 – Committee Year Learn more about volunteer opportunities through our 2025-2026 Volunteer Guide and apply here: https://ow.ly/m5ky50VjlZx

??????CHILD LIFE MONTH GIVEAWAY ?????? All Certified Child Life Specialists are invited to enter to win a Beary Brave Book & Bear Bundle generously provided by @bravebearsclubco ! Brave Bears Club is dedicated to creating a more inclusive world for children with epilepsy though offering child-friendly educational resources, such as books and the unique EEG bear, designed to provide comfort, education, and representation. By blending compassion with innovative solutions, Brave Bears Club aims to empower children and their families on their medical journeys while raising epilepsy awareness. One lucky winner will receive: ?? EEG bear ?? "Char Bear Keeps Dancing!" Educational Book ?? Waves card ?? Waves sticker set ??? Linen Brave Bears Club logo bag Entry and Rules are on our Instagram @assocchildlife

A Child Life Story from Kylie Sprague, MS, CCLS at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital: "Being a Certified Child Life Specialist in a Pediatric Rehabilitation Hospital is the most rewarding and inspirational job in the world. I love being able to be a part of helping children recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions and witness their profound improvements in their recovery and quality of life. Every day is different, and I get to use creative approaches to facilitate achieving their rehab goals fun and engaging for them. Seeing my patients regain their independence and knowing that I was a part of making a tangible difference in their lives is why I truly feel that I have the best job in the world." You can share your child life story here: https://ow.ly/lWmz50VgTj7