8.5 PDUs
8:00– 9:00 am Registration, Continental Breakfast, & Poster Presentations
9:10 – 9:20 am Welcome
9:30 – 11:00 am Session 1 - 1.5 PDU
Child Life Licensure for the State of California
(All) Domain: Professional Responsibility
Belinda Hammond, EdD, CCLS, CIMI, Founder/Child Life Connection
Shani Thornton, MS, CCLS, Founder/Child Life Mommy
Colleen M Cherry MSCL CCLS CT FT GCCA-C Founder PlayWell Child Life Services
Charity James, PhD, CCLS, Chair, Associate Professor/Azusa Pacific University
When families enter a hospital during their most vulnerable moments, they deserve the assurance that every professional caring for their child has met rigorous standards of training and competency. The title "Child Life Specialist" isn't currently protected. Without title protection, anyone can claim to be a Child Life Specialist—regardless of their qualifications. Lack of authentic Child Life training puts children and families at risk of receiving care from individuals who lack the specialized education in child development, trauma-informed practice, and evidence-based interventions that authentic Child Life training provides. Learn more about what Licensure for Certified Child Life Specialists in California could mean for the children and families we serve, and how this would protect the title of Certified Child Life Specialist!
11:10 am – 12:10 pm SESSION 2 - 1 PDU
1. Advocating Across Disciplines When Children Discharge into the CPS System (Entry) Domain: Professional Responsibility
Rose Tandeta, MA, CCLS III, CIMT / UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Lauren Ragan, MA, MT-BC II / UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland
Working with children who are going to transition out of the hospital into the child welfare system for the first time can be very daunting. The role of the interdisciplinary team, including child life and music therapy, is not always very clear in these situations, but our perspective is that we as psychosocial support providers are in the best position to get to know these children and their needs and to be able to advocate for such with appropriate personnel (Social work, Child Welfare, Forensic Pediatrics, etc.). Through case presentations, we will discuss the importance of knowing what questions to ask, what decisions to challenge, how to address issues of systemic racism, how to best support these patients with this life-changing experience, and to discuss ideas or approaches to co-treatment with multidisciplinary members.
2. Is More Enough? Parent Perceptions of Hospital-Based Bereavement Supports (Intermediate) Domain: Assessment, Intervention
Varsha Gaddipati, BA (Graduate Research Assistant, CHILL Lab, and M.Ed. Student at Vanderbilt University
While many hospitals offer bereavement supports for families navigating the death of a child, we know little about what best practices are to deliver these services in a hospital setting. This presentation focuses on perceptions of bereaved parents/caregivers on grief and bereavement interventions available before, during, and after a loss to promote family-centered and evidence-based pediatric psychosocial care.
12:10 -1:10 pm Lunch & Poster Presentations
1:15 – 2:45 pm SESSION 3 - 1.5 PDU
1. Community-Based Child Life Services for Children and Families Impacted by Trauma, Violence, and Loss
(Advanced) Domain: Assessment, Intervention, Professional Responsibility
Linda Garcia, MA, CCLS / Children’s Burn Foundation Sonia Martinez, BA, CCLS / Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Providing community-based services for trauma and grief informed care for children and families who are impacted by family violence can benefit from Certified Child Life Specialist in private practice. Childhood trauma can profoundly affect attachment, relationships, physical and emotional health and behaviors. These effects can last a lifetime without early intervention. Through examples and discussion, participants will explore the impact of trauma and loss on children's coping, development, and adjustment while learning practical Child Life interventions that promote healing and resilience. Participants will also learn how Child Life advocacy helped advance the profession through the passage of California Assembly Bill 1187, expanding access to reimbursable Child Life services for child victims of crime.
2. Healing Through Art: A Creative Approach to Grief Support (Entry) Domain: Intervention
Marissa L Salazar, CCLS II, Reiki II, RWWP Jennifer Miller, ATR-BC Art Therapist III, Reiki II
This workshop focuses on developing a community-based, multidisciplinary therapeutic group to support children and teens coping with grief and loss. Remembering Together is a three-session support group that integrates self-expression and art to help participants process their emotions. The sessions are co-facilitated by a Child Life Specialist and an Art Therapist, both trained in bereavement support and child development. Through creative activities and guided discussions, participants will explore different ways to express their feelings and navigate their grief journey. This group is designed for children and adolescent ages 6 – 16 who have experienced the loss of a significant person in their lives. The workshop will provide hands-on intervention opportunities.
2:55 – 3:55 pm SESSION 4 - 1 PDU
1. Insights into Internship Pipeline: Patterns, Pressure Points, and Possibilities (Intermediate and Advanced) Domain: Professional Responsibility
Jessika Boles, PhD, CCLS, Executive Director, Founders Council, Child Life Academic Society (CLAS) Jeanine Clapsaddle, MA, LMFT, CCLS, President, Founders Council, Child Life Academic Society (CLAS) Charity James, PhD, CCLS, Member, Founders Council, Child Life Academic Society (CLAS)
Intended for Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLSs) involved in child life education and training, this session will explore current internship trends, opportunities, and challenges revealed through Internship Registry data and stakeholder feedback. The session will highlight key findings, examine implications for students, internship programs, and academic institutions, and explore areas for future growth. Through data sharing and facilitated discussion, participants will consider how registry findings can inform decision-making, foster collaboration among stakeholders, and support efforts to strengthen access, equity, sustainability, and workforce development within the child life internship system.
2. Using Children’s Picture Books for Coping with the Death of a Loved One (Entry) Domain: Intervention
Nishtha Bhakta, MA, Graduate Student (California State University, Los Angeles) Natalie Chicas, CCLS, Lecturer (Valley Presbyterian Hospital/California State University Los Angeles)
This presentation will explain the existing literature on children’s picture books on understanding death and coping with the loss of a loved one and propose the unique contribution of our research in the context of death due to sickness. We will discuss our methodology and the key findings from our sample about explanations of death, grief reactions, coping mechanisms, and cultural inclusivity across different contexts. Finally, we will introduce a toolbox we have created to support CCLS in facilitating bibliotherapy in the hospital setting, providing recommended reading ages, identifying gaps in developmentally appropriate content, and outlining therapeutic activities for each book's theme.
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. SESSION 5 - 1.5 PDU
1. Cultural Humility in Action: Strategies for Supporting Diverse Children and Families (Entry) Domain: Professional Responsibility
Jessica Woortman, MA, CCLS Katie Walker, PhD, CCLS
California's diverse pediatric population requires Certified Child Life Specialists to provide culturally responsive, family-centered care. Grounded in the framework of cultural humility, this presentation explores practical strategies for building relationships with diverse families, navigating language and communication barriers, adapting interventions to align with family values and cultural beliefs, and advocating for equitable care. Through case examples, participant reflection, and application activities, attendees will leave with practical tools to strengthen culturally responsive child life practice.
2. Helping Hearts Heal: Creating a Grief & Loss Group for Children
(All) Domain: Assessment, Intervention
Carissa Howard, MS, MAEd, PPS, APCC, CCLS Elena Le, MS CCLS
This presentation explores the development and facilitation of a grief and loss support group
designed for children ages 5-15 experiencing bereavement. Participants will learn about
Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), childhood grief responses, and practical interventions using
bibliotherapy, play, LEGO prompts, memory-making activities, and creative therapeutic
approaches grounded in Kenneth Doka’s four tasks of mourning
Poster Sessions - .05 PDU Each
1. Thinking out of the box: Removing student barriers to clinical experiences in California (including housing, stipends, and paid internships with guaranteed work following completion of internship) (Advance) Domain: Professional Responsibility, DEI
Belinda Hammond, EdD, CCLS, CIMI, Lecturer/Sonoma State University, Founder/Child Life Connection Suzan J. Watkinson, MA, CCLS, CPMT, RWWP
Learning Objectives
1.Gain greater understanding of the barriers being faced by students, especially those students from underrepresented populations.
2. Explore methods of removing barriers for students seeking child life internships
3. Explore funding sources for those programs successfully removing barriers to accessing child life internships to moving forward because of the lack of programs in place to remove these barriers.
2. Hybrid Child Life Community Practicum: Supporting students with 20 hours shadowing “interview” (who hope to remain local for internship and job!) (Advanced) Domain: Professional Responsibility, DEI
Belinda Hammond, EdD, CCLS, CIMI, Lecturer/Sonoma State University, Founder/Child Connection Suzan J. Watkinson, MA, CCLS, CPMT, RWWP
Learning Objectives
1. Explore methods of removing barriers for students seeking child life practicum.
2. Participants/hospital- based CCLS’ will be able to navigate partnerships with those offering hybrid practicums to provide meaningful in-person experience without having to commit to a full 120 hours per student.
3. Participants will hear the impact of the child life community practicum from those involved in its creation and implementation
3. Cruise Cush™: Transforming Pediatric Transportation Through Safety, Comfort, and Child-Centered Care (Entry) Domain: Intervention
Lisa Beltran, PhD, CCLS Misty Deneen, BSN, RN
Learning Objectives
1. Describe common psychosocial and developmental challenges children experience during hospital transportation and transfers.
2. Identify strategies that promote safety, coping, and emotional comfort during pediatric transportation experiences.
3. Discuss how innovative environmental interventions, such as Cruise Cush™, can enhance the patient and family experience while supporting child life goals.
4. Research Study: Efficacy of Child, Teen and Parent Support Groups After Traumatic Burn Injury (All) Domain: Intervention, Personal Responsibility
Linda Garcia, MA, CCLS
Tanya Sorkin, MSW
Learning Objectives
1. Assess the Effectiveness of Support Groups
2. Demonstrate the Impact of Long-Term Participation
3. Highlight the Importance of Continuous Psychological Interventions
Professional Development Units
A PDU is a unit of measure for tracking professional development credits and are used towards recertification for the Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential. Certificates of attendance will be provided for attendees with the completion of program evaluation.
Please save your conference program and Certificate as proof of your attendance.
*All PDUs must be recorded in increments of at least 30 minutes or .5 PDU.
