Committees & Working Groups

At ACLP, our progress is fueled by the vision of our leaders and the hard work of a dedicated network of volunteers. The following is a list of active ACLP committees, work groups, and task forces. To learn more about the mission and current leadership of each group, please click on the links for More Information.

If you are a ACLP member interested in participating in one of these groups, please visit
Volunteer Opportunities for more information.

Resources

ACLP Per diem.Reimbursement Form

Travel Expense Reimbursement

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ACLP Committees/Sub-Committees, Work Groups & Task Forces

AAP Liaison
Liaison: Barbara Romito, MA, CCLS

Mission and Goals: The role of the ACLP Liaison to the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Health Care is to:
- Represent ACLP in all proceedings of the Committee, including facilitating the ongoing review, update, and publication of the “Child Life Services” AAP policy statement
- Solicit, organize, summarize, and submit comments from ACLP leadership on other AAP policy statements that address child life services or other hospital services of direct relevance to child life
Academic Review Committee

Chair: Jessika Boles, Ph.D., CCLS
Chair-Elect: Keri Edwards
Board Liaison: Cara Sisk, CCLS
Staff Liaison: Emily Eagon, Manager of Program Standards
Archives Management Committee
Chairs: Leslie Grissim, CCLS
Historian: Jerriann Wilson, CCLS
Board Liaison: Cara Sisk, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Baily Kasten, COO

Mission and Goals: To collect, maintain and promote the history of the organization and the child life profession.The tasks of the Archives Committee is to:
- Archives Management- collect, assess and catalog documents, photos and footage related to the history of the organization and the profession.
  - Collect and organize academic and clinical child life program histories, including historical documents, video clips and materials
  - Maintain an accurate listing of archived materials for easy member access
- Write blogs, Bulletin articles, develop Conference posters and social media messages to share valuable historical information and promote the use of archived materials in collaboration with Association of Child Life Professionals’ Office
- Support/develop special projects which highlight the history of the organization and the child life profession for Anniversary celebrations or as requested by the Board of Directors.
- Work with the Past-Presidents’ and historians’ Advisory Group as needed
Awards Committee
Chair: Allison Sohanlal, CCLS
Chair Elect: Tiffany Key, BS, CCLS
Board Liaison: Lois Wolgemuth, CCLS
ACLP Staff Advisor: Mary Bean, Executive Assistant

Mission and Goals: The mission of the Awards Committee is to:
- Present the ACLP Board of Directors with a list of recommended recipients for the Distinguished Service Award and the Mary Barkey Clinical Excellence Award.
- Select recipients of the ACLP’s International Conference Scholarships in conjunction with ACLP staff.
The Committee’s process includes the following tasks:
- Review and score applications/nominations for each of the three above listed awards.
- Make award recommendations to the ACLP Board of Directors for approval.
- In conjunction with ACLP staff, select International Scholarship recipients.
- Maintain policies and procedures related to the awards process.
- Following the Board’s selection of recipient(s) for the Distinguished Service Award and the Mary Barkey Clinical Excellence Award, recruit an individual or individuals to take the lead, working with ACLP staff, to prepare a presentation of the awards.
Bulletin Committee and Subcommittees
Executive Editor: Kathryn Cantrell, MA, CCLS
Associate Editor: Kathleen McCue, LSW, CCLS
Managing Editor: Anne Mohl, PhD, CCLS
Board Liaison: Lois Wolgemuth, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Yvonne Kassimatis, Director of Marketing and Communications

Mission and Goals:

The mission of the Bulletin and Focus Work Group is to produce the Association of Child Life Professionals’ ACLP Bulletin/Focus and to develop the publication to become a valuable professional resource focusing on issues of interest to clinicians, administrators, educators, and students in the child life field.

The group fulfills this mission in several ways:
- produces quarterly issues of ACLP Bulletin in conjunction with ACLP staff
- solicits and develops ideas for ACLP Bulletin and Focus content and features that discuss issues of interest to the child life community, with an emphasis on increasing the visibility of research, scholarship, and innovative child life work
- acquires, reviews, and strengthens meaningful articles for the publication
- partners with relevant ACLP committees and task forces to disseminate information about strategic planning and ongoing initiatives
- documents milestones and achievements within the child life community
Bulletin Subcommittees:
Bulletin (Editors Only); Bulletin- Focus Review Board (same officers)
Certifying Committee and Subcommittees
Senior Chair and Board Liaison: Belinda Sweett, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Sherwood Burns-Nader, PhD, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ame Enright, Director of Certification

Mission and Goals: The mission of the Certifying Committee is to:
- Maintain a quality certification program for the child life profession.
- Work with ACLP staff and testing agency to oversee the certification process
- Review and recommend updates to policies
- Develop and revise certification examination through practice analysis studies and the management of item development and exam assembly work groups
SUBCOMMITTEES:
Appeals Subcommittee
Chair: Leslie Brown, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Amanda Honeyman, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ame Enright, Director of Certification

Ethics Subcommittee
Chairs: Lucy Raab, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Sara Reynolds, CCLS, CIMI
Board Liaison: Nancy Ramhap, BS, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ame Enright, Director of Certification

Exam Assembly Subcommittee
Chair: Jennifer Mangers, CIMI, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Rebecka Dolyniuk, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ame Enright, Director of Certification

Item Writing Subcommittee
Chair: Sara Reynolds, CCLS, CIMI
Chair-Elect: Melissa Schotthofer, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ame Enright, Director of Certification

Item Review Subcommittee
Chair: Katie McGinnis, CCLS, MPH Candidate in Global Health (2017)
Chair-Elect:: Caitlin Leary
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ame Enright, Director of Certification

Recertification Audit Subcommittee
Chair: Monica Gibson, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Regina Gohr, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ame Enright, Director of Certification

Communications Subcommittee
Chair: Geri Sehnert, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Leslie Brown, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ame Enright, Director of Certification
Community Based/Non-Traditional Role Committee & Subcommittees
Chair: Lisa Ciarrocca, CCLS
Board Liaison: Kim Stephens, MPA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Jennifer Lipsey, CEO
ACLP Staff Liaison: Barb James, Manager of Membership & Operations

Mission and Goals: The role of the Community Based/Non-Traditional Role Committee is to:
- Provide oversight, guidance, and support to a variety of child life practices and services that exist outside of the traditional inpatient/outpatient hospital setting.
- Explore ways to engage the various practices, and identify issues relevant to their work
- Work in partnership with the ACLP to identify and recommend any actions or initiatives that the ACLP can address to support the needs of the community based practitioners.
- Explore opportunities for standards and supervision for practitioners.
SUBCOMMITTEES:
Community Agency/Office Subcommittee
Chair: Emily Synnott, BASc, CLSt. Dipl, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Allison Moore, CCLS
Board Liaison: Kim Stephens, MPA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Jennifer Lipsey, CEO
ACLP Staff Liaison: Barb James, Manager of Membership & Operations

Hospital Based Non-Traditional Role Subcommittee
Chair: Denise Matsuyama Lai, CCLS, CIMI
Chair- Elect: Emily Beauchemin, CCLS
Board Liaison: Kim Stephens, MPA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Jennifer Lipsey, CEO
ACLP Staff Liaison: Barb James, Manager of Membership & Operations

Private Practice Subcommittee
Chair: Shannon Thornton, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Crystal Wilkins, M.Ed., LPC, RPT, CCLS
Board Liaison: Kim Stephens, MPA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Jennifer Lipsey, CEO
ACLP Staff Liaison: Barb James, Manager of Membership & Operations

Program Guidelines and Standards Subcommittee
Chair: Meredith Ross Cooper, LPC, CCLS
Board Liaison: Kim Stephens, MPA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Jennifer Lipsey, CEO
ACLP Staff Liaison: Barb James, Manager of Membership & Operations
Education and Training Committee
Chair: Krista Stringer, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Jared Woodhouse, MS, CCLS
Board Liaison: Cara Sisk, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Emily Eagon, Manager of Program Standards

Mission and Goals:
- Provide linkages between academic and clinical programs
- evaluate challenges in the process of becoming a child life specialist
- provide support to emerging professionals through identification of resources that may be helpful
Finance Committee
Chair and Board Liaison: Kim Stephens, MPA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Jennifer Lipsey, CEO

Mission and Goals: The mission of the Finance Committee is to:
- Monitor the financial health of the ACLP
- Ensure that ACLP assets are protected and resources are used properly
- Ensure that ACLP complies with all applicable laws and reporting requirements
Governance Committee & Subcommittees

Co-Chairs: Sizanne Graca, CCLS
Chair Elect: Jamie Snow, CCLS
Board Liaison: Jill Koss, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Jennifer Lipsey, CEO

Mission and Goals: The Governance Committee will conduct an ongoing review of the Association of Child Life Professionals' (ACLP) governing documents and related governing processes. This committee will make necessary updates to these documents and processes as indicated to help ensure compliance with legal requirements and association business standards as well as keeping current the professional and ethical standards related to Child Life Practitioner competency and scope of practice.

SUBCOMMITTEES:
Bylaws Subcommittee: Develop and implement a process for maintenance and updating of bylaws
Chair: Diane Hart, CCLS
Chair Elect: Lori Gottwein, CCLS
Board Liaison: Jill Koss, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Jennifer Lipsey, CEO

Official Documents Subcommittee: Review existing documents, make recommendations for updates/edits and implement process for continuing revision
Chair: Tara Horan, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Jon Luongo, CCLS
Board Liaison: Jill Koss, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Jennifer Lipsey, CEO

Policy and Procedure Subcommittee: Create manual and develop process for maintenance and revisions
Chair: Rebecca Meyers, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Lindsay Heering, CCLS, CTRS
Board Liaison: Jill Koss, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Jennifer Lipsey, CEO
Internship Accreditation Oversight Committee
Chair: Stephanie Colaberadino, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Emily Durham, CCLS
Board Liaison: Cara Sisk, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Emily Eagon, Manager of Program Standards
- Manage ACLP internship accreditation process in collaboration with ACLP office
- Oversee Internship Accreditation Reviewers
IAOC Reviewers - Review internship accreditation applications
Chair: Stephanie Colaberadino, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Emily Durham, CCLS
Board Liaison: Cara Sisk, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Emily Eagon, Manager of Program Standards

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ACLP Committees/Sub-Committees, Work Groups & Task Forces Continued

Nominating Committee
Chair and Board Liaison: Chantal LeBlanc, MHS, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Christy Dellibovi, CCLS, CBIS, CFLE
Board Liaison: Eileen Clark, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Jennifer Lipsey, CEO

Mission and Goals: The mission of the Nominating Committee is to:
- Facilitate the succession of ACLP Leadership.
- Provide a slate of qualified candidates for Board of Directors positions
- Administer the election process with ACLP staff
- Recommend members for committees and other leadership positions
Partnership Development Committee

Chair: Eugene Johnson, MS, MA, RN, CCLS
Chair Elect: Sarah Patterson, CCLS
Board Liaison: Janet Cross, Med, CCLS, CPXP
ACLP Staff Liaison: Meagan Roloff, MA, CCLS

Mission and Goals:

The Partnership Development Committee operates in collaboration with ACLP leadership serving as an additional layer in reviewing and vetting prospective partnerships. The committee is charged with definition and policy development as well as investigating opportunities for potential partnerships with other non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, and federal, state, and local government agencies.
Past Presidents Advisory Group

Board Liaison: Stephanie Hopkinson, MA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Jennifer Lipsey, CEO

Mission and Goals: The mission of the Past Presidents Advisory Group is to serve as a resource to the association, as requested by the current President.
Patient and Family Experience Committee
Chair: Carla Oliver, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Anna Ahrens
Board Liaison: Divna Wheelwright, MA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Meagan Roloff, MA, CCLS, Director of Partnerships

Mission and Goals: The role of this task force is to:
- Formulating strategies to engage the Association of Child Life Professionals in the Patient and Family Experience work
- Propose and recommend partnership opportunities, identify possible pilot projects that will allow us to explore the impact of Child Life Specialists on the Patient Experience, evaluate ways to support the work of Child Life Specialists in relationship to the Patient and Family Experience, and recommend ways to increase our involvement and recognition in this work.
Practicum Task Force

Co-Chair: Emily Mozena, CCLS, CTRS and Katie McMichael, MS, CCLS
Board Liaison: Cara Sisk, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Emily Eagon, Manager of Program Standards
Professional Development Committee & Subcommittees
Chair: Elana Brewer, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Meghaan Nguyen, CCLS
Board Liaison: Jenaya Gordon, CCLS, NCC
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ramona Spencer, Director of Professional Development

Mission and Goals: The role of the Professional Development Committee is:

Responsible for overseeing initiatives that relate to the promotion of ongoing development for child life professionals and/or programs that support child life work.

Conference Program Subcommittee: Develop conference program content

Chair: Catherine Leung, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Brittany Blake, CCLS
Board Liaison: Jenaya Gordon, CCLS, NCC
ACLP Staff Liaisons: Ramona Spencer, Director of Professional Development and Mary Bean, Executive Assistant

Conference Abstract Reviews Subcommittee
Chair: Catherine Leung, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Brittany Blake, CCLS
Board Liaison: Jenaya Gordon, CCLS, NCC
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ramona Spencer, CMP, Manager of Conference and Professional Development

Mission and Goals: The mission of the Conference Program Committee is to:
- Select presentations for the conference program and assist the ACLP staff in planning, organizing and conducting the ACLP annual conference.
- Develop conference program content and recommend major speakers for board approval
- Assist with on-site logistics
- Assist in securing exhibitors and sponsorships
- Review evaluation results for each conference and suggest improvements for future programs
Professional Resources Subcommittee:

Chair: Jamie Talicska, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Danielle Coleman, CCLS
Board Liaison: Jenaya Gordon, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Meagan Roloff, Director of Partnerships

Mission and Goals: The mission of the Professional Resources Sub-Committee is to:
- Ensure that ACLP is the undisputed resource for the child life profession
- Gather, evaluate, and create high-quality resources for use by members of the ACLP community
- Recommend publications, guidelines, position papers, or documents
- Review and evaluate external child life related publications/resources
Leadership Mentor Program Subcommittee

Chair: Hilary Woodward, MS, CCLS
Chair Elect: Abigail Rainey, CCLS
Board Liaison: Jenaya Gordon, CCLS, NCC
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ramona Spencer, Director of Professional Development

• Finalize the details and make updates as needed to conduct an annual, formal mentorship program, allowing for mentors to be identified and partnered with mentees
• Develop and/or revise any necessary application documents and general operational documents that will accompany this process
• In partnership with the Conference Program Committee, develop a formal program that can be used during the annual conference for 1st time attendees
Scientific Advancement of Professional Practice Committee & Subcommittees

Chair:  Kathryn Shamszad, MS, MPH, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Quinn Franklin, CCLS
Board Liaison: Jen Sciolla, CCLS, CTRS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Meagan Roloff, Director of Standards

Mission and Goals:  The mission of this committee is: Support ACLP’s strategic plan by promoting, encouraging, and educating the membership regarding all aspects of research, EBP, and scholarly publication and presentation.

SUBCOMMITTEES:
Advisory Subcommittee
Board Liaison: Jen Sciolla
Staff Liaison: Meagan Roloff

Benchmarking/Research Datacenter Subcommittee: To develop and oversee a benchmarking and research datacenter; and provide data to support staff ratios on revised a AAP Statement

Chair: Michael Towne, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Rene Assetta Guilbeau, CCLS, CPST, CIMI
Board Liaison: Jen Sciolla, CCLS, CTRS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Meagan Roloff, Director of Standards

EBP/QI/Awareness and Networking Subcommittee: To make the membership of the ACLP and larger ACLP profession aware of research, EBP, QI process and maintain a platform that supports networking of child life professionals interested in research/EBP/QI
Chairs: Emily Jones, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Brittany Wittenberg, PhD, CCLS
Board Liaison: Jen Sciolla, CCLS, CTRS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Meagan Roloff, Director of Standards

Education and Mentorship Subcommittee
Chair: Krista Stringer, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Jared Woodhouse
Board Liaison: Cara Sisk, CCLS
Staff Liaison: Emily Eagon, Manager of Program Standards

Proposal Subcommittee: To create research, EBP, QI topics/contents that could be incorporated into proposals for the CLC, along with developing a sustainability plan for revisiting and updating related documents or work therein
Chair: Alison Chrisler, PhD, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Amy Claridge, PhD, LMFT
Board Liaison: Jen Sciolla, CCLS, CTRS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Meagan Roloff, Director of Standards
Volunteer Recognition and Engagement Committee
Chair: Cristie Suzukawa Clancy, MS, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Katie Beard, CLS
Board Liaison: Sheila Palm, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ramona Spencer, Director of Professional Development

Mission and Goals:
- Create and maintain a process by which ACLP members can be proactively identified and approached to participate on committees through personal outreach by members of this committee.
- This process should also include putting forth nominations to the Nominating Committee for board positions.
- Develop, maintain and promote a variety of initiatives that will recognize volunteers for their service
Web & Online Committee

Chair: Riley Hammond, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Millicent Ognaco, MS, CCLS
Board Liaison: Divna Wheelwright, MA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaisons: Darryl Lewis, Digital Marketing and Communications Coordinator and Yvonne Kassimatis, Director of Marketing and Communications

Mission and Goals: Provide content for social media outlets

Committees & Working Groups

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ACLP Committees/Sub-Committees, Work Groups & Task Forces

ACLP Committees/Sub-Committees, Work Groups & Task Forces Continued

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