Committees & Working Groups

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

Chairs:  Joan Turner, CCLS
Historian:  Jerriann Wilson, CCLS 
Board Liaison:  Jessika Boles, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Ramona Spencer, CMP, Director of Professional Development

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  • Collect and organize academic and clinical child life program histories, including historical documents, video clips and materials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

Chair: Kathryn Davitt, OTR, CCLS
Chair Elect: Allison Sohanlal, CCLS
Board Liaison: Alexandra Christofides, CCLS, RECE
ACLP Staff Advisor:  Mary Bean, Event Coordinator

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.

Executive Editor:  Katherine Bennett, M.Ed., CCLS
Associate Editor: Kathryn Cantrell, MA, CCLS
Managing Editor: Anne Mohl, PhD, CCLS
Board Liaison: Alexandra Christofides, CCLS, RECE
ACLP Staff Liaison: Yvonne Kassimatis, BA, Director of Marketing and Communications

Mission and Goals: 

• 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 Sub-Committees:
Bulletin (Editors Only); Bulletin- Focus Review Board (same officers)

Senior Chair and Board Liaison:  Nancy Ramhap, BS, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Belinda Sweett, 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
Board Liaison: Nancy Ramhap, BS, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Ame Enright, Director of Certificationdards

Ethics SubCommittee
Co-Chairs:  Leslie Brown, CCLS and Jennifer Mangers CIMI, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Geri Sehnert, CCLS
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
Board Liaison: Nancy Ramhap, BS, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Ame Enright, Director of Certification

Item Writing Subcommittee
Chair:  Regina Yocum, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Melissa Schotthofer, CCLS
Board Liaison: Nancy Ramhap, BS, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Ame Enright, Director of Certification

Item Review Subcommittee
Chair:  Sara Reynolds, CCLS, CIMI
Chair-Elect:  Katie McGinnis, CCLS, MPH Candidate in Global Health (2017)
Board Liaison: Nancy Ramhap, BS, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Ame Enright, Director of Certification

Recertification Audit Subcommittee
Chair:  Sherwood Burns-Nader, PhD., CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Monica Gibson, CCLS
Board Liaison: Nancy Ramhap, BS, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Ame Enright, Director of Certification

Communications Subcommittee
Chair:  Sherwood Burns-Nader, PhD, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Geri Sehnert, CCLS
Board Liaison: Nancy Ramhap, BS, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Ame Enright, Director of Certification

Co-Chairs: Missi Hicks, MS, CCLS, RPT-S and 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
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:  Kathleen McCue, LSW, CCLS
Chair- Elect:  Denise Matsuyama Lai, CCLS, CIMI
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
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

Chair and Board Liaison: Sheila Palm, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  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

Co-Chairs: Toni Millar, CCLS and Barbara Romito, CCLS
Chair Elect: Sizanne Graca, CCLS
Board Liaison: Stephanie Hopkinson, MA, 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:  Suzanne Graca, CCLS
Board Liaison: Stephanie Hopkinson, MA, 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
Board Liaison: Stephanie Hopkinson, MA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Jennifer Lipsey, CEO

Policy and Procedure Subcommittee: Create manual and develop process for maintenance and revisions
Chair:  Jamie Snow, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Rebecca Meyers, CCLS
Board Liaison: Stephanie Hopkinson, MA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Jennifer Lipsey, CEO

Chair: Ellen Hollon, MS, CCLS
Chair Elect: Jeanine Clapsaddle, MA, LMFT, CCLS
Board Liaison: Anne Clair Hickman, MA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Megan Roloff, MA, CCLS Director of Partnerships

Mission and Goals: The mission of the International Collaboration Committee is to: 

• Recommend the role ACLP has in international programs
• Oversee and implement those international programs that have been approved by the ACLP board in partnership with ACLP staff.

Chair:  Kellye Carroll, MS, CCLS, CEIM
Chair-Elect:  Jodi Bauers, CCLS
Board Liaison: Janet Cross, CCLS, CPXP
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ramona Spencer, CMP, Director of Professional Development

The Leadership Development Committee fosters volunteer involvement in the Child Life Council by recruiting new volunteers for committees, on boarding/orienting new committee members, and developing/maintaining various initiatives that recognize volunteers for their service. The committee also promotes mentoring/coaching evidence-based practice through opportunities for shared learning experiences within the child life community.

SUB-COMMITTEES:
Leader Education ad Cultivation Sub-Committee 

• Create and/or conduct quarterly webinars that address different leadership topics for the following:
  a.  Leadership education addressing leadership topics that are pertinent to the general membership
  b.  Leadership education addressing leadership topics relevant to committee members and/or committee leaders
• Submit a quarterly blog on leadership topics; consider other avenues by which to put leadership topics in front of membership and implement accordingly
• Develop a formal program that can be used during the annual conference for first time attendees

Chair:  Kimberly Allen, CCLS
Chair Elect:  Diane Hart, CCLS
Board Liaison: Janet Cross, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ramona Spencer, CMP, Director of Professional Development

Leadership Development Academy Sub-Committee

• Identify options and submit a proposal for an ongoing annual ACLP Leadership Academy
• Update and/or revise the process by which applicants would be selected for a leadership academy should ACLP have the opportunity to offer this type of program in the future;
• With consultation  from the research task force or research & scholarship committee, create a simple survey tool that could be used with the inaugural leadership academy graduates that will track their leadership development over five years starting with 2015/2016 and continuing with ongoing ACLP leadership initiatives as identified by the ACLP board

Chair:  Sarah Patterson, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Patricia Cox, CCLS
Board Liaison: Janet Cross, CCLS, CPXP
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ramona Spencer, CMP, Director of Professional Development

Mentor Program Sub-Committee

• 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

Chair:  Jennifer Fieten, CCLS
Chair Elect:  Hilary Woodward, MS, CCLS
Board Liaison: Janet Cross, CCLS, CPXP
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ramona Spencer, CMP, Director of Professional Development

Volunteer Leader Recognition and Engagement Sub-Committee

• 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

Chair:  Therese Weisbrot, LCAT, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Christie Suzukawa Clancy, MS, CCLS
Board Liaison: Janet Cross, CCLS, CPXP
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ramona Spencer, CMP, Director of Professional Development

Chair and Board Liaison: Kristin Maier, MS, CCLS
Chair Elect: 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 

Board Liaison: Sara Barnett
ACLP Staff Liaison: Bea Wikander

Chair: Eugene Johnson
Chair Elect: Sarah Patterson
Board Liaison: Janet Cross
ACLP Staff Liaison: Meagan Roloff

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. 

Board Liaison: Eileen Clark, 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.

Chair:  Carla Oliver, CCLS
Board Liaison: Divna Wheelwright, 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. 

Chair: Shawna Grissom, CCLS, CEIM
Chair-Elect: Elana Brewer, CCLS
Board Liaison: Sara Barnett, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ramona Spencer, CMP  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.

Advanced Professional Development Sub-committee: Identify and distribute advanced professional development content 

Chair: Meghaan Nguyne, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Cassandra James, CCLS
Board Liaison: Sara Barnett, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ramona Spencer, CMP, Director of Professional Development

Conference Program Committee: Develop conference program content

Chair: Susan Gorry, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Catherine Leung, CCLS
Board Liaison: Sara Barnett, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ramona Spencer, CMP, Director of 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

Conference Program Committee Sub-Committee:
Conference Abstract Reviews
Chair: Susan Gorry, CCLS 
Chair-Elect: Catherine Leung, CCLS  
Board Liaison: Sara Barnett, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ramona Spencer, CMP, Director of Professional Development

Professional Resources Sub-Committee: 

Chair: Katie Riese, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Jamie Talicska, CCLS
Board Liaison: Sara Barnett, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Meagan Roloff, MA, CCLS, 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

Program Review & Development Services Sub-Committee: Conduct program reviews

Board Liaison:Sara Barnett, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Ramona Spencer, CMP, Director of Professional Development

Technology Integration Sub-Committee: Create content for electronic psychological preparation library

Chair:  Meghan Kelly, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Kristen Beckler, CCLS, CTRS
Board Liaison: Sara Barnett, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Meagan Roloff. MA, CCLS, Director of Partnerships

Web & Online Networking Advisory Sub-Committee: Provide content for social media outlets

Chair:  Marcela Ehardt, CCLS, CEIM, CPST
Chair-Elect: Riley Hammond, CCLS
Board Liaison: Sara Barnett, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison: Yvonne Kassimatis, Director of Marketing and Communications 

Chairs:  Nicole Rosburg, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Morgan Livingstone, CCLS, CIMI
Board Liaison:   Stephanie Eagon, MA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Jennifer Lipsey, CEO

Mission and Goals: The mission of the Public Policy Work Group is to:

• Monitor legislation, policy, and guidelines and analyze how public policy trends could impact the profession's activities and performance. 
• Recommend specific actions that may be appropriate for ACLP (as a 501(c)3 organization), to the board of directors related to legislative issues, partnerships/collaborations/coalitions, and grassroots activity. 
• Inform and educate the membership of public policy issues that affect the profession.

Chair:  Kathryn Shamszad, MS, MPH, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Quinn Franklin, CCLS
Board Liaison:  Anne Clair Hickman, MA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Meagan Roloff, MA,CCLS, Director of Partnerships

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.

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

Chair:  Patrice Brylske, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Michael Towne, CCLS
Board Liaison:  Anne Clair Hickman, MA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Meagan Roloff, MA,CCLS, Director of Partnerships

EBP/QI/Awareness and Networking Sub-Committee:  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
Co-Chairs: Anette Bonjour, CCLS and Emily Jones, CCLS
Board Liaison:  Anne Clair Hickman, MA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Meagan Roloff, MA,CCLS, Director of Partnerships

Proposal Sub-Committee: 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:  Jennifer Staab, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Alison Chrisler, PhD, CCLS
Board Liaison:  Anne Clair Hickman, MA, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Meagan Roloff, MA, CCLS, Director of Partnerships

Chair:  Anita Pumphrey, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Joy Singh, MBA/HCM, CCLS
Board Liaison:  Jessika Boles, PhD, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Emily Eagon, Manager of Program Standards

Mission and Goals:  The mission of this committee is: Responsible for overseeing initiatives that relate to students’ and emerging professionals’ development and preparation for the work force, including the review and accreditation for internship programs that want to be considered as a ACLP-recognized training site. 

Sub-Committees:
Education & Training Sub-Committee - Provide linkages between academic and clinical programs, evaluate challenges in the process of becoming a child life specialist and provide support to emerging professionals through identification of resources that may be helpful
Chair:  Marne Matysek, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Krista Stringer, CCLS
Board Liaison:  Jessika Boles, PhD, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Emily Smith, Manager of Program Standards
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Alex Rodriguez, Certification Coordinator

Internship Accreditation Oversight Sub-Committee - Manage ACLP internship accreditation process in collaboration with ACLP office, oversee Internship Accreditation Reviewers
Chair:  Jennifer Brandt, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Stephanie Colaberardino, CCLS
Board Liaison:  Jessika Boles, PhD, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Emily Eagon, Manager of Program Standards

IAOC Reviewers - Review internship accreditation applications
Chair:  Jennifer Brandt, CCLS
Chair-Elect: Stephanie Colaberardino, CCLS
Board Liaison:  Jessika Boles, PhD, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Emily Eagon, Manager of Program Standards

Graduate Program Accreditation Task Force -  Develop a framework for the accreditation of graduate child life programs for Board review
Chair:  Cathy Humphreys, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Michelle Minyard-Widmann, CCLS
Board Liaison:  Jessika Boles, PhD, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Meagan Roloff, MA,CCLS, Director of Partnerships
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Emily Eagon, Manager of Program Standards

Undergraduate Endorsement Review Sub-Committee - Manage ACLP undergraduate endorsement process in collaboration with ACLP office
Chair:  Cara Sisk, CCLS
Chair-Elect:  Colleen Baish Cameron, CCLS
Board Liaison:  Jessika Boles, PhD, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Meagan Roloff, MA,CCLS, Director of Partnerships
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Emily Eagon, Manager of Program Standards

Practicum Task Force
Co-Chairs:  Katie McMichael, MS, CCLS and Emily Mozena, CTRS, CCLS
Board Liaison:  Jessika Boles, PhD, CCLS
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Emily Eagon, Manager of Program Standards
ACLP Staff Liaison:  Alex Rodriguez, Certification Coordinator