Toni-Crowell-Petrugaro, MS, CCLS, Chair

Toni-Crowell-Petrugaro, MS, CCLS, Immediate Past Chair

Toni Crowell-Petrungaro is currently the Child Life Program Director at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. Throughout her nearly 30 year career as a child life specialist, she has worked in a variety of clinical, academic, and leadership roles spanning three countries -  The United States, Canada, and Qatar. Toni is graduate of Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development and received their (inaugural) Alumni Global Impact Award in 2019 for her international contributions to the child life field.  Toni has been volunteering with ACLP since 2000 and with the CLCC since 2016 where she has been part of item-writing, item-review, exam assembly, and appeals.  Toni lives in Connecticut with her husband and teenaged son.

Amanda Honeyman, MS, CCLS, Chair-Elect

Amanda Honeyman, MS CCLS, Chair-Elect

Amanda Honeyman is currently a Senior Child Life Specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, North Campus location.  She has been certified for nearly 20 years and worked in a variety of hospital units with an emphasis on outpatient and radiology services.  Amanda has previously coordinated student experiences and supervised many students and interns.  She is currently a medical dog handler, new hire mentor, and reflective practice facilitator.  Amanda graduated University of LaVerne, Master’s in Child Life program after completing her Bachelor’s in Child Development.  Amanda has been volunteering with ACLP since 2013 and with CLCC for much of the past 10 years, as part of the item writing & reviewing committees, past chair of the appeals committee, ethics committee and chair of the recertification PDU audit committee.  Amanda lives in Northern Colorado with her 7 year old son, Jake and their dog Penny (and of course, Pringle the facility dog part time)!  

Rebecka Dolyniuk, CCLS, Treasurer

Rebecka Dolyniuk, CCLS, Treasurer

Rebecka has been a child life specialist for over fifteen years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Colorado State University before pursuing graduate course work in their Human Development and Family Studies department. Rebecka spent nearly a decade working with the infant, toddler, school age and burn populations at Johns Hopkins Children Center. Prior to starting her family in 2015, she worked in a community hospital in Florida where she split her time between inpatient clinical care and community health outreach and education. She joined the CLCC in 2011. Before stepping into the role of Commissioner, Rebecka served as a member of the Item Writing, Item Review and Exam Assembly committees.

Karyn Positano, CCLS, Secretary

Karyn Positano, CCLS, Secretary

Karyn Positano is a Certified Child Life Specialist currently working in the Haematology/Oncology unit at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto Ontario. During her 24 years of being a child life specialist, she has also worked with the General Paediatrics, Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases populations. Karyn has worked with Sickkids International and had the opportunity to work with hospitals and universities in Qatar, China and South Africa. She was also involved with an international working group which created clinical practice guidelines in treating pain experienced by children with cancer. Karyn’s involvement in volunteering with the ACLP began in 2015 when she became a member of the focus review board. She then joined the CLCC in 2017 and has spent time in various committees such as item writing, exam assembly, exam review, appeals and finally the communications committee. She graduated from Ryerson University with an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and did her Master of Science at the University of Guelph. In her spare time, Karyn enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 children, reading and learning how to crochet.

Kirstin McArthur, Public Member

Kirstin McArthur is a Philanthropy Director at Inova Health System, a leading nonprofit healthcare provider in Northern Virginia dedicated to delivering world-class care to every community. With more than 20 years of fundraising experience, Kirstin has specialized in the pediatric healthcare sector, where she has developed a reputation for her collaborative approach. She works closely with donors, physicians, and leadership, at the major gift level, to ensure that every gift makes a meaningful impact on the those it’s intended to help. Outside of work, Kirstin is a passionate baseball fan, always cheering for her nephew’s games or rooting for the New York Yankees at every opportunity.

Regina Burdett, CCLS, Commissioner

Regina Burdett, CCLS, Commissioner 

Regina began her career as a child life specialist in 1989.  She completed her degree from the University of Texas in Austin with a bachelor’s in child development and family relationships. After completing her internship at Brackenridge Children’s Hospital in Austin, she began her career at UTMB Galveston and has also worked at Texas Children’s Hospital.  She has worked with Hematology-Oncology, Nephrology, Pulmonary, Bone Marrow Transplant, Neurology, PICU, NICU, Critical Care and Med-Surg patient populations.  In 2020, she moved to UTMB Clear Lake Hospital to start up the child life program. During the past 5 years, the program has grown to a 2-person program and is looking forward to more growth.  Regina is an active member of the ACLP and the Southern ACLP.  She has served on the membership and mentorship ACLP committees.  Currently she serves on the education and training student committee for the Southern ACLP. She enjoys working with students as a supervisor of practicum and internship programs. She is a wife of 35 years and a mother of two sons.  She enjoys craft making, hiking, photography and camping.

 

 

Suzanna Graca, CCLS, Commissioner

Suzanna Graca, CCLS, Commissioner

Suzanne Graca is currently a Child Life Clinical & Program Manager at Boston Children's Hospital. In her 36 years there, in addition to direct patient care, she worked to oversee the student internship program, as well as served as Education & Program Coordinator.  She completed her undergrad work as a Biology/Pre-Med major at Holy Cross and her graduate degree at historic Wheelock College. There she continued to serve as both an academic internship supervisor and instructor through the merger with Boston University.  As an alum, Suzanne was awarded the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development Outstanding Alumni Award in 2023.  Suzanne has been active in child life endeavors beginning with the original ACCH local affiliate and continued currently with ACLP.   Here she has been a presenter at annual conferences and has volunteered in several capacities including serving on the board of directors and several committees beginning with the Exam Assembly Committee. 

Francisco Villa, CCLS, Commissioner

Francisco Villa, CCLS, Commissioner

Alison E. Heron, MBA, CAE, CLCC CEO

Alison E. Heron, MBA, CAE serves as the Chief Executive Officer and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with 27 years of diverse association sector experience and 21 years in leadership roles. Alison holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Strayer University. She is data-driven and a high-achieving visionary leader committed to advance an organization’s strategic goals diversity, equity and inclusion strategies, transformational leadership, trend/data analysis, and high-level customer service experience.

Before joining ACLP, she served as the Senior Director of Membership and Customer Relations at the Water Environment Federation. Prior to WEF, she served as the Senior Director of Membership and Units at the Council for Exceptional Children. Alison is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and a 2008-2009 ASAE Diversity Executive Leadership Scholar.

She is the proud mother of two thriving sons in college and enjoys spending time with her family, traveling by planes, trains and automobiles and considers herself a life-long learner.

Mary Buday, ICE-CCP, CLCC Staff Liaison

As Director of Certification, Mary Catherine Buday manages the Child Life Professional Certification Program. Mary joined the team in 2024 and has worked with certification programs in the healthcare and education professions spanning 30 years. She has a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Detroit-Mercy and a bachelor's degree in English with a concentration in public service from Albion College. She earned a Credentialing Specialist Certificate from the Institute for Credentialing Excellence and has written and presented extensively on the role of certification in quality assurance. Mary was an adjunct professor for the University of Detroit-Mercy and Nova Southeastern University teaching undergraduate and graduate-level courses to education students. When she’s not working, Mary enjoys volunteering in her community helping local youth music, performing arts, and sports programs. She’s a mom to two young adult children and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing the cello, working in her garden, traveling, and taking long walks with her dog, Kevin.

Overview

Purpose:
The Child Life Certification Commission (CLCC) strategic plan outlines the future direction of certification in child life — defining clear goals, guiding values, and a vision for excellence in psychosocial and developmental support.

Mission Statement:
To define and uphold the standards for child life specialists who support children and families experiencing adverse life events.

Vision Statement:
Children and families receive high-quality psychosocial and developmental support from a Certified Child Life Specialist wherever and whenever needed.

Our Values

The CLCC is guided by a set of shared values that reflect our commitment to professionalism, integrity, and continuous improvement.

• Communication – We listen, welcome varied perspectives, and provide clear and reliable information.

• Integrity – We foster a culture where information is shared honestly, respectfully, and transparently.

• Credibility – We serve our stakeholders with professionalism, hold ourselves accountable, treat applicants and certificants fairly, and deliver a quality certification process.

• Intentional – We engage in evidence-informed, deliberate, and thoughtful decision-making, guided by best practice principles.

• Future-Focused – We embrace opportunities and adapt to change to meet the evolving needs of child life specialists and the populations they serve.

Our Goals

 CLCC Strategic Goals

Goal 1: Serve as the trusted, centralized source of accurate and up-to-date CCLS certification information for all stakeholders.

• Objective 1: Define a standardized process for implementing high-impact changes to stakeholders that incorporates audience feedback and engagement.

• Objective 2: Enhance communications to target audiences across multiple channels.

• Objective 3: Expand and improve information resources to meet stakeholder needs.

• Objective 4: Support ACLP’s development of a scope of practice for child life specialists.

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Goal 2: Ensure each requirement to earn and maintain the Certified Child Life Specialist credential supports the stated purpose for certification and/or recertification and adds meaningful value for child life specialists and to the certification process.

• Objective 1: Develop a framework and timeline to evaluate CCLC policies associated with each CCLS eligibility and maintenance requirement.

• Objective 2: Review existing CCLS eligibility requirements to ensure qualified individuals have access to certification without compromising standards; develop a formal communications plan.

• Objective 3: Evaluate CCLS recertification requirements to ensure they remain relevant, accessible, and aligned with current professional standards and the evolving needs of certified child life specialists.

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Goal 3: Continuously improve the CCLS exam process and candidate experience by leveraging data, monitoring feedback, and sharing applicable information with stakeholders.

• Objective 1: Explore options to offer the exam more often.

• Objective 2: Expand candidate resources to provide detailed information about the exam experience.

• Objective 3: Monitor key exam performance metrics and investigate anomalies as needed.

• Objective 4: Engage a broader pool of subject matter experts (SMEs) in the exam development process.

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The Process

The strategic planning process included collaborative input from key stakeholders and was guided by a focus on mission alignment, data-driven decision-making, and future readiness.

Looking Ahead

Through this strategic plan, CLCC reaffirms its dedication to upholding the highest standards in certification and supporting the evolving needs of the child life profession.