Morgan Morgan, MS, CCLS, Executive Editor

Dear Colleagues,

Although it feels cliché to begin the editor’s letter for the Fall Issue with an observation about change, it also feels incredibly poignant given the transition underway for the association we are experiencing as an association. While transitions naturally bring change, I’m grateful for the contributions of our outgoing staff and deeply appreciative of their partnership over the years.

I have personally had the chance to work hand in hand with multiple talented staff members who pour their hearts into advancing the work of child life specialists, often while being on the receiving end of feedback from ACLP members who are frustrated by a variety of factors outside of anyone’s control. These association professionals have helped me grow as a volunteer and a leader in more ways than I can possibly enumerate here, and I want to take a moment to thank each staff member for their hard work and dedication.

I want to specifically give kudos to our previous managing editor, Aubree Bailey, who had been working most closely with the Bulletin for the past year and a half. If you haven’t noticed, our format has changed dramatically over the past year, and Aubree stepped up to continue helping us produce a high-quality publication to serve our readers. She kept our Bulletin group moving forward, and we are incredibly grateful for the work that she did for us. I am also looking forward to a fruitful partnership with the Smithbucklin team. Their resources and knowledge will enable the Bulletin to produce the highest quality content and resources for our membership.

On that note, I want to highlight some of the incredible content in this issue. Stephanie Whitten, MS, CCLS, and Molly Gleydura, BA, CCLS, each share ways that their child life training and personal lives have intersected. In “You are Already Doing What is Best,” Whitten reflects on her experience as a spouse of a kidney transplant patient and the ways in which family-centered care has impacted their family’s journey. She offers gentle reminders that, as psychosocial care providers, we often have the tools to help families face tremendous challenges, even when it feels overwhelming. She reminds us that “Families carry those lessons, the support, and the advocacy with them long after the hospital stay ends.”

Molly Gleydura, BA, CCLS, shares about her experience as a Watson Fellow, which allowed her to travel the world to enhance her practice of grief support. She details the multicultural perspectives learned from her time abroad and makes connections to her practice as a child life specialist in the United States. Gleydura reminds us that child life specialists are equipped to support children and families regardless of language, background or culture.

This issue also touches on the ways in which child life can support increased understanding for caregivers and patience. Clare Kelley, MS, CCLS, HLS, provides a primer in health literacy. She highlights the ways in which CCLS are equipped to support patient and family understanding of their own healthcare as well as suggestions for improving resources to increase comprehension. Mary Ann Gil , M.Ed., CCLS, offers insights into additional support for parents and caregivers with intellectual disabilities. While it does not solely fall on the shoulders of child life to ensure caregivers’ understanding, having additional knowledge can help us provide the highest level of patient and family-centered care.

We also highlight some less conventional aspects of working in a children’s hospital. In her article about weddings, Amy Lee, MS, MSW, CCLS, CIMI, recounts the various ways child life specialists have supported weddings in their careers. While this isn’t the type of milestone that CCLS normally think about celebrating, it can fall into our wheelhouse, nonetheless. Supporting the marriages of patients’ parents or young adult patients can serve as a beacon of hope and joy on days when the world feels heavy. Luis Borges, BFA, highlights the ways in which child life specialists can work hand in hand with CCTV producers to provide meaningful programming. As roles such as these become increasingly common in children’s hospitals, it serves as a reminder that we are all working together to support the well-being of hospitalized children.

As we welcome our new partners at Smithbucklin, I want to remind you that child life specialists are the heart of our organization. We serve our patients and families in so many different ways, but we are only as incredible as the partners who support our mission. I am eager to continue our mission forward with the support and resources of Smithbucklin and will be grateful to all of the hardworking ACLP staff who have gotten us this far. 

Warmly,

Morgan Morgan, MS, CCLS
Editor, Bulletin