Child Life Wild Life Jessica Lewin, CCLS

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Kate Hamelin, about her 20 years of experience working on the burn unit. Starting her career as a social worker working within the child welfare arena, she pivoted unexpectedly into child life and has never left. Throughout this episode, we take a peek into the burn ICU's complexities, discussing the delicate balance of providing care and preparing young patients for the stark realities they may face. Kate's...

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, sits down with three child life professors to see what the world of academics looks like. Please welcome Cara Smith, Savannah Kelly, and Amanda Butler to the podcast. Learn about the ways in which these three have kept things interesting in the classroom throughout the pandemic, and kept the key skills of child life at the forefront of their careers as professors through assessment, building rapport, advocacy for the field and their student...

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Erin Tukua, about utilizing her previous job experience as a professional photographer to elevate her techniques she uses with patients and families in the child life profession. Inside this creative episode, we spotlight Erin's innovative practice of using photography as an intervention to help families navigate their child's hospital stay. She opens up about her experiences during her practicum and internship, ...

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Shira Miller, about her almost 2 decades of experience working within the same hospital, moving up the clinical ladder and creating the COAST (Children of Adults Support Team) Program.COAST program and the ways in which child life services have evolved to support not just end-of-life situations but the entire spectrum of a parent's health challenges is a remarkable example of how child life can expand within the hospi...

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Melissa Schmautz, about her 17 years of experience, wisdom, and compassionate practices in child life and palliative care. Melissa tells stories about helping families navigate the heartbreak of acknowledging death with their young ones, offering a rare glimpse into the delicate art of conveying the incomprehensible to the most innocent among us. As we unravel Melissa's professional work, she casts light upon the...

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Maddie Bozikis, about her experience navigating autoimmune diseases as a student and professional. Having battled with autoimmune diseases since high school, Maddie takes us through a profound journey of courage and resilience in the face of persistent health challenges. As Maddie unveils her experiences, we explore the unique hurdles she has encountered while balancing the demanding child life profession and pe...