115. Alison Heron, CEO of ACLP, on Helping Children Cope With Illness, a Personal Board of Directors, and Member Burnout

How do you provide support to children and their families when a child is sick? How do you support your members during a time of significant burnout?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Alison Heron, CEO of the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) and the Child Life Certification Commission (CLCC). Alison discusses:

• How child life specialists provide emotional support for children and families in healthcare settings through play therapy and other methods.
• How families are encouraged to ask for a certified child life specialist when their child enters a healthcare setting to ensure proper emotional care.
• How she participated in the ASAE’s Diversity Executive Leadership Program, which empowered her to become a CEO and a change agent.
• The importance of having a "personal board of directors" for mentorship and support.
• How the healthcare staffing crisis has led to increased burnout and mental stress among her members.
• How ACLP’s efforts to establish clear pathways for professional growth within hospitals are important for improving compensation and benefits.
• How ACLP provides data, mentorship, toolkits, and specialized training to help members advocate for better working conditions and resources within their institutions.
• ACLP’s Emotional Safety Initiative, which aims to train non-child life specialists, such as nurses and medical assistants, to help children cope with stressful situations.
• ACLP’s goal to have child life specialists work in settings beyond hospitals, such as dental offices, schools, and family courts.

References:

• ACLP Website
• CLCC Webpage