Child Life in Alternative Settings- Panel Discussion

Hearts Connected is thrilled to host this live webinar. We will be interviewing a panel of three child life specialists who are working in non-traditional roles.  

Meet the Panelists:  

Lisa Ciarrocca Lisa has over 30 years of experience as a CCLS, from being the sole CCLS at a one-person program at Elizabeth General Medical Center to growing a department and becoming a child life manager at Goryeb Children's Hospital. In 2014, Lisa launched her private practice, The Next Step Partners in Psychosocial Care, serving over 100 families in the community.  

Jessica Lewin Jessica began her career in 2015 when she was hired as a CCLS at Beacon Children’s Hospital. There, she pursued her passion for walking alongside child life students as the practicum coordinator for five years. In 2018, she created The Child Life Mentor where she was able to impact hundreds of child life students in their child life journeys through 1:1 mentoring, student retreats, and scholarships. In 2021, Jessica proposed a position as a CCLS in the school setting and was hired at River Valley Middle-High School. Jessica continues to teach and engage students and specialists through her Instagram (@thechildlifementor), blog (Child Life Wild Life), and podcast (the Child Life Wild Life Podcast).  

Erin Madera Erin has been a Certified Child Life Specialist since 2014. Erin grew up in Davis, CA and has lived in San Diego, CA since 2018. Erin began a pilot program offering telemedicine services to Rady Children’s patients beginning in October 2020. This Child Life program has since turned into an established full-time program with a CCLS and CLA, offering individual and group sessions through telemedicine and in person events for several chronic diseases. This program supports patients outside of the acute hospital setting with ongoing diagnosis education, connecting to community resources, socializing with peers, and helping to navigate their diagnosis to aid in coping.