SPECIAL REPORT
 CLC Board of Directors Approves Important Policy Changes & Initiatives at November Meeting

A Recertification Task Force, constituted earlier this year, recommended a number of changes to PDH requirements and options, which were approved by the Board.  Please watch for information about these changes in January.

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The Child Life Certifying Committee (CLCC) developed, and the Board approved, a new Code of Professional Practice that incorporates and expands on the existing Code of Ethical Responsibility.  In addition to the Code of Ethical Responsibility, the new Code of Professional Practice has sections outlining disciplinary policies and procedures for ethical breaches, and policies regarding criminal activity of certificants and certification applicants.

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Starting with the Fall, 2013 administration of the certification exam, all applicants are required to have taken at least one child life practice course taught by a CCLS.  This can be done during the student's undergraduate or graduate program, or independently.  After receiving many questions about the necessary content of the course, the CLCC clarified that the course must include coverage of six major areas: (1) CLC official documents; (2) scope of practice; (3) impact of illness, injury, and health care on patients and families; (4) family-centered care; (5) therapeutic play; and (6) preparation.  Departments with extensive child life programs may cover these areas spread among more than one course, but each of the relevant courses still has to be taught by a CCLS.   

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There are widely varying ideas and practices regarding what constitutes a child life practicum offered as part of an academic training program.  The Board is asking the Education & Training Committee to survey practices, needs, and the overall role of practicums in the progression of a student's learning experience in becoming a child life specialist, and to bring recommended guidelines back to the Board.

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The Leadership Development Committee has researched the role of mentorship programs in developing leaders, and proposed to develop and launch a pilot program in CLC in 2012.  This pilot will be conducted and evaluated during the course of the year to determine if an expanded program will be worthwhile.   

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The Evidence-Based Practice Committee released a request for proposals in 2010 for writing a new evidence based practice statement for CLC on the subject of pediatric pain.  After reviewing the proposals that were submitted, the EBP Committee recommended the proposal submitted by Quinn Franklin, MS, CCLS, and the Board approved.  The statement is expected to be completed in late 2012.

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CLC last conducted a salary survey for the child life profession in 2008.  CLC will contract with an independent agency to administer a new survey, which will be conducted in late 2012. 

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The Board approved a 2012 budget that will cover standard operating costs, allowing CLC to provide quality support to already existing programs and services, and take some new steps aligned with the new strategic plan, including:

• Hiring additional staff at CLC to fill a newly-created Development position. This individual will be responsible for seeking funding to conduct major initiatives that are outside the scope of the regular CLC operating budget, including research, professional leadership development programs for members, and other potential projects.
• Contracting with an organization with expertise in research design to work with CLC and the Research & Scholarship Committee to explore and advise on needs and methodologies for a unified CLC research agenda.
• Funding for additional CLC staffing or contract services to ensure that operational programs and key steps in strategic initiatives can be successfully carried out.

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While the above items are among the most far-reaching of the Board's actions, there were many more decisions made which are also important to CLC's progress. The following are the additional major actions taken by the Board:

• Approved the formation of a new Official Documents Task Force to review and update the CLC Official Documents publication.  
   
• Approved the Program Review and Development Committee's recommendation that the review program be transitioned from a "committee" status to a "CLC service."
   
• Revised the Board and CLC travel policy.
   
• Approved a policy establishing that a request for proposals (RFP) must be issued to the membership for projects in which CLC will pay one or more of its members to do reports or related work for the association (e.g. EBP statements, research surveys, etc.).  The RFP process does not apply to direct invitations to give a presentation (e.g., intensive, plenary, webinar) or to providing a sanctioned CLC service (e.g. Program Review & Development Service).
   
• Approved continuing the international scholarships program to bring two to four individuals from outside North America who are championing efforts in their respective countries to professionalize psychosocial services for children to attend the CLC Annual Conference.
   
• Approved the Conference Program Committee's recommendation to explore and adopt more sophisticated Webinar technology if needed to conduct CLC webinars.
   
• Approved the reorganization of the Child Life Certifying Committee Ethics sub-committee to ensure that there is no overlap between the membership on the subcommittee and the members of the appeal body, the CLC Board of Directors.
   
• Decided that oversight for international development and relations will be carried out by the CLC Board and headquarters at this time.
   
• Approved further exploration of the development of a child life disaster response initiative.

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As mentioned above, CLC will be publishing a new strategic plan in January to guide priorities and activities from the year 2012 until the end of 2014.  While the Plan is being finalized, the following list offers a glimpse of some of the highest priorities outlined for the immediate years ahead:

• Developing common minimum standards of service for child life programs, and raising the level of academic and clinical preparation standards for new people coming into the field.
   
• Undertaking efforts to expand research initiatives in child life, both of a clinical nature and in generating studies to understand the economic value of child life services.
   
• Strengthening leadership in the child life profession and leadership qualities among all child life specialists, developing diversity initiatives, and playing a key role in the development and promotion of child life and pediatric psychosocial care services globally.
   
• Increasing awareness of child life within the health care community and among the general public in an effort to ensure the presence of child life in all health care settings serving pediatric patients.
   
• Increasing development and grant-writing capacities to enable CLC to fund major strategic initiatives and projects.
   

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For a complete list of current CLC Board of Directors members, please visit the CLC website. 

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