Let Me Tell You a Story . . . Kat Davitt Honored with 2014 Mary Barkey Award Randall Mckeeman, Msed, CCLS Her, and Not the Other Way Around
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VOLUME 32 • NUMBER 3 SUMMER 2014 Let Me Tell You a Story . Kat Davitt Honored with 2014 Mary Barkey Award Randall McKeeman, MSEd, CCLS her, and not the other way around. It Mayo Eugenio Litta Children’s Hospital, Rochester, MN all started when Kat’s sister, an oncology nurse, encouraged her to volunteer at he storied career of Kathryn “Kat” Arkansas Children’s Hospital during Kat’s Davitt, MOT, OTR, CCLS has gained college years. After a year and four months her the recognition of her peers and T of volunteer work, Kat was hired as a the Child Life Council (CLC) by way of weekend child life assistant and stayed in the 2014 Mary Barkey Clinical Excellence that role until she graduated from Hendrix Award. The award was bestowed at the College with a Bachelor’s degree in 32nd Annual Conference on Professional elementary education. Following gradua- Issues during the Closing General Session tion, Kat was hired as a child life specialist on May 25th. for the Burn Center, Cardiovascular ICU, If you have ever had the pleasure to and the Pediatric ICU before the days of the Surgery and Orthopedic units. After a spend any time talking directly with Kat, certification by examination. At one point, six-year stint in Little Rock, Kat relocated you will know that she can tell a story and Kat made a brief four-month escape into to Texas and began working at Scott and tell it well. She claims to have a story on the world of teaching in a fourth grade White Memorial Hospital in Temple. In just about any topic. For the purposes classroom, but child life called her back to 1994 she transitioned again and joined the of this article, we should begin with the Arkansas Children’s Hospital to work in continued on page 11 story of how she entered the profession of child life. Kat shares that child life chose Child Life Alphabet INSIDE X IS FOR X-BOX: PSYCHOLOGICAL NOURISHMENT Joan Turner, PhD, CCLS, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia Special Issue on Play The “Yes, and” Approach to Play remium entertainment is a mainstream The qualities that contribute to the 3 phrase used to communicate the appeal fun of the video game experience were 5 Playing for the Child Pof video platforms such as the X-Box examined within a framework of self- Who Cannot Play to a range of audiences. First released determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000; Point/Counterpoint: in 2001 by Microsoft, this multimedia Ryan & Deci, 2000); that is, playing video 6 Violent Play in Medical Settings console represented a shift in the delivery games provides experiences that satisfy basic of video entertainment to a social media needs. The need for competence is met Play with Infants and Toddlers: platform. Just one of a variety of video through a balance of challenge and goals; 8 Building Coping Capacities gaming brands, the latest X-Box One the need for autonomy through flexibility In Focus: stands as an example of the rapidly shifting and choice; and the need for relatedness landscape of video games available to through both cooperative and competitive The Importance of Play on children, youth, and families. But is it just social interactions. Describing the majority Whole Child Development entertainment? Przybylski, Rigby, and Ryan of video game players as “wanting to versus Book Review: Gaining a Larger (2010) reviewed the inherent properties having to play” (p. 161), the Przybylski and Perspective on Play of the experience provided by video game Ryan (2010) review of research suggests Healing With(in) Imaginative Play activities and their effect on motivation and that short-term well-being is enhanced well-being. They referred to the qualities of when these games are pursued with a competence, autonomy, and relatedness as “harmonious passion” (p. 161). psychological nourishment. continued on page 10 BULLETIN SUMMER 2014 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT’S REFLECTION accomplished over the past year, the col- A Year of Growth laborative efforts of the Child Life Certifying Committee and Task Force 2022 also made and Development significant contributions to the profession. CLC solicited the expertise of external Amy Bullock Morse, that contributes to our profession’s body consultants in credentialing and academic MSEd, CCLS of literature. This year, CLC hosted an accreditation to explore the ways in which International Summit following the annual other associations have addressed changes in ver the past year, conference proceedings that engaged leaders preparation standards. I’m pleased that CLC it has been an of pediatric psychosocial care from over forty continues to benchmark with other organiza- honor to serve O countries in a dialogue about global oppor- tions to develop pathways that will suc- as your President, and I greatly appreciate tunities for child life. Support from CLC’s cessfully advance our profession. I am also the opportunity I’ve had to lead this dynamic partners and the director of development quite proud of the work of the Blue Ribbon organization. With your help, we have created the capacity for our organization Healthcare Task Force. Appointed in early continued to raise the bar on the quality to sustain resources that advance child life 2014, this group continues to progressively services we provide for children and families. services for children and families. explore the ways in which healthcare reform Leaving the presidency is bittersweet. I have legislation impacts the provision of child life enjoyed this role immensely, but I could not In addition to all of the other tremendous services across hospitals, ambulatory clinics, be handing the gavel over to a more energetic amounts of work CLC’s volunteer leaders transitional care settings, and the community. or talented colleague: my dear friend, Carla The task force’s work provides our profession Oliver. There are many prospects for with an opportunity to critically examine The past year has been very busy. CLC’s short- and long-term implications for new tireless volunteer leaders completed an un- growth, but one of the areas that models of care delivery and reimbursement. precedented body of work that satisfies nearly A colleague recently asked me how I would every deliverable in the 2012-2014 Strategic appeals to me most lies in the field like to see our profession develop over the Plan. Task Force 2022 and the Internship next five years. There are many prospects for Accreditation Task Force have worked cease- of literature: I would like to see growth, but one of the areas that appeals to lessly to deliver comprehensive standards for us expand our body of empirical me most lies in the field of literature: I would academic preparation and clinical training like to see us expand our body of empirical programs. The Program Standards Task research that highlights the ef- research that highlights the efficacy of play to Force presented the Board with a framework mitigate distress in medically fragile children. from which child life programs may be ficacy of play to mitigate distress in But the question also prompted me to pause recognized for excellence in clinical service and reflect upon the major accomplishments delivery. CLC offered program grants for a medically fragile children. our young profession has already attained. second year to promote empirical research Not long ago, our membership decided to move forward with a certification exam, which ensures that new child life specialists Child Life Council Bulletin/FOCUS have the skills necessary in order to support 11821 Parklawn Drive, Suite 310, Rockville, MD 20852-2539 children and families. And today, we are (800) CLC-4515 • (301) 881-7090 • Fax (301) 881-7092 building upon the expertise of our former www.childlife.org • Email: [email protected] leaders, developing and executing standards that elevate services for children and families President Executive Editor Associate Editor Executive Director Managing Editor experiencing some of life’s most stressful Carla Oliver Jaime Bruce Holliman Jessika Boles Dennis Reynolds Anne Luebering Mohl events. Published quarterly in January (Winter issue), April (Spring issue), July (Summer issue), and October (Fall issue). Submission deadlines for consideration for each issue are as follows: Winter: October 1; Spring: January 1; Michelangelo once said, “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is Summer: April 1; Fall: July 1. For more information on submitting articles, please see Submission Guidelines in too high and we miss it, but that it is too the Bulletin Newsletter section of the CLC Website. low and we reach it.” I’m so very proud to For information on advertising in the Bulletin, please refer to the Marketing Opportunities have had the fortune to lead an organization section of the CLC Website: http://www.childlife.org/Marketing Opportunities/ that is committed to providing such essential Bulletin advertising is accepted in accordance to the CLC Relationship Policy and Advertising Guidelines, which services for children and families facing chal- may be found at www.childlife.org. Acceptance of advertising does not indicate or imply endorsement by CLC. lenging experiences. 2 A Publication of the Child Life Council BULLETIN SUMMER 2014 FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR engaging patients who are unable to play on Play: A Closer Examination their own and ways to improve your skills and strengthen your interventions with children. of the Roots of Child Life I think I can safely say that we all agree Jaime Bruce Holliman, MA, CCLS that play, at all ages and ability levels, is paramount, but the need for play doesn’t end lay. As child In this play-themed special issue, we invite when you reach adulthood. In fact, I would life specialists, you to return to those roots and expand say that it becomes even more important as Pwe talk about your knowledge and application of play for other responsibilities fill our calendars.