Upcoming Events
Stay tuned for more webinars and information about our annual fall conference!
If you would like to be our next presenter, click here for more information.
Upcoming Events
December 2026 Webinar
DIY VCUG: Playful Procedural Preparation Using Loose Parts
Presenter: Saige Batza,
Master’s Student, Bank Street Graduate School of Education, New York
Certified Child Life Specialists, and child life interns can create a meaningful VCUG preparation by co-creating a loose parts project that encourages choice-making and control, reduces patient anxiety and potential traumatization, and empowers children by promoting long-term resilience.
December 2, 2026
7p-8p
Fee: $20
Members: Free with promo code*
*A promo code has been emailed directly to all NECLP members.
Deadline to register is November 30th
Register here.
We hope that as many people as possible can join us live for this webinar, however it will be available on-demand on our website for approximately one month after the webinar date. Those interested in the on-demand format must still register by November 30th . Access will then be granted through a password that will be sent after the live webinar date. We hope this more flexible option is helpful.
Past Events
Annual Fall Conference 2026
October 19, 2026
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
Ashford, CT
April 2026 Webinar
"Emotional Anchors: A Low-Stimulation Story Intervention for Children Experiencing Medical Uncertainty."
Presenter:
Mishell Brookins Ekunsirinde
PLAY & OAK, Boston, MA
Children experiencing medical uncertainty are often exposed to frequent transitions, inconsistent routines, and heightened sensory stimulation, which can challenge emotional regulation and coping. This session introduces Emotional Anchors, a low-stimulation, story-based intervention designed to provide children with a consistent emotional reference point during periods of stress and transition. Grounded in child development principles and aligned with child life practice, participants will learn how intentional use of familiar narrative and repetition can support emotional continuity across settings. Practical examples will demonstrate how this approach can be adapted for children of varying developmental stages and clinical contexts.
February 2026 Webinar
"Cultural Humility in Child Life: Conversations with Child Life Specialists"
Presenter:
Kathryn Cantrell, PhD, CCLS
Texas Woman's University
In pediatrics, the construct cultural humility has been adopted to support providers in ensuring their practice meets the needs of all patients and families. Cultural humility (Tervalon & Murray-Garcia, 1998) is the process-oriented approach toward gaining cultural competence that involves life-long reflection and openness. Though cultural humility is taught in child life curriculum required for certification, it is unclear how CCLSs use this construct in their day-to-day work with children, youth, and families. Too, this topic has yet to be studied in the child life profession. In this presentation, we will describe findings from a phenomenology study that asked the question, “How do certified child life specialists practice cultural humility?” Qualitative data (n=21) suggest that child life specialists practice cultural humility within the context of their therapeutic relationships. Too, specialists’ ability to practice cultural humility depends on the quality of their relationships, leading to implications for how we socially support child life specialists. This presentation will review the method, results, and implications of this study.
Annual Fall Conference 2025
October 27, 2025
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp - Ashford, CT
June 2025 Webinar
"Strategies for Tolerating Distress for Patients and Clinicians"
Presenter:
Kate Kreider, BA, MSW, LICSW
Baystate Health, Springfield, MA
Problems or issues don't always have solutions. When our patients and families are faced with insurmountable distress how do we support them? The work can feel daunting for clinicians as we hold so much for our patients and families. At times, it may feel impossible to be “helpful.” Dialectical Behavior Therapy is not a "cure," it is a set of values, skills, and interventions to help get through distressful times. Together, we will explore the foundation and core content of Dialectical Behavior Therapy from a health care perspective.