Congratulations are in order for Dr. Belinda Hammond, Senior Lecturer in Children’s Studies.

Dr. Hammond and her coauthors on a paper in the Journal of Child Life, have been recognized by the national Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) with the 2024 Professional Research Recognition Award. The article, published this year, is titled “Being a Child Life Student Has Definitely Been Difficult: A Mixed Methods Study Exploring the Experiences of Emerging Professionals.”

by Mya Brossoit

The College of Professional Programs is excited to recognize Sidney Reser for February’s Student Spotlight. Sidney is a graduate student in the Child Life program.

Reser will soon graduate from EWU with a Master of Arts Degree in Child Life. She is currently interning at Flushing Hospital in New York City.

After growing up in Spokane with EWU Alumni parents, Sidney knew that Eastern Washington University would be a wise investment towards her future education.  After completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Children’s Studies, Sidney wanted a deeper understanding of the diverse roles a Certified Child Life Specialist plays within a clinical setting, working with children who are receiving medical treatment.

Sidney advises other students who are interested in this area of study to reflect on their personal motivations towards becoming a Child Life Specialist and using that purpose to inform your pathway through the program. Along with this suggestion, she recommends students:

Take all the opportunities that come with this program like the EWU library, EWU writing center, online class practicum, thesis, and faculty support!

One of the many skills Reser developed while in the Child Life program, was experience writing a $55,000 mock grant for a hospital playroom, which is now a critical skill as her department within Flushing Hospital is working on a grant proposal for Child Life to be incorporated into a dental clinic.

I am so thankful to have the experience with grants already from my grant writing class at Eastern.

Like many students in graduate programs, Reser struggled to believe in her ability to write a master’s thesis, especially the first few weeks she worked on it. In spite of her personal doubts, she finished, with the help of faculty member Katie Walker during regular Zoom meetings and EWU Writers’ Center responders.  She states that:

A thesis takes months of research and hard work, and I couldn’t have done it without the support from my faculty and EWU’s writing center.

Sidney credits Katie Walker, PhD, CCLS, and Belinda Hammond, EdD, CCLS, CIMI, as significant contributors to her educational success. Katie was her champion while writing her thesis, and provided the opportunity for Sidney to serve as a Teaching Assistant.  Belinda helped Sidney begin the transition from student to a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS).  Sidney  is grateful for the Hammond did to place her into a practicum and internship, amidst her multiple moves across the United States.

Reser’s greatest achievement so far is successfully defending her thesis, titled “Certified Child Life Specialists Perceptions Of Animal Assisted Therapy: On Their Psychosocial and Psychological Well-Being in Clinical Settings.”  She now plans to present her results in 2024 during a webinar sponsored by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).

With an exciting future ahead of her, Sidney dreams of returning to Eastern Washington University one day to teach Child Life as a professor. She states,

I love child life and being a support to students at EWU.

The College of Professional Programs is honored to feature Sidney for her excellent work and magnificent aspirations for the future!

by Mya Brossoit

The College of Professional Programs is excited to recognize Anne Clase for October’s Student Spotlight. 

Originally from North Dallas, Texas, Anne decided to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Children’s Studies with a concentration in Child Life and Health. Along with her Bachelor’s Degree, she plans to receive a minor in Disability Studies in June of 2024.

When asked why she chose this area of study, Anne openly shares how her personal battles with chronic illness and disabilities has resulted in a deep compassion for children who may be experiencing similar circumstances. At the beginning of her college journey Clase dealt with multiple chronic illness diagnoses and their debilitating effects. Yet, through it all Anne impressively overcame the tests, procedures, restrictions, and appointments these illnesses cause in order to pursue something greater.

Anne recognizes the various hurdles children have to overcome when struggling with illness. Anne testifies to the great value of coping resources her field offers to patients who need it. She now passionately moves forward with dreams of providing for children in a unique and meaningful way.

I wanted to be able to be there for someone in a way that I needed someone to be there for me.

Anne originally learned about Eastern’s Children’s Studies Program through a Child Life Facebook group she joined in 2021. She recalls the various insights Professor Belinda Hammond would share with the group. As she explored EWU further, she appreciated the university’s   “emphasis on accommodating their disabled students, which made the program even more accessible and appealing to me.”  These influences eventually led her to the decision of becoming an Eagle.

In reflection of her college experience, Clase credits Professor Hammond, Dr. Walker, Dr. Trella, and Professor Ward Lupinacci for their intentional encouragement and support. She states, “Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am in my life or educational journey.”

Today, Anne proudly tells of her greatest achievement: completing her child life practicum. After getting accepted into a competitive and challenging program at a children’s hospital, Anne was able to put her passion into practice. Clase worked in the pediatric hematology/oncology (blood disorders and cancers) intensive care unit (PICU), and emergency departments, despite the emotional and physical hardships that presented themselves along the way.

Her journey soon came full circle once she realized she spent many hours in this very hospital originally as a patient, but now as an employee making an impact in the lives of others.

Currently, Anne dreams of supporting children who have faced traumatic experiences and anticipates the multitude of opportunities her future holds to accomplish this.

The College of Professional Programs thanks Anne for her meaningful work and dedication towards making a difference in the lives of others!

Success after Graduation: CPP Degrees in the Real World

The Children’s Studies program hosted its Senior Celebration on June 15th and recognized their 56 graduating students in the three options: Child Life and Health, Child Services, and Community Programming for Children. Family and friends enjoyed taking photos of graduates at a photo station (with props!) and graduates received certificates and cords to wear at Commencement.

Child life specialists are healthcare professionals who help children and families navigate the process of illness, injury, disability, trauma, or hospitalization. 

The College of Professional Programs proudly celebrates the successes of EWU’s Master of Arts Child Life students and graduates. As shared on social media, our students, in both the United States and Canada, have completed or are finishing internships, and are applying and landing dream jobs in hospital and clinical settings.

Established in 2020, this popular program differs from others due to it’s fast-track methodology, and greater accessibility. Program graduates complete coursework in one year with substantial cost savings. Designed for candidates who have prior certification, or have met Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) coursework requirements, our accelerated program is strengthened by its virtual practicum opportunity, allowing students more diverse clinical settings and experiences. As our graduates report, greater practicum experience, and skills honed through program emphasis on leadership, research, and program development, can be the edge in competitive internship placements and employment.

Who are our students? Due to our flexible online or in-person delivery, Child Life students are more diverse, from an increasingly wide range of backgrounds and locations. Several recent students have received external scholarships from the ACLP and hospital employers to support them throughout the internship, signaling that while our program is relatively new, our methodology, courses, and graduates are leading the way in the development of tomorrow’s profession.

Interested in learning more about the degree program? Find us, along with course requirements and curriculum online.

Applications are submitted online; the deadline for program consideration is March 25, 2022.

One girl used a stethoscope to check the lungs of a teddy bear set up at an exam table. The furry friend was among other kid-friendly test subjects at a Hands on Health workshop held Saturday in Spokane.

AnnaLia Lupinacci, 8, performed that teddy checkup, later confirmed by her sister Giulia, 3. Both were among children attending the two-hour session with activities and art projects aimed at making children feel less frightened by medical equipment and procedures.

Two college students, Amy Marable and Christine Stewart, created the event for a senior project in the Eastern Washington University’s Children’s Studies program. Both have completed EWU studies remotely – Marable from Shoreline, Wash., and Stewart from Issaquah, Wash. – but they were in Spokane this weekend to run the clinic.