Child Life Wild Life
Jessica Lewin, CCLS & The Child Life Mentor, sits down with Certified Child Life Specialists, students, and professionals to talk about topics surrounding the field of child life. Come and gain tangible next steps and confidence as you learn how to use your child life skills, protect your mental health, and glean inspiration, hope, and ideas. I'm so happy you're here!
Child Life Wild Life
The Wild Life of Palliative Care/Legacy Building with Melissa Schmautz
Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friend and CCLS, Melissa Schmautz, about her 17 years of experience, wisdom, and compassionate practices in child life and palliative care.
Melissa tells stories about helping families navigate the heartbreak of acknowledging death with their young ones, offering a rare glimpse into the delicate art of conveying the incomprehensible to the most innocent among us. As we unravel Melissa's professional work, she casts light upon the nuanced complexities of teaching child life courses alongside her poignant firsthand experiences in various hospital units. Her journey—punctuated by the establishment of youth advisory programs, deep involvement with children's oncology camps, and the start of several palliative care organizations—provides invaluable lessons for those in pediatric care.
Melissa also outlines for us the difference between "memory making" and "legacy building"; buzz words often talked about in the child life profession that she has a great deal of experience in utilizing and incorporating with her patients and families. Melissa thoughtfully details the importance of including siblings and employing therapeutic resources during these impactful times.
Lastly, working alongside those that are terminal can be heavy on the heart and mind. For fellow healthcare professionals, she extends practical advice on maintaining mental health amid the emotional tides of our work. This episode is not merely a collection of insights and stories, but a tribute to the resilience and empathy that define child life specialists like Melissa Schmautz, and a testament to the profound impact one person can have on many lives.
Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa