Projects

Download a copy of an Evidence-Based Practice Statement I published at Missouri State University reviewing all relevant research from 2002-2022 on improving medication compliance and teaching pill swallowing in children. 

Download a copy of an "All About Me" worksheet, with a sample page. I created this worksheet for children to fill out to provide their teachers with at the start of a new school year following a traumatic injury or diagnosis for their sibling. This resource allows them to fill out one template, make copies, and offer it to teachers without having to repeatedly explain a difficult situation. View sample pages and templates below.

Download a copy of a case study I completed on a teen patient waiting for a heart transplant!

Follow the link to listen to my podcast on pediatric Hodgkin's Lymphoma, including an interview with a survivor of this disease!

As a graduate of Penn State, I found that attending this university without a Child Life program left me mostly on my own to figure out what courses would count for the necessary requirements. Following my graduation, I created this document to provide my former academic advisor and future students who are hoping to pursue a career as a CCLS with a guide on how to follow this goal as a Penn State student. You can view the guide I created below!

Below, you can view an evidence based practice presentation I created focusing on pet therapy intervention for use in managing pain in pediatric oncology patients!

Download a copy of my tonsillectomy prep book for a typically developing 2-year-old below!

In order to fill a newly discovered need, I created 3 booklets and donated them to Tides Program for to be provided to potential new Tides families. These brochures include developmentally appropriate preparation on what to expect at your first grief support session as well as additional resources and bibliotherapy recommendations. The creation of these booklets was guided by research I investigated regarding the benefit of grief support programs for children and families. Below, you can download copies of the child, teen, and adult booklets as well as my final research poster and literature review.

Below, you can view a video of the art project that I created and donated to the Tides Program to help them bring attention to childhood grief awareness month. Tides is a peer support style bereavement program in Centre County, PA. Learn more about my involvement in the Child Life Related Experience tab!

Prior to my graduation from Penn State, I completed an investigative capstone project in which I sought to identify impacts of COVID-19 on the field of child life in various settings, from inpatient/outpatient hospital, to community-based, and beyond! Below, you can access my final presentation as well as write-ups of the interviews I conducted for my research!

Download a copy of an evidence-based resource I created for improving medication compliance and teaching pill swallowing in children.

Download a copy of a poster presentation I gave at the 2021 Florida Association of Child Life Professionals Conference on medication compliance and pill swallowing.

Download a copy of my MRI prep book for a typically developing 8-year-old below!

Below, you can download my hemodialysis matching game! Print the cards, laminate, and cut out each piece to play the game! This is developmentally appropriate for patients ages 8 and up, and can be adapted to make it more challenging for older children!

Download a copy of my brochure with pain management strategies for a typically developing 12-year-old below!

Below, view a video in which I outline the parts of a loose parts heart that I created to use for medical education for kids. Loose parts play is a great way for kids  to manipulate random, easy to find objects in a way that promotes learning and curiosity!

During the fall of 2020, I developed a virtual program delivery project for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre County, PA. As this program is typically held in person, the organization was struggling with creating virtual content and engaging activities for the Bigs and Littles to do over Zoom. Below, you can download activity outlines and reflections of the virtual programming I created to meet this new need for the organization!

During my internship, I decorated a child life bulletin board to spread awareness during Congenital Heart Defect Week. Below, you can view a digital mockup of my bulletin board.

Below, you can download a copy of an educational resource I created for parents of infants on the Heart and Kidney Unit during my internship. This resource outlines infant developmental milestones, hospital stressors that impact those milestones, and ways to combat those stressors to keep development on track.