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 Profile of a Distinguished Canadian Child Life Leader:
Kathie Moffatt
Kathie Moffatt was the first President of the Canadian Association of Child Life Directors, now the Canadian Association of Child Life Leaders. She played an active role in the Association for the Care of Children's Health and the Child Life Council. She was an educator of our profession to many other Health Care Professionals and a mentor to many of her colleagues. Kathie passed away August 1, 2002.
Although Kathie's life was short it was well lived. Her contributions to our profession were many. Her dedication to the Child Life Departments at Montreal Shriners Hospital, which she set up and the Montreal Children's Hospital initiated much of the foundation of Child Life we see in our Canadian Hospitals today. Her co-workers describe Kathie as a skilled administrator, deeply concerned with the well being of her staff. "She supported us when our work seemed overwhelming. No matter how busy she was, she was there to listen".
Kathie's efforts on behalf of children was not limited to North America, it extended overseas. During her last ten years, she worked for the International Children's Institute on a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) supported program aimed at rehabilitating injured, ill or traumatized children in Bosnia. Her role in mentoring the program in Sarajevo was "vital", according to those who worked with her there. The efforts prompted the CIDA Bosnia office to announce funding of four playrooms in local hospitals.
Always ready to affect change, Kathie used conferences to stimulate the profession not only by presenting but also by taking new ideas back to her program. The Child Life Program at Shriners was certainly a model for other programs in North America. Always ready for a challenge she left her beloved Shriners and moved to Montreal Children's Hospital whose Child Life Program had suffered many staffing cuts and was in need of leadership. Through volunteer organizations she transformed a once drab Toy Lending Library into a bright, welcoming room where patients and families could relax away from the wards. In 2000 Kathie's long anticipated Family Resource Library opened. Staffed by a professional librarian it provides information on childhood illness and treatment to patients and parents. Kathie was one of three Child Life Consultants to work with the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA) that established the CCHSA Accreditation Standards for Child Life Programs.
Kathie's son Brady received, on her behalf, the Distinguished Service Award at the Child Life Conference held in Montreal in 2003.
Kathie touched the lives of many colleagues and friends. Her love and knowledge of different types of ales educated many and promoted intimate conversation. Although greatly missed she is remembered by many with affection and joy.
Submitted by, Steven Fletcher, Friend and Colleague
 Profile of a Distinguished Canadian Child Life Leader:
LeeAnn Derbyshire Fenn M.Sc., CCLS
Winston Churchill once said, "We make a living by what we make, but we make a life by what we give." LeeAnn Derbyshire Fenn has certainly made giving a part of her life's work. In doing so, she has made a long lasting impact not only within the child life profession, but also in children's psychosocial care around the globe.
The significant accomplishments LeeAnn has made throughout her career are indeed a reflection of her passion for child life, her personal drive for best practice standards and her sheer determination. She has touched our profession in every way as a child life clinician, educator, author, researcher, consultant, visionary and mentor.
Pages could be written about LeeAnn's career and the reasons why she has been chosen for this CACLL special feature and likewise for being honoured as the Child Life Council's 2008 Distinguished Service Award winner. I believe these highlights will clearly outline why she so deserves these great honours.
Throughout LeeAnn Derbyshire Fenn's career she has been a:
- Child Life Specialist within Pediatrics at McMaster University Medical Centre
- Director, Co-Director, Online Distance Learning Coordinator and Associate Clinical Professor in the Child Life Studies Post-degree Programme at McMaster University
- Visionary leader as she oversaw the development of six child life professional development online courses at McMaster University. These were the first to ever be offered and have now been taken by professionals from over ten countries to date.
- Researcher in Child Life
- Chair and Co-Chair of committees within the Canadian Association of Child Life Leaders including the 'Education Committee' and 'Nominating Committee'
- Chair of Child Life Council committees including the 'Mission, Vision, Values Committee' and 'Revision of the Official Documents Committee' in addition to Co-Chair of the 'Education Committee'
- Member-at-Large on the Child Life Council Executive Board
- Child Life Professional Certification Exam Writer
- Presenter and Co-Presenter at numerous Child Life conferences
- 'Child Life Resources' business owner and consultant
- Co-author for a chapter entitled Child Life: A Global Perspective within
R. Thompson & P. Power's book The Handbook of Child Life due for publication in 2008
Zig Ziglar pointed out that "Outstanding people have one thing in common: an absolute sense of mission." The list above clearly demonstrates LeeAnn's success in her mission to advance and promote child life practice and children's psychosocial care around the world. She has made a tremendous impact on the child life profession through her collaborative efforts to develop our profession's Mission, Vision and Values statements, lead in the development of the Child Life Council's first strategic plan, and revise our profession's Official Documents (i.e. operating principles, competencies and standards).
She has similarly made a tremendous impact on children's psychosocial care around the world by empowering professionals with knowledge that has influenced how they engage and support children, youth and families in their practice. It is therefore difficult to ascertain how many children and families have directly benefited from LeeAnn's wisdom and clinical skill as a result. It is simply impossible to calculate or comprehend.
LeeAnn Derbyshire Fenn will always be known as a great Canadian leader. Her kind spirit, wisdom and wonderful sense of humour have left a mark on everyone who has had the privilege of meeting her.
Thank you LeeAnn for your vision, passion and continued leadership. The CACLL applauds your contributions and this well-deserved recognition.
Submitted by Cathy Humphreys, Co-Director Child Life Studies, McMaster University
 Profile of a distinguished Canadian Child Life Leader:
Ruth Snider
Ruth Snider is synonymous with child life leadership in Canada and abroad. For over twenty years, Ruth worked tirelessly to advocate for the profession primarily because she always kept the needs of the children at the heart of her work.
In 1972, Ruth came to McMaster University Medical Centre (MUMC) as director of the child life clinical programme establishing, with the paediatric healthcare team, exceptional humanistic and family-centred care in paediatrics. She was influential within the healthcare team, advocating for high quality and developmentally responsive psychosocial programmes for children and their families.
Ruth was president of the Child Life Council from 1984-86, and received the Distinguished Service Award in 1989 as a result of her many contributions. In 1992, Ruth was the recipient of the ACCH (Association for the Care of Children's Health) Gene Stanford Power of One Award for her extensive contributions to the psychosocial care and advocacy of child life services to children and families in healthcare.
Ruth was appointed to the Department of Pediatrics faculty in 1981. She contributed a chapter, The therapeutic use of play in helping children whose lives are threatened, to a book edited by Dave Adams and Eleanor Deveau titled Beyond the innocence of childhood, published in 1995. Her involvement in academic endeavours led several paediatricians to urge the development of an educational programme for child life specialists. Although there were a number of programmes in the United States, there were none in Canada.
Ruth's vision was realized when in 1989, The Child Life Studies Diploma programme was approved by McMaster University and the first eight students were accepted into the postprofessional diploma programme. The problem-based learning curriculum coupled with internship placements continues to provide students with the integration of knowledge and practice in the full scope of child life service. The quality of the knowledge and skills of the graduates is recognised across North America.
Taken together, Ruth's work, vision and influence have endured and many of her founding activities continue today, a testament to her lasting legacy on behalf of children and families.
Submitted by Donna Koller, Ph D., Academic & Clinical Specialist, Child Life,
The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, and LeeAnn Derbyshire Fenn, MSc, CCLS, Distance Learning Coordinator, Child Life Studies, McMaster University
 Ruth Kettner,
Child Life Director, Children's Hospital, HSC Winnipeg 1970 - 1987
"Pioneer, mentor, visionary, educator, nurturer" these are only a few of the words that could begin to describe Mrs. Ruth Kettner, recipient of the 2004 Child Life Council's Distinguished Service Award. Ruth earned her Diploma of Applied Arts in Early Education from the Manitoba Institute for Technology, and a certificate in Special Education from the University of Manitoba. As Director of child life at Winnipeg Children's Hospital from 1970 1987, Ruth was a gifted and innovative leader, who, in her inimitable style of grace and charm, developed numerous ground-breaking programs to support the psychosocial needs of children in hospital. She developed orientation programs for pre-op surgery, and for introducing the hospital to schools. She co-developed anatomically correct patient puppets for medical teaching and launched CHTV, our child life closed-circuit tv station. She instituted child life in Cancer Care Manitoba and incorporated clowning and humour therapy into child life services. All of these endeavours continue to thrive today.
Ruth Kettner was a compelling advocate for child life and was always able to secure funds from administrators, and support and trust from skeptics. Most importantly, Ruth believed in what she was doing it was all based on her faithful and deep caring and compassion for children and their welfare. She advocated for social service rounds and for a playroom on every inpatient unit. She advocated for family-centred care, for Services for Aboriginal Children, and for a grief support system for parents who had lost children, called Compassionate Friends. She advocated in any way she saw fit that would ameliorate the lives of children and families in hospital.
Ruth was a mentor and educator. She lectured to medical, respiratory therapy, and nursing students and mentored local and international child life students. A crowning glory in her career, for which Ruth felt deeply honoured, was her appointment as Assistant Professor with the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Manitoba School of Medicine. She has also been celebrated with the Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977, the YWCA Woman of the Year Award in 1978, and an earlier version of this Child Life Council Award in 1987. Ruth was actively involved in child life beyond her Winnipeg Hospital borders, liaising and working hard with other specialists and leaders in the Canadian Association of Child Life Leaders, ACCH and CLC to further the practice of child life. She held office in ACCH as both President of the Mb. Affiliate and National Chairperson of the Affiliate Development and Coordination Committee, in CLC as Secretary and as a member of the Children's Health Care Journal editorial board.
In 2003, after being long retired, Ruth came back to Children's Hospital and requested to volunteer in child life at the age of 80. And when the nurse placed a sick baby in her arms on her first day back, she said to herself, "My God, they've given me a gift." And that sums up Ruth Kettner.
Ruth has given us all a gift the gift of caring, sharing, and doing. Her wisdom, selfless work, and dogged determination has left a strong legacy of beliefs and practices that will continue to be upheld.
Sumitted by Ren้e Ethans, CCLS, Manager of Child Life at Winnipeg Children's Hospital
CELEBRATING THE HISTORY OF CHILD LIFE IN CANADA
Cathy Humphreys, CCLS, McMaster University Child Life Studies Programme, Hamilton, Ontario
Chantal Leblanc, CCLS, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS
Nora Ullyot, CCLS, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON
Morgan Livingstone, CCLS, Consulting and Therapeutic Services, Toronto, ON
The Canadian Association of Child Life Leaders held its 30th annual meeting in Edmonton, Alberta in October 2008. It was a time to celebrate not only where we have been as a profession and organization, but also to celebrate our future. As child life has grown and flourished, Canadians have been integrally involved in charting the course of the profession. The purpose of this article is to present the distinct history, circumstances and contributions of Canadian child life professionals to the growth of our field.
Child Life Professional Practice
- Montreal Children’s Hospital started one of the first child life programs in North America in 1936. There are now approximately 40 child life programs included in 12 children’s hospitals in Canada, and a number of paediatric units within Health Science Centres and community hospitals. While many child life specialists continue to work in traditional hospital based programs in Canada, there has been an increase in the number who have established positions within alternative or non-traditional settings such as dentistry, mental health, private practice, Family and Children’s Services, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Settlement and Integration Services, and so on. As such, our profession continues to grow in Canada, through advocacy and community recognition of the value of child life skills.
Intercultural competence is an important part of our clinical practice. Canada is a cultural mosaic that embraces diversity, and as such the individual cultures within our country preserve their distinct identity and contribute to the fabric of the nation as a whole. Sensitive and respectful support of such diversity is an important element in meeting the needs of children, youth and families.
While Canada’s population ranks 36th in the world (www.geographic.org, 2003) with an estimated 32,848,041 people (Statistics Canada, 2007), we rank as the 4th largest country by geographical area in the world (www.geographic.org, 2000), This means that children and families must sometimes travel great distances for health care services, particularly for specialized paediatric care. Child life specialists must also provide support and strategies to assist children and families with the separation they experience from their home communities and support networks.
Our geographical distance also poses challenges for child life collegial collaboration and support. In 1978, a meeting of child life directors was held, with yearly meetings thereafter, to discuss challenges and issues faced within the profession of child life in Canada. Standards for child life programming, educational preparation, varying program sizes, budget constraints and solution-oriented support were part of those early meetings and led to the establishment of the Canadian Association of Child Life Directors in 1987. In 1997, the name officially changed to the Canadian Association of Child Life Leaders (CACLL), to reflect the change within the health care system’s organizational structure, the transformation of most Child Life Director positions to that of a Professional Practice Leader, and to recognize the role of leadership in child life practitioners who work in the community.
As evidenced by our 30th annual meeting, we continue to support one another and convene yearly to network, plan advocacy strategies within Canada and share common issues about the child life profession. A recent partnership has developed between the CACLL, the Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres (CAPHC), and the Kids’ Health Links Foundation. These are exciting partnerships expected to create a stronger voice on behalf of Canadian children and youth receiving health care.
Child Life Education Opportunities
McMaster University in Ontario began the first and only post-graduate child life specialist training programme in Canada within the Faculty of Health Sciences in 1989. There are several Universities that offer child life or related courses and placements within their undergraduate Child and Youth or Child Studies degree programs; University of the Fraser Valley and the University of Victoria are among these. Through recognition of the needs of the culturally diverse and rural northern and First Nations population, a new child life concentration has been developed at Cambrian College. Several Canadian hospitals have also developed their own internship programs for eligible university graduates who are not associated with a university that meet certification eligibility requirements.
In recognition of the need for distance education opportunities, the first child life on-line professional development courses were developed at McMaster University in 1999. These courses meet the Child Life Council’s (CLC) criteria for child life professional re-certification by professional development hours. (For more information see www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/childlife). These courses have met the ongoing learning needs of individuals from 10 countries to date. There is now an initiative underway to begin creating on-line child life university credit courses as a result of increasing demand.
Canadian Involvement in the Growth and Development of the Child Life Profession
Canadians have been actively involved in the evolution and growth of the child life profession from its beginning in North America. Five Canadian child life specialists and pioneers (Ruth Snider 1989, Linda Skinner 1997, Kathie Moffatt 2003, Ruth Kettner 2004, LeeAnn Derbyshire Fenn 2008) have received the Child Life Council Distinguished Service Award as a result of their significant contributions. Ruth Snider, former Child Life Director of McMaster Children’s Hospital, was one of four leaders who met in 1981 as part of the Ad Hoc Committee on Structure for Child Life Professional Issues, which recommended the formation of the CLC. Ruth went on to be the first Vice-President and second President of the Child Life Council. Later, five Canadians were elected by the membership to participate in the Vision-to-Action meeting in 1996 that developed the first strategic plan for the future direction of the CLC. Canadian members were actively involved in the development of the child life profession’s Mission, Vision and Values statements, the Official Documents (and its later revised version), publications Making Ethical Decisions in Child LifePractice and Guidelines for the Development of Child Life Programs among others. Through unanimous board approval in 1997, the CACLL President and liaison to the Board became a voting member of the Child Life Council Executive Board. In addition to the CACLL Liaison position, Canadian members have held other CLC Board positions, such as Member at Large, Secretary and CLCC Senior Chair. CLC involvement has also been at the committee level, both as members and as Committee Chairs, including Certifying Chair, Bulletin Editor, and others.
Several Canadian child life specialists are now involved in child life research and have published articles, book chapters, and other resources. Over the past decade, there has been a noted increase in the reference to the child life profession in publications such as the Canadian Paediatric Society position statement on “Treatment decisions regarding infants, children and adolescents,” and the Brain Tumour Foundation’s “Brain Tumour Resource Handbook: Paediatric Version.”
It is an exciting time for child life in Canada. There are many opportunities for collaboration that will enhance paediatric psychosocial care through newly forged partnerships and alliances. The CACLL’s vision to provide leadership for excellence in psychosocial care for children and youth is becoming our reality as a result. We look forward to the coming year and to the reports we can make on our new developments during this 30th anniversary year.
References
Health Canada. (2007) Health care system. Retrieved March 16, 2007 from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss
Statistics Canada. (2007). Canada’s population clock. Retrieved March 16, 2007 from http://www.statcan.ca/english/edu/clock/population.htm
www.geographic.org (2000). Total Land Area. Retrieved February 19, 2009 from http://www.photius.com/wfb1999/rankings/total_land_area_0.html
www.geographic.org (2003). Population 2003. Retrieved February 19, 2009 from http://www.theodora.com/wfb2003/rankings/population_2003_0.html
** article has been revised from its original form published as: Humphreys, C., Leblanc, C., Ullyot, N., Livingstone, M. (2007) Northern Lights- Celebrating Child Life in Canada. Child Life Council Bulletin, 25(3) 6,11.**
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