ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE
The Chicagoland Association of Child Life Professionals (CACLP) was born out of the need to continue to grow the Child Life profession in the Chicagoland area. The goal of the CACLP is to offer supportive relationships, educational resources, networking opportunities, and the ability to earn Professional Development Hours (PDH). Annually the CACLP plans and implements PDH opportunities both virtually and in-person. The CACLP will continue to reassess the ongoing needs of child life professionals in the Chicagoland area and beyond.
Our MISSION
Child life specialists advocate for children and families facing illness and/or life altering events. Our role as the child life specialist is to offer age-appropriate activities to promote coping within the healthcare environment and other stressful situations. As professionals, we work with patients and families to create coping plans to assist in reducing stress and anxiety. Child life specialists utilize a variety of play opportunities as the vehicle to educate and prepare the child and family for what may occur. In addition, we strive to continuously educate the community about pediatric healthcare issues. Child life specialists make every effort to offer the best care and support for all families. As an organization our goal to support these initiatives and work to continue to grow our profession.
CACLP BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Shira Miller, MS, CCLS
Board of Directors
Shira is currently the manager of Child Life and Creative Arts Therapies at RUSH University Medical Center, where she has been a child life specialist for 18 years. In addition to clinical child life, Shira also supports the field as adjunct faculty at both RUSH University and Erikson Institute, where she teaches courses in lifespan development, child life theory and practice, and ethics in pediatric healthcare. After serving on the CACLP board for over 7 years, Shira is excited to transition to the board of directors. In this new role, she will be able to continue fostering development in the child lifield through on-going involvement in CACLP.
Megan O’Connell, MS, CCLS, CEIM
Board of Directors
Megan O’Connell has been working with children and families for over 20 years. She is currently the Bereavement Support and Education Coordinator at Rush University Medical Center. Megan holds a master’s degree in child development from Erikson Institute. As a Certified Child Life Specialist, Megan has provided support to patients and families at Rush, Lurie Children’s and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital-Oakland. Megan has also worked outside the hospital setting for non-profit organizations and has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses in various child development topics, including grief and loss. Megan is an active member of the Association of Child Life Professionals and an adjunct professor at Erikson Institute.
Brittany Smith, MA, CCLS, FLE
Board of Directors
Brittany A. Smith, MA, CCLS, FLE is a Senior Certified Child Life Specialist and the practicum coordinator at Lurie Children’s Hospital. She received her Master of Arts degree from the University of Missouri and is graduating in May with her Master of Social Work from Louisiana State University. Her professional focus includes trauma-informed care, equity, program development, and systems-level policy advocacy in support of emotionally safe and inclusive care. Brittany has presented and engaged in committee work with organizations such as UNOS and ACLP, and previously served within the CACLP. She is passionate about mentoring emerging professionals and strengthening the role of child life within healthcare and academic systems and is deeply committed to DEI-informed practice and the continued evolution of the Child Life profession.