Courtney White

• Working as a PRN throughout hospital units.
• Enhancing children's coping skills by implementing therapeutic play and developmentally appropriate interventions.
• Preparing and supporting patients through invasive procedures to minimize psychological trauma.
• Implementing bereavement support services for grieving families after the loss of a child by organizing memorial events or connecting them with relevant resources in the community.
• Advocating for family-centered care by involving parents in decision-making processes and facilitating open communication channels between staff and caregivers.
• Addressing siblings'' needs and concerns by providing age-appropriate explanations, activities, and support during their hospital visits.
• Promoting positive coping strategies through therapeutic activities, enabling better adjustment to the hospital environment.
• Educating medical staff on the role of Child Life Specialists to foster an understanding of the importance of psychosocial care within the pediatric setting.

• Prepared children for medical procedures by providing clear explanations using age-appropriate language and teaching aids.
• Enhanced children''s coping skills by implementing therapeutic play and developmentally appropriate interventions.
• Prepared and supported patients through invasive procedures to minimize psychological trauma.
• Assessed patients'' developmental levels, individualizing interventions based on each child''s unique needs and abilities.
• Implemented bereavement support services for grieving families after the loss of a child by organizing memorial events or connecting them with relevant resources in the community.
• Advocated for family-centered care by involving parents in decision-making processes and facilitating open communication channels between staff and caregivers.
• Addressed siblings'' needs and concerns by providing age-appropriate explanations, activities, and support during their hospital visits.
• Promoted positive coping strategies through therapeutic activities, enabling better adjustment to the hospital environment.
• Established partnerships with community organizations (Children's Miracle Network) for donations of toys, supplies, or volunteers to enhance the pediatric patient experience.
• Educated medical staff on the role of Child Life Specialists to foster understanding of the importance of psychosocial care within the pediatric setting.
• Trained volunteers in effective communication techniques, enhancing their ability to interact with pediatric patients positively.
• Developed individualized care plans to promote normalization and reduce stress in hospitalized children.
• Prepared children for success in classroom settings through encouragement and exploration of learning activities.

• Created the Child life program for the pediatric unit.
• Educated medical staff on the role of Child Life Specialists to foster an understanding of the importance of psychosocial care within the pediatric setting.
• Mentored practicum students and interns in child life, sharing expertise and guidance to foster the development of future Child Life professionals in the field. Led and educated over 30 child life students from the University of Georgia Child Life Department.
• Explained medical procedures and hospital routines to support hospitalization adjustment for children and family members.
• Prepared and supported patients through invasive procedures to minimize psychological trauma.
• Assessed patients'' developmental levels, individualizing interventions based on each child''s unique needs and abilities.
• Coordinated special events such as holiday parties or support groups, creating a sense of community among patients and families.
• Evaluated program effectiveness through ongoing data collection and analysis, implementing improvements as needed for optimal service delivery.
• Implemented bereavement support services for grieving families after the loss of a child by organizing memorial events or connecting them with relevant resources in the community.
• Advocated for family-centered care by involving parents in decision-making processes and facilitating open communication channels between staff and caregivers.
• Addressed siblings'' needs and concerns by providing age-appropriate explanations, activities, and support during their hospital visits.
• Promoted positive coping strategies through therapeutic activities, enabling better adjustment to the hospital environment.
• Established partnerships with community organizations for donations of toys, supplies, or volunteers to enhance the pediatric patient experience.

• Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) is Georgia’s early intervention program that offers a variety of coordinated services for infants and toddlers with special needs, from birth to three years of age, and their families.
• Conducted home visits and created individual interventions for each child.
• Adapted teaching methods according to each child''s individual learning style, maximizing comprehension and retention of information.
• Developed strong relationships with families through consistent communication, building trust and fostering a supportive community atmosphere.
• Provided ongoing assessment of student progress, adjusting interventions as needed to optimize results.

Created and shaped the Child Life position in the surgical service unit.

• Provide age-appropriate explanations of what patients can expect in the operating room using pictures, medical play and anesthesia masks on the day of surgery.
• Provide patients and families coping plans and distraction to use during induction of anesthesia or during intravenous to ease fears and provide a positive experience in the operating room.
• Conducted Child Life in-services for nurses, anesthesiologists and surgeons on the impact Child Life has on children and families in the outpatient setting.
• Created and implanted a video script to help children and families watch online to help understand what to expect and to help lower anxiety. Provided online education for parents to understand how to explain surgery in an age-appropriate way to fit the development needs of their children.

Provided age appropriate developmental stimulation to term and preterm infants in the neonatal hospital setting. Provided daily individual and group setting education to parents of infants.

• Education topics included infant massage, baby wearing, reading and responding to infant cues, developmental play and car seat safety.
• Conducted sibling visits at infant's bedside while providing age appropriate preparations for siblings using medical play, environmental photos and individualized diagnoses teaching.
• Provided bereavement support to families enduring a fetal demise or death of a neonate. Support included education for caregivers on the appropriate ways to explain death to children along with common age appropriate reactions to death. Also assisted with legacy building activities with children during the grief process and providing community resources for grief support.
• Trained and provided leadership for new volunteers for newborn nursery and neonatal intensive care units.
• Committees: Developmental Care (Co-Chair), Bereavement and Primary Care committee.
• Expectations of role included cross coverage of newborn nursery, antepartum unit, and trauma services. Attended/facilitated multidisciplinary rounds and meetings weekly.