Mary Helen McQuillan
Las Vegas
Summary
Compassionate child life professional dedicated to guiding families through the challenges of sleeplessness. Expertise in providing emotional support to children and their families in the hospital setting, ensuring a sense of safety and comfort in high-stress situations. Strong ability to build trust and foster positive experiences through a compassionate approach, adaptable to various work environments. Committed to enhancing the well-being of children and families by creating supportive and nurturing atmospheres.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Certified Child Life Specialist
Children’s Medical Center at Summerlin Hospital
09.2020 - Current
- Build rapport quickly to establish trust and empower children and families to cope with the emotional stress of injury, illness, and hospitalization
- Implement developmentally appropriate techniques and therapeutic play to support normalization, provide procedural preparation, and facilitate diagnosis education across pediatric emergency, oncology, intensive care, surgery, and radiology units
- Educate and guide caregivers on managing their child’s diagnosis, connecting them with appropriate resources and referrals
- Advocate for families as a member of the multidisciplinary team to coordinate care and promote holistic well-being
Child and Family Intern
Wellness House
01.2020 - 04.2020
- Supported children and families through bereavement by facilitating therapeutic activities, fostering peer connections, and promoting healthy coping strategies
- Provided parent outreach to assess family needs and connect them with supportive services, helping caregivers establish structure at home
Child Life Intern
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
08.2019 - 12.2019
- Developed core competencies of child life specialist through 750+ hours of supervised application in inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings
- Conducted patient assessments and implemented individualized interventions to address psychosocial needs during hospitalization
- Communicated respectfully and thoughtfully with parents and guardians by remaining sensitive to different families' cultures, values, and needs
Assistant Teacher
The Trails School for Early Learning
12.2018 - 08.2019
- Supported children ages 3 months to 5 years with daily routines including naps, feeding, and transitions
- Applied a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach to promote independence, adaptability, and positive behavioral development
Outreach Worker
Brightpoint
10.2017 - 08.2018
- Mentored adopted children and teens with behavioral and emotional challenges, teaching coping strategies and self-regulation techniques
- Reduced caregiver stress levels by providing dependable respite services on a flexible schedule when needed most
Assistant Teacher
Child Development Laboratory
06.2016 - 08.2017
- Collaborated with lead teacher to develop engaging lesson plans for preschool age children tailored to individual student needs
- Supported students with special needs, implementing strategies to facilitate their participation and learning
- Assisted in the assessment of student progress by tracking performance and providing feedback on development during parent-teacher conferences
Education
Master of Science - Child Development, Child Life Concentration
Erikson Institute
05.2020
Bachelor of Science - Human Development and Family Studies
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
05.2017
Skills
- Family-centered care
- Psychosocial assessment
- Individualized care planning
- Child development expertise
- Active listening
- Emotional support
- Therapeutic play techniques
- Pediatric healthcare experience
- Age-appropriate interventions
Certification
- Certified Child Life Specialist, Child Life Certifying Committee - 2020
Timeline
Certified Child Life Specialist
Children’s Medical Center at Summerlin Hospital
09.2020 - Current
Child and Family Intern
Wellness House
01.2020 - 04.2020
Child Life Intern
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
08.2019 - 12.2019
Assistant Teacher
The Trails School for Early Learning
12.2018 - 08.2019
Outreach Worker
Brightpoint
10.2017 - 08.2018
Assistant Teacher
Child Development Laboratory
06.2016 - 08.2017
Bachelor of Science - Human Development and Family Studies
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Master of Science - Child Development, Child Life Concentration
Erikson Institute
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