You want to be a what?

Any person who is directly or indirectly involved with Child Life is responsible for spreading the word.  Becoming a social organization is not easy, but community collaboration is the only way that it can be largely successful.  Chapter 3 and 4 of The Social Organization speak on these two topics.  Social media has a history of failing within companies and organizations, but that is mostly because it is not being utilized properly.  Many view social media as self sufficient, a "provide-and-pray" approach is used according to TSO.  Many children's hospitals use social media to talk about child life within their hospital.  This is a great way to be a social organization, but expanding out to the general public to show the importance, and benefits of having a child life specialist is critical to their growth.

It is important that social media is used separately, with different purposes inside and outside of the hospital.  Within the hospital, it is important to use social media technologies to allow patients, families, medical professionals, and other involved parties see give opinions on improvements, or a place to give praise.  Outside of the hospital, social media can be used to spread the word to every parent, future parent, social worker, teacher, so that they are knowledgeable and can be a resource for when children have to experience the medical world.  There need to be spotlight videos of miraculous stories in which the Child Life Specialist made a difference in different kinds of development.  This is where community collaboration comes in.

Community collaboration is not the place to talk about deep controversial issues, improvements or an analysis of the system.  It is a place to share open information about the positive outcome of child life, talk about what can be offered, and independently share its purpose.  Since child life is not a medical process, community collaboration is suitable.  The culture of the child life profession is based off the belief that this service is a need in medical facilities.  If these services became a norm, the culture would be accepted more by physicians, families, and skeptics.

I believe child life specialists have a combination of a flippant and formulating attitude.  Social media is being used positively within most children's hospitals, but when it comes to community and awareness, there is a lack of communication between hospitals and the rest of the world.

I hope to one day say "I want to be a Child Life Specialist" and not receive looks like this:

Fire Up!