Kirsten Black Ms, Ccls, Cpmt Email & Phone Number

City Of London, England, United Kingdom

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Supporting the growth and development of child life services in Saudia Arabia and the GCC through classroom instruction, on-site practicum experience supervision, and advisement on program development.Course: MCP 514 - Therapeutic play for child life specialists in healthcare

Melbourne, Florida Area

Supported patients and child family members in the Emergency Department, Pediatrics, Surgical Services, and other areas of a 500+ bed community hospital with a Level 2 Trauma Center.Provided emotional support and developmentally appropriate information to increase children's understanding and coping with medical procedures, diagnosis, pain management, and bereavement. Supported education and skills of interdisciplinary team and family caregivers to advocate for and enhance atraumatic care and comfort techniques throughout the pediatric program and serves as a resource to the care team.Utilized play and self-expressive activities as primary resources to minimize the stress and anxiety patients and families can encounter in a hospital environment. Served on Implementation Committee and hospital team for Team Lavender to promote compassion for self and others as a culture of caring within the hospital system.Participated in Stress First Aid training to serve as a Train the Trainer for the Team Lavender Compassion Champions.

Melbourne, Florida Area

Facilitated therapeutic play to facilitate coping, mastery, self-expression, creativity, achievement, and learning to support optimal growth and development. Applied the theoretical foundations of child development, play, stress, coping, and family systems. Prepared pediatric patients and siblings for medical tests and procedures through education, rehearsal, and coping skill development for assistance in pain management, medication administration, and cooperation with medical procedures.Provided developmentally-appropriate explanations of life-threatening disease and/or death for children and adolescents. Implemented legacy and memory-building activities for the entire family. Advocated for the inclusion of the chronically and terminally ill child in communication and decision-making regarding the patient’s well-being and care, to promote a sense of control. Prepared child family members of hospice patients for impending death and encouraged inclusion in funeral/memorial services. Provided education, emotional support, and resource information to caregivers/families.Assisted team members to understand emotional factors related to infants, children, and teens. Delivered training on death, stages of grief, needs of the bereaved, and self-care.Collaborated with another local area VITAS service unit child life specialist to create a summer practicum program and shared supervision responsibilities. Instituted a one-day grief camp for children and teens (recruited and trained volunteers, planned camp activities, recruited campers, and oversaw day of events).Developed a bi-weekly community support group for children who have a loved one with a serious illness.

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

Responsible for managing various aspects of the Volunteer Services program in compliance with organizational policies and governmental regulations.Recruit, select, train, and manage volunteers to provide direct patient companionship, caregiver respite, legacy building, bereavement support, and administrative support. Conduct Volunteer Need Evaluations to assess volunteer needs with adult and pediatric hospice and palliative care, patients. Facilitate New Volunteer Training, utilizing a blend of lectures, experiential activities, and group discussions.Developed and facilitated volunteer training for specialty volunteers working with the children's grief center.Co-direct Camp Circle of Love, focusing on all aspects of volunteer support for the weekend, from recruitment and training through assignment and supervision.Maintain communication with volunteers on current organizational events, volunteer needs, ongoing education, and compliance.Work as part of the interdisciplinary team to assist with the holistic care of patients and families.Assist in developing volunteer programs that utilized volunteer resources to provide expressive therapies and psychosocial support to patients and families. Utilize experience and training as a child life specialist to educate staff, volunteers, and families on the issues of child and adolescent grief.

Chapters Staffing - Partners In Care, Lifepath And Good Shepherd Hospices

Assessed the child’s development, coping, and medical knowledge.Facilitated therapeutic play to facilitate coping, mastery, self-expression, creativity, achievement, and learning to support optimal growth and development. Applied the theoretical foundations of child development, play, stress, coping, and family systems. Prepared pediatric patients and siblings for medical tests and procedures through education, rehearsal, and coping skill development for assistance in pain management, medication administration, and cooperation with medical procedures.Provided developmentally-appropriate explanations of life-threatening disease and/or death for children and adolescents. Guided parents, siblings, and staff on appropriate activities, stimulation, play, comfort, and touch for the child. Implemented legacy and memory-building activities for the entire family. Advocated for the inclusion of the chronically and terminally ill child in communication and decision-making regarding the patient’s well-being and care, to promote a sense of control. Prepared siblings and encouraged inclusion in funeral/memorial services. Provided education, emotional support, and resource information to caregivers/families.Assisted team members to understand emotional factors related to infants, children, and teens. Delivered training on death, stages of grief, needs of the bereaved, and self-care.Introduced a pediatric palliative care medical notebook and resource binder for families of children with life-threatening conditions.Developed a new format for written documentation of Child Life assessments, interventions, and evaluation of outcomes. Served as Interim Coordinator for Circle of Love Center (welcomed children and caregivers, led pre and post-volunteer meetings, supervised volunteers in facilitating expressive grief activities, and served as a resource to families and volunteers on child and adolescent grief ).

Responsible for directing the Volunteer Services program in compliance with organizational policies and governmental regulations.Recruited, selected, trained, and managed volunteers to provide direct patient care, family respite time, bereavement support, administrative support, and fundraising. Designed New Volunteer Training, utilizing a blend of self-study modules, lectures, experiential activities, and group discussions.Instituted continuing education model of ongoing annual education requirements for hospice volunteers.Created, wrote, and published a monthly volunteer newsletter to inform volunteers of current events, solicit help with organizational needs, support ongoing education, and provide tips for self-care.Worked as part of the interdisciplinary team to assist with the holistic care of patients and families.Developed programs that utilized volunteer resources to provide expressive therapies and psychosocial support to patients and families. Utilized experience and training as a child life specialist to educate staff, volunteers, and families on the issues of child and adolescent grief.Assisted with resource development and fundraising for the Longleaf Hospice Foundation.

Facilitated all aspects of the volunteer program, including volunteer orientation, coordinating volunteer opportunities, and creating memorable and rewarding volunteer experiences.Identified areas of cost-savings and staff efficiency and implemented changes in vendors for volunteer calendar scheduling and monthly newsletter to institute a cost-savings of $250 a year.Conducted full range of fundraising activities including grant writing, soliciting sponsorships, assisting with special events, and developing covenant partnerships.Served as affiliate liaison to campus and youth chapters.

Utilized play to promote effective coping skills through preparation, education, and self-expression activities. Encouraged family-centered care by providing information, support and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members. Increased familiarity with clinic surroundings and to prepare patients and families for medical experiences.Provided medical procedure preparation, support, and accompaniment whenever necessary to support the patient and/or caregivers.Provided age-appropriate play, creative arts and other activities, encouraging mastery and understanding of medical experiences, building coping skills and allowing for expression of feelings.Planned and facilitated activities and interventions in group and individual settings to help patients and families cope with medical situations and meet their developmental, emotional and cultural needs.Developed supportive collaborative relationships with patients and families to assist them in achieving health care goals.Provided opportunities for building independent behavior, retaining self-esteem and promoting transition to self-care.Provided for continuation of normal daily activities so as not to interfere with appropriate growth and development.Facilitated communication between medical personnel, the patient, and the family and advocate for child’s developmental needs.

Successfully managed GREAT STRIDES campaigns by identifying, recruiting, and cultivating 50 new team leader relationships across four walk sites, resulting in $56,039 in new revenue over three yearsDeveloped easy-to-follow job aids to assist in online registration and customization of fundraising web pages for team leaders and fundraising walkersCreated new team leader materials to reinforce simplified fundraising strategies Successfully managed two Red*Trout Celebrity Classic tournaments by cultivati key relationships and converting participants to active working committee members and reducing expenses (Golden Isles: 25% revenue growth in 2007; Savannah: 15% revenue growth in 2006, 38% growth in 2007)Revised sponsorship proposal for Red*Trout Celebrity Classic tournaments to include relevant data regarding sportfishing participants and select markets, helping to obtain a $5,000 sponsorship for the Golden Isles tournament in 2008Provided strategic direction to a committee comprised of all new volunteers in the 2008 Savannah Red*Trout, tournament leading them to identify new sponsors and participants, leading to $16,000 in new revenueEngaged three employees from title sponsor company for the 2007 Golden Isles Red*Trout tournament, leading them to identify and solicit $24,616 in new revenueObtained multiple written bids for printing, trophies, and participant goodie bags for both Red*Trout tournaments and worked with new vendors to reduce costs by 10.5% SSI and 20.8% for Savannah in 2007Served on the Enhanced Access to Information Task Force and worked with national and other chapter employees to identify staff needs and create a new layout for The Rose (2008)SPOT award recipient for reviewing Auction Tracker to assist in the implementation and roll-out of Auction Tracker by analyzing software capabilities and determining best practices (2008)Inducted into inaugural year of the Circle of Excellence (2007) .

Successfully managed volunteer-led community events (golf tournaments, beauty pageants, carnival, and blues concert), leading to a 16% growth in 2005 and 19% growth in 2006Educated community event leaders on ways to grow and expand their events by including sponsorships, pin-up campaigns, and other profit centersAssisted in the planning of galas, tasting events, and GREAT STRIDESCoordinated all special event auction and prize solicitations, tracking the donations through development of integrated databaseDeveloped and presented Auction Chair Training to volunteers utilizing statistical analyses of auctions and a customized Auction Chair GuideFocused the efforts of the auction committees to produce a 19% increase in revenue over pervious year in 2004 and an 11% increase in 2005SPOT award recipient for analyzing PledgeMaker to design and implement training and job aids (2005)Provided fundraising and “wrap-around” resources for conference calls with all Baker Boys Battalion GREAT STRIDES national teams Instituted new GREAT STRIDES accounting procedures related to central batching, including training for day-off money counters and the creation of job aidsEstablished contact and a relationship with the internship coordinators at Bauder College to recruit students in the Fashion Merchandising program to assist in the preparation of auction display and day-of auction setup process for the 65 Roses® BallRecruited new volunteers for chapter events, including two of the five Most Valuable Day-Of Volunteers award recipients in 2005

Managed receipting process per Foundation guidelines of all monies receivedProvided administrative support for special events, including correspondence, maintaining database records, and creating event materialsCoordinated board meeting communications Served as a backup to the Office Manager for financial duties and office administration

Developed software training courses outlines, materials, and job aids for proprietary database and other software for new-hire orientation and continuing staff development. Performed task analysis and rapid instructional design to address organizational needs. Managed all aspects of the training attendee database for the ITS department. Analyzed the nature of help desk calls to create timely and relevant performance support in the way of ''Tip of the Week'' emails and job aids.

Performed all administrative duties for men’s basketball office, including appointment scheduling, correspondence, expense reports, processing invoices for payment, supply management, and travel coordinationSupervised and coordinated the work of four student assistantsDistributed weekly personal and staff development to the team and the office

Processed conference registration information for Regional Leadership ConferenceResponded to inquiries for information on local YMCAs and maintained database of inquiries for executive review

Researched and assisted in the development of grant proposalsUtilized graphics and publication software to produce an annual summary report and promotional materials for the department programs

Created and updated 75 leadership job aids for on-line and hard copy distribution

Managed daily operations of residence hall of 80 residentsDeveloped the social programming component of the NCAA-sponsored “Making Winning Choices” grantSupervised staff of five Resident Assistants/Community Assistants and desk staff of eight work-study employeesDeveloped and facilitated weekly staff development activitiesParticipated in all aspects of the hiring process, including developing recruitment materials, interview questions and exercises, and staff selection and assignmentCoordinated and presented of fall and winter staff training of staff and student leadersAssisted in the design and development of the Resident Assistant Summer Workbook and Staff ManualResearched and implemented new policies and procedures to improve the resident assistant programming processPlanned and facilitated Freshman Seminar courseworkAdvised student organizations and committee for a student conference of 150 participantsCompiled a comprehensive online resource list to assist resident assistants in their programming efforts

Master Of Science - Ms, Child Life

Ms, Instructional & Performance Technology

Bs, Family Studies

Activities and Societies: Residence Hall Association (RHA), (KACURH) Kentucky Association of College and University Residence Halls, South.

Education record

Education record

Activities and Societies: Varsity Cheer (Co-Captain, 1988-1989; Captain 1989)