International Child Life Groups
Child life specialists are currently practicing in locations around the globe. With members in 18 different countries, the Child Life Council is enriched by the unique experiences and contributions of an increasingly diverse group of practitioners. Each of the following international child life groups represents child life specialists and/or related professionals in a nation outside of the United States. Although CLC is not directly affiliated with any of these groups, depending on your location, they may offer further opportunities for you to network closer to home, or to connect with peers in a different country.
CANADA
Canadian Association of Child Life Leaders (CACLL)
The Canadian Association of Child Life Leaders (CACLL) is an association of child life leaders from across Canada, and currently represents 23 children's health facilities. CACLL advocates for the child life profession in Canada and promotes membership and certification with The Child Life Council. Please visit the CACLL Web site to learn more about its mission and the child life profession in Canada.
Regional child life networking groups in Canada
KUWAIT
Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH)
www.kacch.org
Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH) is a non-governmental, charitable organization that is managed by volunteers and funded by donations. KACCH employs child life specialists who have become an integral part of the pediatric teams in five hospitals in Kuwait.
Margaret Al-Sayer, Founder and Director
Al Amiri Hospital
P.O. Box 4077
Safat 13041
Kuwait
Phone: +965 246 4723
Email: info@kacch.org
NEW ZEALAND
Hospital Play Specialist's Association of Aotearoa/ New Zealand
Ana Smith, President
P.O. Box 26637
Epsom
Auckland
New Zealand
Email: info@hospitalplay.org.nz
SWITZERLAND
Association Le P.A.S.
Created by Jean-Claude Demers in 1997, Association Le P.A.S. is already endorsed by many medical professionals, foundations, associations, institutions and hospitals. It currently has hundreds of members. The association aims to provide social support for children facing illness. In 1998, the association established a pilot program at the Children's Hospital of Lausanne (L'Hôpital de l'Enfance de Lausanne), featuring pre-hospitalization and preoperative tours, as well as support for patient care.
SOUTH AFRICA
Organisation for Paediatric Support in South Africa (OPSSA)
Dr Annemarie Oberholzer, RN, D Cur, President
www.opssa.org.za
The Organisation for Paediatric Support in South Africa (OPSSA) utilises Child Life principles to empower children and families in healthcare. We strive to increase the availability of information and to promote quality healthcare in all healthcare facilities throughout South Africa.
Dr Annemarie Oberholzer (RN; D Cur), President
PO Box 16039
Lyttelton
0140 South Africa
Phone: +27 (0) 825625912
Email: annemarie@opssa.org.za
UNITED KINGDOM
National Association of Hospital Play Staff
The object of the National Association of Hospital Play Staff (NAHPS) is to promote the physical and mental wellbeing of children and young people who are patients in hospital, hospice or receiving medical care at home. The charity aims to promote high professional standards for play staff, and to ensure the provision of appropriate therapeutic and stimulating play facilities in hospitals. NAHPS provides professional support for all hospital play staff.
Judy Walker, Chair
3rd Floor Dorville House
UCL Hospitals NHS Trust
Mortimer Street
London W1n8AA
Phone: 0207 636 8333 3 ext. 3908
Email: angela@nahps.org.uk
The United Kingdom Society for Play and Creative Arts Therapies
Stated Mission: To be the leading professional body, in the United Kingdom, dedicated to promoting the use of play and creative arts therapies (the therapies) as ways of enabling children to reach their full potential by alleviating emotional, behaviour and mental health problems.
Fern Hill Centre
Fairwarp
Uckfield
East Sussex TN22 3BU
Phone: 01825 712312
Fax: 01825 713679
Email: ptukorg@aol.com