Last week we met with 7 Texas legislative teams, both Democrats and Republicans. This picture includes Max Tomlinson, Texas New Mexico Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, Olivia Rogers, CNO of Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA), Representative Candy Noble from District 89 in Texas, and me (Cinda McDonald, CCLS with Baylor Scott & White, and Chair of the Texas Child Life Licensing Task Force).

We had great conversations about the challenges in our field of Child Life Specialists and why it is time for licensure. We explained that first and foremost, licensure is about protecting children and families from bad actors claiming to be 'child life specialists' without completing the stringent education and clinical training to become certified.

This is about child protection, not politics. We know Texas legislators, regardless of their political stance, UNITE TO PROTECT CHILDREN.

Certification is voluntary and though we wish that all hospitals required that their child life specialists become certified, we sadly know that is not the case. 

With CCLS Licensure, we can require that all people called a 'child life specialist' are qualified to use that title and that they are in the process or already certified.

Additionally, we discussed that it is critical to protect children and families from child predators. When someone claims to be a 'child life specialist' and they are operating outside of institutional walls or boundaries of reputable healthcare organizations, we can't trust that they have completed a comprehensive criminal background check. 

With CCLS Licensure, we can mandate that all people called a 'child life specialist' have  completed that background check.

A recent survey revealed that 86% of respondents ALREADY BELIEVE that CCLSs are licensed by their state. They also stated that they feel most comfortable with healthcare professionals who are licensed.

Texas CCLS Licensure will give parents peace-of-mind. Licensure aligns what parents already believe to be true with reality, and will go along way toward keeping their child safe, and supported only by qualified, vetted, and accountable psychosocial professionals.

CCLS Licensure will set Texas apart as a leader in pediatric healthcare. And we believe that once Texas passes this into law, it will make it easier for more states to do the same for their CCLSs and the children and families who depend on them.

Please keep sharing this petition-it really does make a difference!