Child Life Hospice and Palliative Network (CLHPN) is a professional international community of Certified Child Life Specialists actively engaged in hospice and palliative care. As a free member organization, the CLHPN community focuses on increasing awareness of the benefits of child life services for children and families receiving hospice and palliative care, educating the broader healthcare community about the value of child life specialists, and developing best practices in care for families experiencing a serious illness. For questions, please contact [email protected].
2026 Child Life Hospice and Palliative Network Virtual Symposium
On Thursday, October 22, 2026, we will be hosting the 2026 Child Life Hospice and Palliative Network Virtual Symposium. The theme is “Where Play Meets Practice: Advancing Care for Children Facing Grief and Serious Illness.” Click here to view guidelines and submit a proposal. Deadline is May 22, 2026.
Membership
CLHPN welcomes Certified Child Life Specialists who care for children and families facing serious illness or death. If you are interested in joining the free professional community, get started by completing the survey.
Membership includes:
- Access to free monthly virtual education sessions.
- An international network of hospice & palliative-focused CCLSs
- Opportunities to collaborate on research and education
- Community discussions and case-based collaborations
- PDUs available for purchase
Education
For members, monthly virtual education sessions are curated to enhance and inform Child Life Specialists in their work. The monthly meetings promote connection, education, and case study sharing. PDUS are available for purchase for most sessions. To view the upcoming education schedule, click here.
Research & Publications
CLHPN actively conducts research and engages in publications to further expand the profession through data and awareness. To better understand the current work environment and education needs of Child Life Specialists working in hospice and palliative care, our team conducted a needs assessment: Certified Child Life Specialist within Hospice and Palliative Care: State of the Profession. The findings were published in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Additionally, co-founders Jennifer Mangers and Alyssa Friedberg summarized the evolution of Child Life Specialists in hospice and palliative care and highlighted the need for additional data on the practice in the field, which was published in the NPHCO Pediatric e-Journal.