Why I love my job: Three Child and Family Life Services team members help kids feel like kids

Every day, Child Family Life Specialists and Associates at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital help children and families find comfort during difficult moments.

Inspiration, passion, and dedication guide our Child and Family Life Services teams as transform patients’ lives. Three of these special individuals shared why they love their jobs with M Health Fairview Pediatrics. 

Bethany Dahl

In her role as a child life associate, Bethany Dahl helps patients and families cope with the experiences of hospitalization. Dahl explains her role: "I help normalize a child's hospital experience by providing toys, activities, and play opportunities that are developmentally appropriate.”  

“I am passionate about making healthcare experiences more positive for kids and their families," Dahl said. She supports kids and families by facilitating opportunities to meet developmental milestones, engage in therapeutic play and activities, relax, and process their experiences. Dahl explains that for some patients, play could involve painting together or reading stories. “For others, it might be creating opportunities for imaginative play and exploration at the bedside,” Dahl said.  

Seeing a child get fully engrossed in play and return to their room smiling is incredibly rewarding for Dahl. She loves helping kids "goof off and conquer their healthcare experiences" during their stay.  

Dahl is committed to honoring each patient's unique needs and culture. When a patient has cause for celebration, the team works to make it special. Recently, she helped decorate a patient's room with lights and balloons so the child's siblings could happily observe Eid in the hospital.  

What drives her each day she comes to work? “I love helping kids just feel like kids,” Dahl said.  

Britta Johnson M.Ed., CCLS

A certified child life specialist, Britta Johnson is also the media producer in the Zucker Family Suite and Broadcast Studio. She is part of the team that runs ZTV, the 24/7 in-house TV channel that broadcasts therapeutic and interactive shows to patients' rooms and waiting areas.  

One of Johnson's favorite parts of the job is seeing longtime patients gain confidence and skills through engaging with ZTV. Recently, she worked with a patient who was admitted for many months. Though initially shy, the patient began participating in ZTV crafts and game shows and eventually wanted to help create and host her own episodes. Because the patient couldn't physically be in the studio due to her condition, Johnson and the team broadcast her art therapy and bingo shows live from her room.  

"I love seeing the impact ZTV has on patients and families,” shared Johnson, “Hearing them call in to shows or text photos of their projects makes me proud of our work."  

Outside of work, Johnson enjoys spending time outdoors with family, friends, and her dog. She likes trying new recipes, traveling when possible, and staying active with tennis and skiing. But making a difference in kids' lives through ZTV is what really makes her light up. "It's the most meaningful part of my job," she said.  

Jordan Blakeslee, BS, CCLS

Jordan Blakeslee is a certified child life specialist in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Each day, Blakeslee brings comfort and joy to our patients and their families. Child life specialists help prepare children and families for medical procedures, providing education and emotional support during stressful healthcare experiences.  

Blakeslee's transformational impact comes through when she describes her role:  “We provide support to patients and their families during very stressful times in their lives. We are like teachers who prepare patients for medical procedures, so they understand what is going to happen and feel confident in advocating for themselves.  

Blakeslee sees the difference she and her colleagues make in the lives of these young patients. “It is truly amazing how resilient children are and being able to be a part of that and see it firsthand is such a great feeling,” she says.  

Outside of work, Blakeslee enjoys gravel biking, running, reading, embroidering, and spending quality time with loved ones."