The Councils at a Glance
The Youth Advisory Council (YAC), established in 2015, enhances the delivery of pediatric care by recognizing and addressing the specific needs of our youth population. Now in its seventh year, the YAC has members ranging in age from 13 to 20. Monthly council meetings, facilitated by Morgan Stojanowski, Director of the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department, and Nina Connors, Pediatric Oncology Social Worker, empower members to collaborate on a range of patient-care projects and bring actionable recommendations to improve the patient experience.
The Family Advisory Council (FAC), works jointly with leadership and interdisciplinary staff to ensure the delivery of the highest standard of comprehensive and compassionate health care. The FAC, facilitated by Cheryl Strauss, Zone Clinical Coordinator and Child Life Specialist III, and Andrea Johnston, Senior Parent Advisor, meets monthly to advise on projects and initiatives impacting patients and families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Kravis Children’s Hospital at large. Council member Beth Silber serves as the Family Advisor Liaison, bridging the work of the Council on various hospital committees and work groups.
Youth Advisory Council Shares a Vision for an Adolescent and Teen Space
Thanks to the direction and vision of the Youth Advisory Council, and with tremendous support from the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation, the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department recently unveiled a newly renovated area within the Child Life Zone that is dedicated to adolescent and teen programming. In addition to new cabinetry, furniture, and colorful wall murals, the space features cushioned “pods” where patients can relax and unwind, play video games, and take instant photos courtesy of a built-in camera and printer system. A comfortable seating banquette and specialized audio-visual system provide opportunities for individuals or groups of patients to watch movies on a large screen that drops down from the ceiling. This teen-focused environment was largely inspired by members of the Youth Advisory Council and has been a regular point of discussion and brainstorming throughout the years. Developing the concept of a space devoted to the developmental, social, and creative needs of teenage patients has been a consistent agenda item and has culminated into the creation of this innovative, therapeutic space. To honor this enormous achievement, youth advisors joined hospital leaders, frontline staff, and teen patients for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, kicking off a host of celebratory events all summer long.
Members of the Family and Youth Advisory Councils and Hospital Leaders Gather in Celebration
The Youth and Family Advisory Councils kicked off the 2023-2024 term with a celebratory event honoring the work and dedication of both groups. Council facilitators, along with hospital leadership, gathered with the youth and family advisors in the Child Life Zone to connect with one another and reflect on the Councils’ successful efforts to advance patient and family centered care throughout pediatrics. Event attendees included leaders in nursing, medicine, child life, hospital administration, and social work, reflective of the interdisciplinary nature of the composition of the Councils and the body of work brought to the groups for advisement. Remarks from Dr. Lisa Satlin, Chair of Pediatrics, Dr. Lindsey Douglas, Chief Medical Officer, Jennifer Kero, Clinical Program Director, and Diane Rode, Senior Director of Patient and Family Centered Care, highlighted the seamless integration of the patient and family voice on a multitude of hospital committees and initiatives. Spirits soared throughout the evening as everyone relished the opportunity to come together as friends and collaborators.
Actions Toward Advancing Patient and Family-Centered Care
Family advisors provided input to inform and enhance the rollout of a dedicated patient and family hotline to activate the Kravis Rapid Response Team (KRRT). Advisors engaged in discussions at council meetings and participated in onsite simulation sessions leading to the creation of in-room KRRT signage, the identification of key education points for staff, and opportunities to fine-tune the activation process from the patient and family perspective.
Youth advisors met with representatives of the Cannon Design firm to provide input on several hospital renovations and design projects.
Parent advisors, Carrie Papillo and Jane Wallace, joined social work and creative arts therapy staff to implement “Parent-to-Parent” support programming in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Designed to promote conversation and encourage fellowship among NICU families, programming included warm beverages, sweet snacks, and art interventions. Council members also gave feedback on an orientation created to support the integration of new “Parent to Parent” program volunteers.
Members of the Family Advisory Council provided their perspectives on many hospital initiatives, including Quality Improvement projects (Social Determinants of Health Screening Tool, Prescription Follow Up at Discharge), management of Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn in the NICU, and a hospital-wide “ChildCentered Care Certification Program” to enhance staff knowledge and skills related to family centered care.
Senior Directors, Diane Rode and Tara Villon, met with the Family Advisory Council to review the 2023 Patient and Family Experience survey ratings and discuss the identified key drivers for focus in 2024. Sharing stories of their own successes and challenges at Kravis, advisors provided valuable insights regarding the importance of teamwork among the patient’s care team and the inclusion of parents in decision making regarding their child’s care.
Pediatric Patient and Family Voices Project
The voices and perspectives of our pediatric patients and parents are a source of great insight and inspiration for all of us in healthcare. Patient and family experience is human experience, and our mission is to find a myriad of ways in which to access these important voices and experiences. Diane Rode, Director of Patient and Family Experience, has partnered with our technical staff from the KidZone TV Studio to engage patients and family members in powerful video interviews that are then available to all health care staff for education, inspiration and insight. The videos are short and are organized into “chapters” so that health care staff can quickly access them and use them in staff huddles, meetings and educational sessions. Click on the QR codes below to view the videos we have produced so far in 2024. Many thanks to our families and patients who have generously donated their time to help produce these valuable interviews.
Family Liaison Voice Provides Valuable Input
In 2024, Beth Silber, Family Advisor Liaison, collaborated with the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy team to bolster council member recruitment for both the Family and Youth Advisory Councils. Along with Morgan Stojanowski, Director of the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department, Beth hosted educational events for senior and newly hired social workers to learn about the councils. Social Workers work closely with patients and families and have a keen insight as to who might be interested in spending time working on hospital improvement projects and lending their voice and perspective to vital initiatives.
In addition, Beth has vetted and interviewed new council members for the 2024-2025 term. Both councils are always looking to recruit members that utilize clinical areas not currently represented on the council. An increase in the number of clinical practices represented on the will provide more diverse points of view and relevant insights. Beth is looking forward to continuing this work in 2025.
Scan the code above with your phone to view the video library.
Patient and Family Engagement Steering Committee Members
Nina Connors, Pediatric Oncology Social Worker
Dr. Lindsey Douglas, Chief Medical Officer
Jennifer Kero, Clinical Program Director, Children’s Health Safety and Quality
Diane Rode, Senior Director, Patient and Family Centered Care
Monica Savoti, Director of Nursing
Svetlana Streltsavo-Verma, Director of Nursing
Erin Figueroa, Senior Director of Nursing
Beth Silber, Family Advisor Liaison
Emma Silverstein, Project Manager, Children’s Health Quality and Safety
Morgan Stojanowski, Director, Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department
Cheryl Strauss, Zone Clinical Coordinator and Child Life Specialist III
Gabrielle Paciencia, Pediatric Endocrinology Social Worker
