The Care Team at Ryan House uses a team approach to provide comprehensive child- and family-centered care in place of the care the family provides for the child round the clock at home. The child and family are not only at the center of care, but are also closely involved by providing input about goals/wishes and participating fully in choices and plans of care. While roles on the Care Team may vary, each role contributes to the totality of care provided to the child and family.
Let us introduce you to the exceptional Care Team of Ryan House.
Photographed from left to right:
Charley Coppinger Chaplain, Jenni Rogers Clinical Resource Coordinator, Josie White Social Worker, Amanda Thomas RN, Pam Roman Team Leader, Joann Ramundo RN, Maria Montufar CNA, Ronni Englett RN, Kashya Wojnarowski CNA, and Helene Armstrong CNA
Pamela Roman RN, CHPN – Team Leader
With a background in supervision and as a Clinical Resource Nurse, Pam applies a depth and breadth of care experience in managing the day-to-day, hour-by-hour operations of Ryan House. As such, she liaises with the Management Team, leads and develops Care Team personnel and activities, and works with all aspects of providing a seemless and enjoyable stay for child and family guests.
In coordination with the Clinical Resource Coordinator and Child Life Specialist, she ensures implementation of individualized care plans through effective utilization of the care team; ensures development and maintenance of a cohesive team environment; promotes effective communication and a child centered team through formal and informal meetings; and assists in conducting staff activities to share information, generate ideas, discuss concerns and support staff.
Jenni Rogers MS, CCLS – Clinical Resource Coordinator
Working closely with the Team Leader, Jenni oversees all program development at Ryan House (ensuring that standards for developmental care are met), and provides outreach and education on pediatric palliative care for the medical community and families who may use Ryan House as a resource.
She acts as a resource to all members of the health care team related to the provision of providing care, enhancing the assessment skills of others, the establishment of developmental care standards, and determination of realistic goals for optimal pediatric palliative care. With a Child Life Specialist background, Jenni recognizes the individuality of each child’s situation and uses a range of developmentally appropriate activities, including play, education, and self-expression to help the child and family cope with the illness and life stresses that exist. She is also responsible for the oversight of developmentally appropriate legacy and memory activities for the child facing end of life and his or her siblings.
Josie White MSW – Social worker
Josie coordinates and plans programs and activities to meet the social and emotional needs of children and their families. A participant in development of each child’s care plan, her work begins with psychosocial assessments of children and their family members, identifying resources and needs in the context of culture, family, age and developmental needs.
She facilitates interaction with and coordination among internal and external resources, including spiritual care counselors, community referrals, the mobilization of personal and community resources, outside agencies (including the referring agency) and others.
Josie is focused on coordinating care of each Ryan House guest and providing support to the entire family. She provides tailored child and/or family counseling as identified by the care team, be it crisis intervention, conflict resolution or adjustment to the circumstances of a child’s medical condition.
Kristen Bakalis – Child Life Specialist
The Child Life Specialist focuses her skills on the tasks of developing and coordinating individualized plans of care for each Ryan House guest. The plans are multi-layered, comprised of family needs/requests, supporting the enrichment and therapeutic course of each stay, assessing and addressing emotional, physical and psychosocial needs, actively honoring individuality and much more.
She ensures the availability and utilization of a range of developmentally appropriate activities (including play, education and self-expression); encourages effective coping strategies for the child and family; and plans, organizes, and leads individuals/groups in creative expression, self healing, and developmental play.
Through it all, the Child Life Specialist encourages socialization whenever possible, with peers, siblings, and family members through developmentally appropriate play activities; implements developmentally appropriate legacy and memory activities for the child and/or siblings facing end of life; and organizes and manages special events, birthdays, holidays, special guests, and participates in house-wide family programming.
Registered Nurses (RNs)
Nursing services are necessary because many of the children who stay at Ryan House have care routines that include the use of home vents, IV therapy with central lines, and tube feedings. No one could expect a regular babysitter or volunteer to perform these tasks. Most parents have been trained by their doctor’s office or hospital, and are used to doing these tasks for their children. Registered Nurses evaluate, plan, implement, and document care for each child; they are also responsible for each child’s medications and ensure the health, comfort and safety of each child.
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)
CNAs help children with bathing, personal hygiene, and all the things we typically do in daily living for self-care (such as feeding ourselves, dressing, grooming), work or leisure.
Spiritual Care
With knowledge of the issues of last rites and particular funeral practices of common religions, the Spiritual Care Team is skilled at anticipating and identifying religious and ritualistic needs of families of children with life-threatening conditions, and understanding that families who do not follow a particular religion may still have spiritual needs. The coordinator appreciates that families may approach death and dying with varied belief systems and rituals.
All our staffing is facilitated via Hospice of the Valley. If you would like to become a member of our Care Team, the link below will take you to the Hospice of the Valley Career page.
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