Missouri State University

Skip to content Skip to navigation
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

College of Education News

How to better care for children in crisis

February 20, 2025 by Morgan E. Tinin

Missouri State University students studying child life work with children in a therapy setting.

From traumatic injuries to natural disasters to violent incidents and more, first responders respond to hundreds of emergency events involving children every day.  

“Over nine million children in the United States receive emergency medical care for unintentional injuries annually,” said Dr. Lindsey Murphy, assistant professor of child life studies at Missouri State University.  

She conducted a research project to examine how first responders perceive and manage children’s reactions during emergencies. 

The goal was to dig deeper into first responders’ experiences with children during emergencies and their roles in meeting children’s psychosocial needs, as well as identify gaps in services to support these needs.  

With help from her colleague Dr. Elizabeth King, associate professor of child and family development, the article titled “The Lived Experiences of First Responders During Emergency Events Involving Children: Child Reactions, First Responder Roles, and Additional Needs” was published in The Journal of Child Life in December 2024. 

“The role of a first responder is sustaining life and supporting safety,” Murphy said. “The first responders I interviewed mentioned how helpful support would be, since they can’t always prioritize the patient and child’s needs.” 

Read the full article

Filed Under: Child Life Studies, COE Faculty Tagged With: child life, Lindsey Murphy

Navigating loss and grief

November 8, 2024 by Morgan E. Tinin

Child drawing

For its 2024 annual retreat, the Sudden and Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) Foundation asked Missouri State University’s Dr. Melissa Schotthofer to assist in grief workshops.  

Schotthofer, who is a clinical assistant professor in the child life track at MSU, invited two of her former students, Yukari Stickley and Ashton Hodge, to help facilitate a few workshops on Sept. 28 for children and teenagers grieving the loss of a sibling. 

A meaningful collaboration 

Stickley and Hodge both completed their bachelor’s degrees in child and family development with the child life option in 2016 and 2019, respectively. They also hold master’s degrees in child life studies from MSU.  

Stickley works as a child life specialist at Cox Health and Hodge is a child life specialist at the Child Advocacy Center in Springfield. 

For Schotthofer, the opportunity to work with her former students as peers was an enjoyable experience. 

“It was cool to work with them as colleagues in the field, creating programming for the workshops,” she said.  

Three of her current students also assisted with the effort.  

“I gave them the opportunity to help, and they fully embraced it,” Schotthofer said. “They did a great job relating to the kids on a really tough topic. They represented themselves and our program well.” 

Age-based workshop structure 

For the workshops, the team created age-appropriate grief sessions for around 45 participants. 

Ages 4-7 

  • Schotthofer read a book called “Invisible String” to the group and participants drew a picture of their loved one. 
  • Stickley asked them to write what makes them feel angry on a piece of paper. They were then told to rip their paper up. 
  • Hodge led a movement activity with the group. 

Ages 8-12 

  • Schotthofer gave participants canvases to draw a picture of their loved one or a special memory. 
  • Hodge used sand art and had them draw what their life was like before their loved ones passed away versus their life in the present.  
  • Stickley repeated her drawing activity that she did with the previous group. 

Ages 13+ 

  • This group did one large activity involving butcher paper.  
  • They drew whatever they wanted and discussed their drawings together. 

Importance of grief counseling 

The goal of the workshop for Schotthofer was to provide a space for people to express grief who might not be able to otherwise.  

“We know sometimes it can be hard for kids to talk about their lost loved one at school or with their friends and not everybody wants to hear about it,” she said. “But we had a lot of therapeutic conversations.” 

Schotthofer was especially moved by the conversations she had with her peers, students and the workshop participants in the teenage group. 

“They said, ‘Our friends just expect us to be over this by now, but it keeps coming up. Sometimes we’re fine, sometimes we’re not.’ That’s the nature of grief and bereavement,” she said. “We told the older kids that as they progress developmentally, it might hit them in different ways.”  

“We also said, ‘You might come to a point where you’re feeling better for a while and then something new happens in your life and it restarts things again,” Schotthofer said. “And that’s OK.” 

Learn more about the child life track 

Filed Under: Child Life Studies, COE Alumni Tagged With: Ashton Hodge, child and family development, child life, Melissa Schotthofer, Yukari Stickley

Child life student runs nonprofit while in school

November 27, 2023 by Strategic Communication

Tamar Adler holding craft bags. Charlie looking at the camera.

In June 2020, Tamar Adler went through a traumatic experience that sparked her passion for child life.  

To begin her journey in child life, Adler created Cheery Charlie, a nonprofit corporation that donates craft bags to children in hospitals.  

Nearly three years since its inception in January 2021, Adler’s nonprofit has donated over 8,000 craft bags.  

In August 2022, Adler enrolled in the child life graduate program at Missouri State University. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, and completes her courses online.  

Putting her education to practice 

Adler completed her practicum this fall at Mercy Kids Hospital in St. Louis.  

She spent most of her time in the emergency department and occasionally worked in the surgery center. She practiced providing support to children as a child life specialist during some of their most vulnerable times.  

“One of the most valuable things I learned was to match the energy in the room and of the patient. This helps build rapport and makes the child feel more comfortable,” Adler said.  

While she enjoyed working in both departments, she discovered she loved working in the emergency room.  

“I liked not knowing who was coming next, and the sense of surprise,” she said. “I’m sad the experience is over, but I’m looking forward to my future.” 

A supportive community 

Adler shared she has loved her online MSU experience. 

“I’ve learned so much, and the faculty is amazing and supportive,” she said. 

Adler said Dr. Lindsey Murphy, assistant professor of education at MSU and Adler’s advisor, has helped her tremendously. 

“Dr. Murphy goes above and beyond for her students. She’s extremely supportive, and you can tell how much she cares about each student,” she said.  

Adler plans to graduate in spring 2026. She is grateful to be able to complete her program while working on Cheery Charlie. 

“I hope to expand my nonprofit into other areas of Missouri and beyond. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me and Cheery Charlie.” 

Study child life at MSU 

Filed Under: Child Life Studies, COE Students Tagged With: child life, Graduate Program

Cheery Charlie and child life

February 7, 2023 by Strategic Communication

Tamar Adler holding craft bags.

Avi Adler was lying unconscious underneath a truck when his family found him in June 2020.  

A delivery truck driver had reversed without looking, striking Avi on the 20th mile of his bike ride. After the accident, the 18-year-old was rushed to the hospital, where he awoke with broken bones and a concussion.  

A child life specialist helped Avi while he was hospitalized, making him and his family feel calmer and at ease. 

Missouri State University student Tamar Adler was inspired by how much the specialist helped her brother through his traumatic injury. 

“The accident changed Avi, and it also changed me,” Tamar said. “It made me realize I wanted a career that benefits other people.”     

Since the accident, Avi has fully recovered. Tamar changed her career trajectory from fashion to child life.   

Bringing joy with Cheery Charlie 

Tamar Adler and Charlie smiling.Tamar had to think outside the box to find ways to volunteer in this field since it was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I started making craft bags and donated them to the child life departments at local St. Louis hospitals as a way to volunteer from home,” Tamar said. “The bags help kids be creative and experience normalcy while in the hospital.” 

She named her volunteer project Cheery Charlie and turned it into an official Missouri nonprofit corporation.  

“I chose the name because I had just gotten a puppy named Charlie, and Charlie makes me cheery,” she said.  

Since the inception of Cheery Charlie in January 2021, Tamar has donated over 6,000 craft bags to children in St. Louis hospitals.   

Tamar won the St. Louis Jewish Light 2022 Unsung Hero Award for her time, service and commitment to the St. Louis Jewish community through Cheery Charlie. 

Learn more about Cheery Charlie

Furthering her passion through education 

Tamar enrolled in Missouri State’s online child life graduate program two years after her brother’s accident.  

She plans to graduate in May 2027. As a future child life specialist, Tamar will help children and their families deal with the challenges of trauma, loss, long-term illness or injury and more.  

She said the knowledge she has gained about child life through her program has been invaluable for her future and nonprofit.  

“Being able to study child life at MSU while working on Cheery Charlie has been so powerful to me,” Tamar said. 

“My time at MSU has only allowed me to love child life even more.”

Despite the program being online, Tamar feels a great connection to her fellow child life students and her advisor, Dr. Lindsey Murphy.  

“Tamar is a natural,” said Murphy, assistant professor of childhood education and family studies at Missouri State.  

“She exudes joy and many characteristics and skills needed to be a great child life specialist. I have no doubt she will continue to touch many patients, families and staff throughout her career.” 

Explore child life studies 

Filed Under: Child Life Studies, COE Students Tagged With: child life, childhood education and family studies, Graduate Program

COE department head receives statewide award

April 16, 2020 by Sydni Moore

Hill Hall on a spring day.

Dr. Denise Cunningham, childhood education and family studies department head, and all her hard work has not gone unnoticed. Missouri Educators of Family and Consumer Sciences and Human Services (MoEFACS) recently selected Cunningham as the recipient of the 2020 Champion Business Leader award.  

The news came to Cunningham in a letter from Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). 

“When I first saw the letter, I thought another faculty member, Debra Price, had won an award for post-secondary teaching,” Cunningham said. “I had no idea the award was for me. I didn’t think I had done anything worthy of being recognized.” 

MoEFACS felt differently, as do her colleagues.  

“A leader is a person who empowers and uses the strengths of others in order to yield positive results. Dr. Cunningham is that type of leader,” Dr. Stefanie Livers said. Livers is an assistant professor in Cunningham’s department. “She effectively supports faculty in their individual teaching and research, orchestrating a synergistic body that provides students with quality programs.” 

Creating a legacy  

Cunningham began at Missouri State in 2005 as an assistant professor in early childhood education. She has since “demonstrated a sustained commitment to improving career and technical education.” 

“I have been intentional about working with family and consumer science teachers to develop dual credit opportunities in child development, human development and family studies, as well as education-specific courses, such as Introduction to Elementary Education,” Cunningham said.  

She has also invited FACS and Career Pathways teachers and interested students to campus to learn about related MSU programs.  

In addition to creating opportunities, Cunningham led the development of two master’s degree programs: Master of Science in Child Life Studies and Master of Science in Early Childhood Special Education. Cunningham also expanded the College of Education’s Internship Academy to include opportunities for early childhood education candidates.  

“I have also been involved in Bear Partnership, a summer, week-long immersion experience for high school students interested in the field of education,” Cunningham said.  

MSU memories 

One of Cunningham’s favorite memories in her 15 years at the university is when she implemented the Abundant Books for Children project across schools in Stone County.  

The project culminated from her own research, and she put it to use in an early childhood methods course as a service-learning assignment. She and her undergraduate students went to five school districts to provide workshops for families with preschool students. The workshops taught families how to use an interactive, shared book experience with their young children.  

“The work with the families was so enjoyable, but I was thrilled at what students learned from the experience,” Cunningham said. “It was so cool to have my research, teaching and service so connected.” 

Cunningham said she looks forward to the rest of her time at Missouri State. She will be recognized for her work July 22, at a MoEFACS luncheon and awards ceremony. Additionally, MoEFACS will forward an application for Cunningham to the National Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences (NATFACS), to compete for the Champion for Family and Consumer Sciences award.

Filed Under: Child Life Studies, COE Faculty Tagged With: award, Denise Cunningham, FACS, Stefanie Livers

Next Page »

Subscribe via email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Categories

  • Bear POWER
  • Child Life Studies
  • COE Alumni
  • COE Faculty
  • COE Staff
  • COE Students
  • Counseling
  • Early Childhood and Family Development
  • Educational Administration
  • Elementary Education
  • Graduate Program
  • Literacy
  • Middle School Education
  • Secondary Education
  • Special Education
  • Student Affairs
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Make your Missouri statementMake your Missouri statement
  • Last Modified: April 16, 2020
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Disclosures
  • Equal Opportunity Employer and Institution
  • © 2025 Board of Governors, Missouri State University
  • Contact Information
  • Healthcare MRFs