Dorothy is dedicated to connect, companion and empower grieving children and families through strategic partnerships, resources and nurturing environments that encourage healing and growth.

Professional Summary

Bereavement & Community Education Specialist with over 36 years of experience. Demonstrated track record of creating grief-support programming, working with community partners and leading cross-disciplinary teams to deliver 48, 3-day, grief-support camps to date, serving nearly 1500 children. Cocreator, coordinator for annual, child-focused, health-education event serving 35,000 young children to date. Bereavement educator for medical and camp staff, students and community.

Core Competencies

Education

Nationally Certified Bereavement Facilitator
American Academy of Bereavement

Master of Arts in Child Development,
College Teaching and Administration
Pacific Oaks College, Pasadena, CA

Certifications

Nationally Certified Bereavement Facilitator
2001 – Present

HOPES Counselor
1991 – Present

Certified Child Life Specialist
1990 – Present

Professional Affiliations

American Academy of Bereavement
2017 – Present

Child Life Council
1991 – Present

Association of Child Life Professionals
1991 – 2000

Professional Experience

• Bereavement & Community Education Specialist
  Loma Linda University Medical Center, Children’s Hospital (LLUCH), CA
  4/2003 – Present

  Camp Good Grief

  • Director of Camp Good Grief (CGG) est. 1996, CGG-Special Victims Program (SVP) est. 2005, in collaboration with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, and CGG-Teen Retreat est. 2008, all 3-day camp experiences for kids who have had a sibling or parent die due to illness or accident (CGG) or homicide or suicide (CGG-SVP).
  • Recruits, screens, assesses and retains campers (30+) and volunteer staff (45+).
  • Coordinates family grief support meeting concurrent with Camp Good Grief.
  • Develops and implement grief-support programming to create a nurturing environment of healing and growth where bereaved children are companioned toward reconciliation.
  • Manages all camp logistics, purchasing/organizing resources, meals, transportation, on-site setup.
  • Builds strategic partnerships with service providers and community organizations.
  • Serves as a child advocate and liaison between hospital and the District Attorney’s office.

  Community Outreach & Child Life

  • Coordinates Children’s Day (since its inception in 1985 – 34 years running): an annual health fair for kids that provides hands-on learning activities to promote healthy and safe life choices and to provide young children with non-threatening exposure to a hospital setting.
  • Collaborates with LLUCH Foundation & Marketing for LLUCH community events.
  • Serves as a resource for LLUCH and community on grief education, including off-site events.
  • Encourages/supports staff in practicing hospital values as Values In Practice Ambassador (VIP).
  • Facilitates all aspects of Child Life Department donations.
  • Provides bereavement support and follow-up care for families who have experienced the death of a child in our hospital and for staff who provide bedside bereavement care.

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• Certified Child Life Specialist
  Loma Linda University Medical Center, Children’s Hospital, CA
  1983 – 2003
  • Helped infants, children, families cope with the stress/uncertainty of illness, injury, treatment.
  • Provided evidence-based, developmentally-appropriate interventions including: therapeutic play, preparation and education before medical procedures to cope with fear, anxiety and pain.
  • Provided bereavement support for pediatric patients and families.
  • Developed/coordinated a grief support group for children who experienced the death of a parent.
  • Empowered teen patients through hands-on program to teach beauty techniques to help them manage the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment.

Teaching Experience

• Adjunct Professor
  Loma Linda University, Counseling and Family Sciences, CA
  9/2005 – Present
  • Teaches Child Life Masters students a theoretical overview of grief and loss and illustrate the effects of change/loss on the dynamics of the family structure.
  • Trains students to distinguish the influences of age, gender, personality, culture, and complicated grief upon the experience of loss.
  • Guides students in selecting appropriate interventions for children and families facing loss.
  • Helps students to recognize personal thoughts and feelings about grief and loss and identify how these may influence professional approach.

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• Pediatric Medical and Nursing Staff Lectures
  Loma Linda University Medical Center, CA
  1985 – Present
  • Educates medical staff about factors that influence a child’s understanding and experience of loss.
  • Teaches appropriate interventions medical staff can implement to help grieving families.

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• Guest Lecturer
  University of La Verne, La Verne, CA
  1999 – 2003
  • Taught Child Life Masters students the effects of perinatal loss on the family system.

Recognition

• 33rd Annual Recognition of Service to Youth Awards 11/2017
  Presented to Camp Good Grief by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission of San Bernardino County
• Award for Exemplary Service to Victims of Crime 4/2015
  Presented to LLUCH Camp Good Grief-Special Victims Program by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office

Presentations

• Brooks, D. (October, 2019). Treasuring Our Memories. Presented at the Annual Walk to Remember, Loma Linda University Church, Loma Linda, CA.

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• Brooks, D. (May, 2019). Grief and Loss and Child Life. Education Hour. Presented at Loma Linda University Church, Loma Linda, CA.

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• Brooks, D. (September, 2013). Child Life in Alternate Settings. Presented at the Child Life Intern Symposium, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA.

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• Brooks, D. (August, 2012). Helping Children & Adolescents Cope with Grief. Presented at the Child Life Intern Symposium, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA.

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• Brooks, D. (March, 2008). Camp Good Grief: Transforming Tragedy into Hope. Presented at the Childhood Grief & Traumatic Loss – 4th Annual California Conference, Pasadena, CA.

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• Brooks, D. (October, 2007). Camp Good Grief: Transforming Tragedy into Hope. Presented at the 65th AAMFT Annual Conference, Long Beach, CA.

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• Brooks, D. (May, 2006). Camp Good Grief: Transforming Tragedy into Hope. Presented at the Child Life Council – 24th Annual Conference, Dallas TX.

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• Brooks, D. (November, 2004). Grief and Handling the Holidays. Presented at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Loma Linda, CA.

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• Brooks, D. (2003). Feeling Safe in a Risky World: Helping Children Deal with War and the Threat of Terrorism. Presented at War & Terrorism Coping with Fear, Grief & Loss Conference, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA.

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• Brooks, D. Guillaume, C. (2002). Final Good-Byes: Working with the Grieving Process.  Presented at Critical Care Nursing Course. Loma Linda, CA.

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• Brooks, D. (1997). The Child’s Journey: From Hospital Preparation through School Reintegration. Presented at Transitioning Medically Challenged Children into the School Setting Conference, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, Loma Linda, CA.

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• Brooks, D. (1995). Through the Eyes of a Child: Developmental Characteristics of Children’s Understanding of Death. Presented at The Death of Children: Responding from a Pastoral Perspective Conference, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, Loma Linda, CA.

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• Brooks, D. (1995). Child Life – An Overview. Presented at Riverside Community College, Riverside, CA.

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• Brooks, D. (1986). An Innovative Frame of Reference for Pediatric Oncology. Presented at the Occupational Therapy Association of California Conference, CA.

Continuing Education and Training

• Palliative Care: Everything You Need to Know, but Were Afraid to Ask. 4/2018. Loma Linda University Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Loma Linda, CA

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• 7th Annual Women & Children’s Palliative Care Conference. 2/2018. University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA

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• 6th Annual Child Life Symposium: Art Therapy with the Traumatized. 3/2016. Loma Linda University Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Loma Linda, CA

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• 5th Annual Woman & Children’s Palliative Care Conference. 1/2016. University of California, Irvine Health Orange, CA

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• 5th Annual Child Life Symposium. 3/2015. Loma Linda University Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Loma Linda, CA

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• Childhood Grief and Traumatic Loss – Restoring Joy to Children and Families. 3/2014. Pasadena, CA

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• 4th Annual Child Life Symposium. 3/2014. Loma Linda University Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Loma Linda, CA

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• End It Now: Breaking the Silence About Abuse. 10/2011. Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA

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• 13th Annual Symposium – The National Alliance for Grieving Children. 6/2009. Long Beach, CA

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• Psychosocial Needs of the Patients and Their Families. 5/2007. Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA

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• A Different Kind of Care when Cure is not an Option. 4/2007. Inland Empire Palliative Care Coalition Conference Riverside, CA

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• Annual Child Life Conference. 5/2006. Dallas, TX

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• The Art and Science of Palliative Medicine. 4/2006. Inland Empire Palliative Care Coalition Riverside, CA

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• Working with Survivors of Homicide, Suicide & Violence. 2005. CMI Education Institute, Inc. – Bette Spear, LMHC, LMFT CA

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• Remembering Lives: Conversations with Dying/Bereaved – Lorraine Hedtke, MSW, ACSW, LCSW. 2005. Loma Linda University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital Loma Linda, CA

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• Helping Grieving Children & Tears. 2004. CMI Education Institute – Rob Zucker, LCSW, MA CA

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• Preceptor Skills Workshop. 2002. Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Staff Development Loma Linda, CA

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• The Aftermath of Violence. 2002. Pediatric Critical Care Symposium, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Loma Linda CA

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• How to Use Crisis Debriefing when Responding to Crisis & Trauma. 2002. American Academy of Bereavement – Dr. James A. Fogarty, Ed.D. CA

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• Extended continuing education and training since 1983.