Child Life Council honors Cross for distinguished service
Janet Cross
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
Since 1988, the annual Distinguished Service Award has been given to the Child Life profession’s exceptional members for their outstanding contributions to the field of Child Life.
Cross leads teams from Child Life, Volunteer Services, the Family Resource Center, the School Program, Music and Art Therapy, Patient and Family Advisory Councils, Patient Education and Pastoral Care. She has nearly three decades of service at Children's Hospital.
The service award will be presented to Cross at the Child Life Council’s 30th annual conference on professional issues in Washington D.C., May 24-27.
“Janet has led the development of one of the best Child Life divisions in the country,” said Luke Gregory, chief executive officer at Children's Hospital.
“She is a model employee who consistently exhibits a high level of knowledge and integrity. Whether providing compassionate support to patients and families or guiding diverse teams of hospital professionals, she is always visible, engaged and supportive.”
Since arriving at Vanderbilt in 1982, she has held various positions, including Certified Child Life Specialist, director of the Junior League Family Resource Center and director of Child Life Services.
She served as president of the Child Life Council in 2008, and in 2010 she was selected as one of five program reviewers for the organization to provide consultation for Child Life programs around the world.
Recently, she was named among the Nashville Business Journal’s 2012 Women of Influence list.
Cross has a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture, home economics and child development from Mississippi State University, and a Master's degree in Child Development, Psychology and Human Development from Peabody College.