At Team IMPACT, we know behind every successful match lies the dedicated work of our child life specialists (CCLS) and social workers (SW). During Child Life Specialist & Social Worker Month, we proudly celebrate the invaluable contributions of our clinical program staff who use their expertise to transform the lives of children, families, teams, and communities every day.
Sarah Schaefer, MS, CCLS, CTRS, sees her case manager role as much more than managing a match. “One of the primary roles of a CCLS is to assess the emotional and developmental needs of children and use that information for intentional and evidence-based interventions to promote coping and emotional wellbeing,” Sarah said. “By using the clinical skills I have gained through my education, training, and experience as a CCLS, I am not just managing a match but ensuring that both the child and their family experience the full benefits of the Team IMPACT program.”
Sarah and her case manager colleagues know these skills are vital when identifying and setting goals for each child. By offering a specialized game plan and providing resources tailored to each match, every Team IMPACT Case Manager ensures that each participant receives comprehensive support. “In the context of being a case manager, these clinical skills are often applied when identifying and setting goals for the child, offering specialized insights into how the child is emotionally or psychologically responding to their experiences, as well as providing resources and appropriate interventions for everyone involved,” Sarah said. “My clinical skills help me to navigate interpersonal dynamics, communicate effectively with the family and team, and provide all with resources and guidance.”
For Sarah, the journey to becoming a Child Life Specialist was driven by a deep desire to make a positive difference. “As I was navigating what I wanted to pursue as a career, I was always very motivated by the broad but important idea that I wanted my work to truly help others and make a positive difference,” she said. “When I discovered Child Life as a profession, it was the perfect way for me to combine my love of working with children and my desire to provide others with support during some of their most challenging times.”
At Team IMPACT, Sarah applies her child life background daily. “It’s incredibly fulfilling for my work to be able to help children feel understood, empowered, included, and develop life-long coping strategies,” she said. Ultimately, Sarah’s goal, and the goal of every child life specialist and social worker at Team IMPACT, is to ensure that each child’s experience is as positive and meaningful as it can possibly be. “Whether that means guiding them through a difficult moment, helping them celebrate achievements, or simply being there to offer emotional support when they need it,” Sarah said, she helps guide the ultimate Team IMPACT experience for each of her matches.
“Every child is unique, and their needs may vary based on their age, developmental stage, medical condition, or personal circumstances,” Sarah explained. Team IMPACT’s unique clinical model means having a clinician manage each match helps create an environment where the child’s emotional, developmental, and social needs are fully supported. “It helps bridge the gap between physical activity, social engagement, and emotional growth, ensuring that the program is not just about the sport but also about the child’s overall wellbeing.”
One match that exemplifies the importance of this tailored approach is Archer’s journey with the Toledo men’s basketball team. Living with a rare skin disorder called Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), Archer faces unique challenges that make participating in traditional sports difficult. “Epidermolysis Bullosa, in very simple form, is a race against time,” said Archer’s dad, Kirk. “This essentially makes even the most remedial tasks that we take for granted quite difficult, and it’s a journey that is unfortunately marked with constant pain.”
Kirk had first heard of Team IMPACT through his local soccer coaching community but really began to understand the power of the program through the experience of another local Team IMPACT match, Larry Prout, Jr., who for years has shared his journey with the Michigan football team. “After seeing and hearing Larry’s story in person at a Michigan football game, I didn’t realize at the time that life had a bit of a serendipitous twist ahead for us when Archer was born,” Kirk recalled. While in the NICU with Archer, Kirk found connection on social media, bringing new people from the rare disease and sports worlds into Archer’s life. “One of these connections was actually the Prout family,” Kirk said, and the families met while both Larry and Archer were spending time in the hospital. “Larry and his family are amazing, and through his Team IMPACT story, we were able to find out how awesome this program is.”
Team IMPACT came into Kirk’s universe for the third time when his good friend Eric Pogue reached out. Eric was the head soccer coach at Oakland University at the time and shared the impact of his team’s experience with their two Team IMPACT matches throughout his tenure at Oakland. At the time, Archer was too young to be matched with a team of his own, but Kirk remembers Eric speaking so highly of the program that he offered his own team to be Archer’s match when Archer turned five and could qualify for the program. “In true form to its mission,” Kirk said, “Team IMPACT was bringing people who were outside of the program together in a meaningful way!”
When Archer did become old enough to qualify for Team IMPACT, Kirk wasted no time submitting their family’s application, detailing Archer’s diagnosis journey and the challenges he has faced. Erin Higgins, the Team IMPACT Match-Up Specialist who matched Archer with his team, recognized these challenges and worked to find the right match. “Archer’s family loves sports, specifically soccer, so knowing how unique and special Archer is, I wanted to give him a different story and experience. Because he was unable to play his own sports, this was important to grow his self-confidence,” Erin explained. “Considering weather and sun risk for his skin, an indoor sport seemed like a better fit than outdoor, so we went for basketball!”
Archer was matched with the Toledo basketball team in April of 2024, and his growth since joining the team has been profound. “I don’t know if growth is a capable enough word to explain the incredibly positive impact that the Toledo men’s basketball program and Team IMPACT have had on Archer and our family,” Kirk said. Kirk explained that an often unseen side effect of EB is the heavy isolation that comes with the fragility, care, and demand of this diagnosis. “For Archer, this been nothing short of amazing, as we have seen exponential growth in his confidence, his strength, and most importantly, his understanding of character and meaning.” Kirk continued, “Through the generosity of Team IMPACT and the University of Toledo men’s basketball program, Archer has been able to feel, learn, and live within one of life’s greatest moments—that special moment where he truly felt he was a part of a team by choice, not just due to medical necessity. Archer has felt the humble kindness, character, and embrace from a world outside of what he has only known in his family, friends, EB, and medical communities; and the pure power and joy of this gift has, for the first time in his life, allowed Archer to feel truly comfortable in own skin, which means more than the moon itself.”
Because of his diagnosis, Archer has had many life experiences others his age cannot relate to, often leaving him feeling isolated and forcing him to mature in ways his peers will never know—but being with his teammates allows some of that to melt away. “As the physical challenges posed have become intertwined with maturity in his cognitive development, Archer has developed a very keen understanding of his body and lives with a spirit that is unbreakable,” Kirk said. “This spirit gives him the strength to never be afraid of what the day has in store for him, and it’s the fuel that gives him and every EB warrior a truly amazing and contagious aura of inspiration. Everything about our opportunity with Team IMPACT and the University of Toledo men’s basketball team has been rocket fuel for Archer’s energy, activity, mobility, and unbreakable spirit—and we have never seen him as active or as happy as he has been over these past nine months.” As Kirk and his family have watched Archer’s vibrancy and courage soar with the team, they’ve dubbed their interactions with the Rockets the “Rocket IMPACT” for Archer’s soul.
Sarah has noticed the ways the Rocket IMPACT has affected Archer since being matched with the team as well. “Archer’s growth in his goal areas has been evident. From a clinical perspective, the process of integrating into a new group and environment like this provides several therapeutic benefits, fostering both social and personal development,” she said. Archer’s presence at home games has also been a significant milestone. From pregame introductions to post-game locker room celebrations, Archer is fully integrated into the team. With limited opportunities for social interaction due to his medical condition, the team has become a “saving grace” for Archer, providing a crucial space for social learning and connection. Joining the team has not only expanded Archer’s social circle but has also provided opportunities to interact with teammates, coaches, and a new community that allows him to observe positive behaviors modeled by those around him. “This has encouraged Archer to emulate positive qualities such as teamwork and perseverance, developing prosocial behaviors and a healthy sense of ambition as he navigates a very difficult diagnosis,” Sarah said. “Archer has really come out of his shell and demonstrated feeling empowered to be himself. By finding a sense of belonging and value within a group, Archer is able to experience a deeper understanding of who he is. Archer truly looks up to the team and sees them as a support system, friends, and mentors.”
And it’s not only the team that has provided Archer and his family with invaluable mentorship but also the Team IMPACT staff who have helped bring this experience to life. As a dad, Kirk feels confident that his son is in good hands every step of the Team IMPACT journey. “I think the best way to share this feeling would be to liken it to having a mentor always next to you. As in life, no one gets to where they are or want to be without the help of someone along the way…someone who showed character without having to be asked for it, someone who gave us help and hope just when we needed it, or even when we thought we didn’t,” he said. “For us, knowing that we have not just a professional but also a personal mentor that genuinely cares about the experience for everyone involved is undoubtedly priceless. Our Team IMPACT mentor, Sarah, has been outstanding, insightful, genuinely interested and caring on how the experience is, and having these traits paired with her life experience and knowledge, has made our Team IMPACT experience truly unforgettable. Just as a thoughtful teacher must guide their students to and through their life experiences so that they can grow into the person they are meant to be, having Sarah and Team IMPACT in our corner is so very welcomed and appreciated!”
“A student can’t teach the class if they don’t know the lesson, and a teacher can’t teach the lesson if they don’t know the class. From our journey, we cannot emphasize the importance of trained, certified, and understanding professionals that guide children and families through the navigation and complexities of an often unforgiving path,” Kirk said. Kirk knows that his case manager has a background and education to comprehend the needs of his child and his family, but more importantly, the ability to draw from her own life experiences, authentically relate to people, and empathize with their circumstances, which he feels is key to true impact. “With so many overwhelming facets that come with a unique medical journey,” he said, “the relatable and genuine child life specialists and social workers become trusted mentors that gently spark the guided discovery of the path forward and offer light along a very daunting path to come.”
Sarah, Erin, and the entire clinical team at Team IMPACT stand as proof that the work of child life specialists and social workers goes far beyond facilitating matches—it is about fostering resilience, creating supportive environments, and empowering children to thrive. This month, we celebrate dedication, compassion, and lasting impact child life specialists and social workers make on the lives of the children and families we serve.
