Jen Armstrong is a certified child life specialist and certified family life educator who provides psychosocial support to youth and families as a child life specialist at Kenowa Hills Middle School in Grand Rapids, Mi. She’s also a member of the newly created district crisis response team, working to incorporate inclusivity and trauma-responsive practices in policy.

Jen developed a passion for disaster response after attending Community Emergency Response Team training 11 years ago. After completing her master’s degree in Family Life Education in 2015, she began the child life program in the emergency department of a community hospital in Battle Creek, Mi. While there, she recognized the need for staff psychosocial support as well and became a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management team.  Jen is passionate about the healing powers of play and relationship and teaches Therapeutic Play to future child life specialists at Western Michigan University.