About

Krista Naugler

Krista Naugler, a Certified Child Life Specialist, joined the KHLF team in October 2015. In June 2016, she took on the additional responsibilities of Upopolis Program Manager. For over 25 years, Krista has worked in child life services at IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, serving in emergency, cardiology, orthopaedics, surgery, PICU, neurology, and as the practice leader. Throughout her career, she has been an advocate for youth grief peer support opportunities and co-facilitated grief support groups for youth 10-17 years of age. In 2014, Krista founded Camp Kedooopse (now Camp Solace) at Brigadoon Village, a grief support camp for children and youth ages 8-17 years. When asked why she is passionate about her work for KHLF, Krista shared that she recognizes the need to meet teens where they are. Today, that means accepting their use of technology for connection and expression.

Jessica Miller

Jessica Miller (Poesch) joined the KHLF team in October of 2015, currently she is in the role of the Upopolis Program Coordinator. In July 2016, Jessica also took on a contract with KHLF’s initiative Upedia, and has expanded role with that program, as Upedia Coordinator.

Jessica joined the KHLF team with over 15 years’ experience as a Certified Child Life Specialist. Her experience in clinical settings includes; outpatient oncology, nephrology and multi-organ transplant, general surgery, emergency and 7 years on the inpatient oncology unit at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

Jessica’s education and experience goes beyond the scope of clinical child life practice. This includes her role as Program Manager for the Child and Teen Program at Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto, and Adjunct Instructor for the Child Life Program at McMaster University. In 2009, Jessica received her Masters of Arts from Ryerson University where her thesis examined children’s perceived understanding of death through the experiences of Child Life Specialists. Jessica has also furthered her education with specialized courses in pediatric palliative care and cultural competence.

When asked why she is passionate about her work for KHLF, Jessica expresses that it’s her firm belief and experience that knowledge can empower youth to overcome and deal with fear. This coupled with her desire to connect with teens using their modality; technology, made Upopolis and KHLF an ideal avenue to pursue her passions. Jessica is extremely proud to be involved with KHLF, and contribute to Upopolis, and Upedia.

Tija Praulins

Tija Praulins is a Certified Child Life Specialist who joined KHLF in February 2019 as the Sibling Group and Social Lead for Upopolis. She expressed that she was drawn to Upopolis because it recognizes and supports technology to educate and connect youth; she shares this same belief with her KHLF team.

Tija’s current role at Upopolis is complemented by an almost decade-long career at McMaster Children’s Hospital (MCH), where she coordinated programming, entertainment, and in-kind donations for hospitalized patients and their siblings, and provided child life services in the emergency department and inpatient wards. Most recently, Tija moved to the administration side of healthcare and is now supporting Hamilton Health Science’s strategy team. She feels so grateful to be helping patients in this new, challenging and exciting capacity, while still using her clinical knowledge and experience.

Tija developed her passion for working with youth who have had hospital experiences while she was a facilitator of the MCH Youth Advisory Council. She says that being able to learn about youths’ interests, understand how they perceive healthcare and illness, support their relationships with each other, and empower them to make a change in their community, has helped make her a better clinician. Tija is thankful that she learned so much, and more, from them as they did from her.

Tija is very grateful to have the opportunity to extend her passions into her work with Upopolis and KHLF and is committed to helping youth use technology as an outlet for expression.

Melissa Dodaro

Melissa Dodaro is a Certified Child Life Specialist with diverse experience in hospital, community, and rehabilitation settings. She holds a Master of Science in Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Studies. Since joining Upopolis in 2022, Melissa has led the Grief Island Program, where she develops and facilitates psychosocial programming for grieving youth and creates accessible and supportive resources, such as “Wanderings”, a grief notebook for youth to process and navigate their grief. She is passionate about supporting children and families through creative mediums like play, dance, and art, always using a strengths-based approach to meet their unique needs.

Becki Steel

Becki Steel is a certified child life specialist working out of Vancouver BC, the traditional and unceeded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Becki has been working with Upopolis’ amazing youth as a program facilitator since May of 2022.

Becki has a diverse background working in child and youth mental health, immigrant and refugee settlement, and pediatric oncology camps. For the past five years she has been working as a child life specialist at BC Children’s Hospital, supporting various units and creating the child life program at the Sunny Hill Health Centre. Becki has her MSc in Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care and has had the opportunity to be involved in several research and QI projects  focused on children’s psychosocial health. This experience complements her work at Upopolis and enables her to connect with users, provide meaningful support and refer to appropriate resources.

Becki is passionate about working creatively to influence children’s healthcare experiences and empower them to take ownership of their coping. Becki is grateful to work for an organization like KHLF which recognizes the importance of peer connection as a protective factor for youth during stressful experiences and is proud to be able to use a platform like Upopolis to empower youth. 

Laura McGrath

For the past 20 years, Laura has been working as a Child Life Specialist at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto in a variety of areas. Her current role includes planning dream deliveries and hospital-wide events for patients and families.

Laura’s experience and education includes a Bachelor of Health Science, completed a Hospitalized Child in England internship at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London, England, and completed a certificate in Family Support from Ryerson University to advance her education and knowledge working with patients and families. 

When asked what she enjoys about her work for KHLF, Laura shares that Upopolis has been a passion of hers since she worked in the role of the Sick Kids Super User in 2016.  She believes in the potential of the platform and what it can offer youth.  With the newly expanded referral process, she is excited to see the platform grow even more and reach more youth all across Canada and into the US.

Kim Henry

Kim has a passion for helping children and youth, and is currently the Director of Development, Major Gifts and Operations at Kids’ Health Links Foundation, working to make a difference in the lives of young people living with chronic health conditions and life challenges.

Kim has been a non profit leader for over 20 years. Her dedication to philanthropy is underscored by her 2019 Master’s in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership degree and her CFRE accreditation since 2015.

Her long-standing volunteer involvement with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), spanning 19 years in the Waterloo Region and serving on the National Board as the Regional Director of Ontario for six years, showcases her passion for advocacy and community engagement, particularly in the fight against impaired driving.

Throughout her career, Kim has been an active member of the Association of Healthcare Professionals and the Association of Fundraising Professionals, enabling her to engage in extensive professional development.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Kim enjoys spending quality time with her family, including her two beloved golden retrievers, and indulging in outdoor activities like camping and late-night campfires.