Joan C. Turner

Dr. Turner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Child and Youth Study.  In addition to the coordination of undergraduate practicum, she frequently teaches the following courses:

CHYS 1110 Introduction to Child and Youth Care

CHYS 4423 Psychosocial Care of Children, Youth and Families in Health Care Settings

GCYS 6014 Administration and Leadership in Child and Youth Care

Dr. Turner's scholarship and research accomplishments emphasize Child Life professional topics and issues. In 2009, she published a chapter in a long awaited Child Life textbook and three articles in related professional journals. Presently, Dr. Turner is collaborating with colleagues at Utica College in New York State on an oral history of the Child Life profession.

Further, Dr. Turner has committed herself to service with the Child Life Council. She has been the Associate Editor and the Executive Editor of the Child Life Council Bulletin/Focus, as well as having contributed many articles to the publication.  Dr. Turner has been a presenter at the Child Life Council annual conference for many years, focusing on the promotion of scholarship and research by and for child life specialists. 

Select Publications

MacIssac, E.[1] and Turner, J. (in press). Early Childhood Educators use of Resources to Support Children with Special Needs and their Families. Child and Family Professional.

Turner, J. (2011). Promoting the Child Life profession through scholarship and research. Child and Family Professional, Summer, 45-53.

Turner, J. (2011). Child Life Specialists in the role of research assistant: Imagine the possibilities. Child Life Council Bulletin, 29 (2), 6.

Turner, J. & Rosburg, N. (2011). Academic Pathways: Kind of a Crazy Path. Child Life Council Bulletin, 29 (1)  6/10.

Turner, J. C. (2009). Article Review: Reflective Journaling for Self-Assessment and Writing Initiatives. Child Life Bulletin, 27 (3), 4.

Turner, J. C. (2009). Research in Brief: Child life research outcome expectations, interests and self-efficacy. Child Life Focus, 27 (3), 10-12.

Turner, J. & Fralic, J. (2009). Making explicit the implicit: Child Life Specialists talk about their assessment process. Child and Youth Care Forum, 38 (1) 39-54.

Turner, J. & French, C. (2009). Parents' experience caring for young children with minor illness: An ecological perspective. Canadian Children, 34 (1) 13-20.

Turner, J., Fralic, J., Newman-Bennett, K. & Skinner, L. (2009). Everybody needs a break! Responses to a playgarden survey. Pediatric Nursing, 35 (1) 27-34.

Turner, J. (2009). Theoretical Foundations of Child Life in R. H. Thompson (Ed.) Handbook of Child Life, USA: C.C. Thomas Publisher. pp. 3-35.

Turner, J. (2006). Representations of illness, injury and health in children's picture books. Children's Health Care, 35 (2) 179-189.

Turner, J. (2005). A place for attachment theory in child life programming: The potential to assess the quality of parent-child relationships. Child and Youth Care Forum, 35 (3) 195-207.

Select Presentations

Crowell, T., Turner, J. & Shamszad, K. (2010). Writing and Research: Practice for the Practitioner. 29th Annual Child Life Conference on Professional Issues, Chicago, IL.

Turner, J., Crowell, T. & Shamszad, K. (2010). Writing and Research: Practice for the Practitioner. 28th Annual Child Life Conference on Professional Issues, Phoenix Az.

Turner, J. & Kelly, M. (2010). Showcasing Student Research. 28th Annual Child Life Conference on Professional Issues, Phoenix Az.

Turner, J. (2009). Documentation and Recording: Clarification of terms for best practice. Big Brothers Big Sisters. Halifax NS.

Turner, J. (2009). Using the scientific method to examine the things we do: The case of coming and going. 27thAnnual Child Life Conference on Professional Issues, Boston MA.

Turner, J. (2008). Looking back while moving forward. Association of Atlantic Universities Teaching Showcase. University of New Brunswick.

Turner, J. (2007). Developing Research interests and skills through supervised undergraduate research experiences. 26th Annual Child LIfe Conference on Professional Issues, San Diego CA.