The Wild Life Of Leaving the Child Life Profession and Not Feeling Guilty About It with Caelin Hallgren and Ramonna Datuin

Certified Child Life Specialist, Jessica Lewin, talks with friends and CCLSs, Caelin Hallgren and Ramonna Datuin, about their newly found work/life balance as they have recently stepped away from the child life profession.

The moment of reckoning came differently for each – for Ramonna, it was realizing her entire identity had become wrapped up in her clinical role, while Caelin found herself wishing for anything (even a car accident) just to avoid another workday. Their stories reflect a growing reality in the helping professions: burnout doesn't discriminate, and sometimes the most dedicated professionals need to make difficult choices.

Now working as case managers – Ramonna with a nonprofit connecting chronically ill children with college sports teams, and Caelin helping individuals with intellectual disabilities transition from school to adult services – they've discovered something surprising. Not only are their child life skills highly transferable, but their new environments actively value work/life boundaries. 

The financial reality is equally eye-opening. Both now make significantly more money ($5,000-$12,000 more annually) with scheduled raises, better benefits, and dramatically improved quality of life. Working remotely or in hybrid arrangements has given them time to reconnect with partners, pursue fitness goals, and rediscover themselves beyond their professional identities.

For child life specialists feeling stuck or questioning their path, this conversation offers practical guidance on resume crafting, interviewing outside healthcare, and navigating the emotional complexity of leaving a helping profession. The underlying message resonates regardless of your career stage: your clinical skills have value beyond hospital walls, and prioritizing your wellbeing isn't selfish – it's sustainable.

You can follow Ramonna and Caelin on Instagram as @ramonnastephhh and @coping_with_caelin.

Track: Odessa — LiQWYD & Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/jNy-Dp3lgcgFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/odessa

Chapters

• 0:00 Transitioning from Hospital to Work-Life Balance
• 4:17 Meet Ramona and Kaylin: Their Child Life Journeys
• 9:03 Feeling Disconnected: The Pull to Leave Child Life
• 21:25 The Transition Experience and Identity Struggles
• 31:13 What They Miss and Don't Miss About Child Life
• 35:09 Current Roles and Transferable Skills
• 40:52 Pay Differences and Quality of Life Improvements
• 46:02 Resume Tips for Leaving Child Life
• 54:52 Was Getting Certified Worth It?
• 59:29 How Child Life Programs Can Combat the Staffing Crisis
• 1:11:09 Advice for Transitioning and for Current Students