A Child Life Specialist-Intern is an employee of an agency who works under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist to complete the 600-hour internship that allows eligibility to test for the child life certification exam.

The intern: under direct observation, will obtain supervised clinical experience in an environment in which the applicant has direct, daily contact with a CCLS to allow for adequate supervision. Completing a placement in such an environment will allow for appropriate observation, modeling, and demonstration of entry-level competence.

Under the supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist the child life intern will work to reduce stress, increase adaptive coping, and protect and enhance developmental integrity by offering opportunities to play, learn, and interact with others in an emotionally and physically safe environment.

Child Life services shall include:

• Provide opportunities for and assists in facilitating a variety of play and activity forms that promote self-healing, self-expression, understanding and mastery.

• Utilize therapeutic play techniques as a diagnostic and treatment tool.

• Support family bonds and utilize family strengths in the care of the child.

• Provide orientation to health care experiences and personnel.

• Use developmentally appropriate methods in preparing children and families for diagnostic and treatment procedures.

• Provide emotional support during identified stress points.

• Utilize stress reduction techniques to facilitate effective coping.

• Interpret the child’s perception of his diagnosis and treatment, as revealed through play and other means of verbal and non-verbal communication.

• Offer counsel specific to the impact of the health care experience.

• Extend support and offer counsel to family members with respect to their own stress and needs.

• Coordinate with programs to facilitate continuity of care after the child’s hospitalization, (i.e., the school system, daycare, or special children’s clinics).

• Provide or cooperate with programs which assure continuity in the child’s normal life experience, (i.e., school and holiday celebrations).

• Provide interdisciplinary in-services for hospital staff, students, and members of the community on child development; the emotional impact of illness, injury and hospitalization on children and families; safety; and behavioral management.

• Provide consultation to the health care team regarding the developmental status, emotional status, and individual needs of children, to promote adaptation to treatment.

• Provide consultation on impact of environmental and social factors on the child’s adaptation to hospitalization and treatment.

• Facilitate planning, rehearsing, and implementing of coping strategies, with children and families.

• Participate in continuing educational opportunities, both as a presenter and as a participant, and report information back to the department and healthcare team.

• Provide child health care education.

• Maintain good inter-departmental communication and work, with related programs in the health care setting and other associated organizations.

• Provide counsel and support to children/adolescents throughout the hospital, for help with bereavement or coping issues.

This position does provide patient care.

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.

Name

Description

Education:

Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English. Bachelor’s level education in child/human development, education, or psychology

Experience:

Experience working with children and/or in a healthcare setting preferred. Completion or ability to complete Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) Common Application for Internship

License(s):

None

Certification(s):

Current BLS certification by The American Heart Association standards is required

Computer / Typing:

Must possess, or be able to obtain within 90 days, the computers skills necessary to complete online learning requirements for job-specific competencies, access online forms and policies, complete online benefits enrollment, etc.