Child Life Assistant Facility Dog Handler-Behavioral Health & Wellness

Children's Hospital & Medical Center • Omaha, NE

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Child Life Assistant (CLA)/Child Life Assistant Facility Dog Handler supports the Child Life Team in providing a safe, developmentally appropriate environment for pediatric patients and families. The role promotes positive healthcare experiences through play, education, and socialization activities that support coping, normalization, and emotional well-being. Under the guidance of the Child Life Team, the CLA facilitates developmentally appropriate play and coping activities, maintains play spaces and resources, supports volunteers, and helps with special events. When serving as the Facility Dog Handler, the CLA cares for the facility dog and facilitates facility dog visits and program activities. The role collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to support the psychosocial and developmental needs of patients and families.

Children’s facility dogs are specially trained and co-owned by Canine Assistants of Atlanta to support the therapeutic needs of patients and team members. Dogs are matched to the hospital based on organizational needs and functions. Facility dogs live with their primary handler, who must be a Children’s team member working at least 32 hours per week and committed to the program for five years. Children’s covers facility dog-related workplace expenses, including an initial placement stipend, weekly grooming, veterinary care and medications, and approved food, treats, leash, bed, and toys.

The schedule is Monday through Friday, days and evenings.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Minimum one year of experience in a childcare setting.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to obtaining Child Life Certification and make measurable progress toward completing requirements for a Child Life Specialist role during employment.
• Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association.
• Facility dog primary handlers must be Children’s team members working at least 32 hours per week and commit to the program for five years.
• Interpersonal skills to establish professional rapport with patients and families.
• Assertive skills necessary to facilitate group activities.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a hospital setting with hospitalized children and their families.
• Knowledge of child development.

Responsibilities

• Support patients’ and families’ developmental, emotional, and psychosocial needs.
• Provide toys, activities, developmental play, and therapeutic interactions to patients in playrooms and at bedside.
• Facilitate one-to-one play opportunities for patients in isolation or unable to leave their room or unit.
• Plan, coordinate, and facilitate group activities that support normalization, coping, and socialization, including special guests and holiday celebrations.
• Support Child Life Specialists in identifying patient and family needs and implementing developmentally appropriate activities and interventions to promote coping and adjustment to healthcare experiences.
• Observe and report patients’ developmental, emotional, and psychosocial needs to team members as appropriate.
• Recognize patient and family needs requiring referral to a Child Life Specialist or other healthcare team members.
• Participate in interdisciplinary rounds, patient care discussions, and department initiatives as appropriate.
• Document activities, interventions, patient responses, and relevant observations accurately, objectively, and promptly in the medical record.
• As a designated handler, facilitate animal-assisted interventions with the facility dog to support patient coping, comfort, and engagement.
• As a designated handler, supervise, care for, and manage the facility dog daily.
• Assist in ensuring compliance with animal-assisted therapy program standards.
• Maintain a clean, safe environment with age-appropriate and developmentally suitable materials available.
• Follow infection-prevention, animal-safety, and hospital policies and procedures, including cleaning and sanitizing toys and equipment using approved methods.
• Assist with accepting, distributing, organizing, and screening donations for appropriateness.
• Maintain storage areas in compliance with fire and safety guidelines.
• Assist with training, orienting, and managing volunteers in child life areas, and help volunteers feel comfortable in one-to-one and group settings.

Benefits

• Children’s covers workplace facility dog-related expenses, including an initial placement stipend, weekly grooming, veterinary care and medications, and approved food, treats, leash, bed, and toys.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED