Child Life Intern

Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota • Minneapolis, MN

8d

About The Position

The child life internship program provides intensive working experience in child life. The program emphasizes cultural awareness and issues related to equity and diversity, and supports students in working from an equity lens while educating and supporting students who reflect the diversity of the patients and families served.

Under the supervision of a certified child life specialist (CCLS), interns contribute to children’s continuous development, optimize patients’ responses to medical care, minimize psychological stress and trauma, and increase coping with illness and healthcare experiences. Interns work as part of an interdisciplinary, patient- and family-centered care model, collaborating with patients, families, physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, social workers, and other healthcare team members to develop comprehensive care plans. They develop skills in partnering with families and tailoring interventions to each child’s fears and needs around medical experiences, particularly when children are anxious or struggling to cope.

Interns also contribute to non-patient-facing department initiatives, including donation management, special event planning, community engagement, and professional development. By the end of the clinical internship, interns must meet the academic requirements for child life certification through ACLP and the core competencies outlined by ACLP, making them eligible to sit for the child life certification exam.

Children’s Minnesota is an independent, not-for-profit pediatric health system that provides care exclusively to children, from before birth through young adulthood. The Child Life group supports children’s development and coping with medical care and promotes play, learning, self-expression, family involvement, and peer interaction. Child life staff advocate for children and families in ambulatory and inpatient settings and serve as resources to staff and the community on child development and child health experiences.

Requirements

• At minimum, meet ACLP academic requirements for certification by the end of the clinical internship.
• Hold a bachelor’s degree in any field of study.
• Successfully complete 10 college or university courses: one child life course taught by a CCLS; at least two child development courses covering ages birth through 18; one family systems course; one play course; one loss/bereavement or death/dying course; one research course; and three additional courses in related content areas.
• Have at least 100 hours of experience working with typically developing children, as well as experience working with children in stressful situations and with healthcare needs.
• By the end of the internship, meet ACLP child life core competencies and be eligible to sit for the ACLP child life certification exam.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a medical setting.
• A strong background in cultural awareness and issues related to equity and diversity.

Responsibilities

• Complete child life assessments and clinical interventions, including psychological preparation, medical play, procedural support, grief and loss support, new-diagnosis education, teaching coping skills, adjustment to acute or chronic diagnoses, family support, and helping increase adherence to care plans.
• Document care and provide education to staff and community stakeholders.
• Collaborate with patients, families, and interdisciplinary healthcare team members to develop comprehensive plans of care.
• Partner with families and tailor individual interventions to children’s fears and needs around medical experiences.
• Complete required readings and assignments and participate in case study discussions and care conferences.
• Attend site visits and school visits.
• Engage with interdisciplinary team members and participate in support groups and/or hospital-wide committees.
• Contribute to non-patient-facing department initiatives, including donation management, special event planning, community engagement, and professional development.

Benefits

• The position may be eligible for medical, dental, vision, retirement, and other fringe benefits.
• Positions requiring night, weekend, or on-call work may be eligible for shift differentials or premium pay.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern