The Child Life Department at Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas (DCMCCT) is a vital component of the healthcare team and contributes to the overall quality of developmentally appropriate, family-centered care for patients of all ages. Staffed by professionally trained individuals, the Child Life team helps children and their families cope with the emotional and psychological stress of illness, inpatient and outpatient medical treatment, and trauma. The Child Life Department works closely with members of the entire healthcare team and with families to reduce the stress and anxiety of the healthcare experience and to facilitate positive outcomes.
Child Life Specialists, supported by trained Child Life Assistants, are assigned to every inpatient unit including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Intermediate Care Unit (IMC), Hematology/Oncology Unit, Respiratory Unit, Neurology Unit, and Surgical/Trauma Unit, as well as outpatient areas such as Day Surgery, Imaging, Specialty Care Center, Dialysis, Hematology/Oncology Clinic, and the Emergency Department. In addition to a Department Director and Assistant, the Child Life Department also includes a Play Therapist, an Art Therapist and a Child Life Manager who coordinates special events and community relations. The dedicated Child Life team prioritizes the facilitation of therapeutic play to promote growth and development, enhance opportunities for communication and self-expression, and foster coping skills of both the patients and their families.
Our Child Life internship program is designed to support career training for those who have completed, or are currently seeking, an undergraduate or graduate degree in child life, child development, or a related field and are looking to advance in the Child Life profession. Our goal is to provide interns with opportunities to expand their knowledge of child life and child development, enhance their therapeutic play skills, develop their ability to provide education and procedural preparation and support and strengthen their assessment, intervention, and evaluation skills.
Our internship program offers no stipend and does not guarantee future employment. Housing, transportation, meals, and medical insurance are the responsibility of the intern. Individual liability insurance is not required, as all child life students will fulfill all DCMCCT Volunteer Services Department requirements including orientation, criminal background checks, TB testing, and other requirements in accordance with hospital policies.
Child Life Internship Requirements
- Completion of or currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree. Priority is given to applicants with an educational background in child life, child development or human development, family systems, education or another closely related field.
- Work or volunteer experience with well children in a group or individual setting.
- A minimum of 150 hours experience working directly with hospitalized children, preferably in a Child Life program. These hours must be verified by a supervisor on institution letterhead.
- Commitment to a 600 hour, 15 week, full time internship. Work days and hours will vary depending on the schedule of the intern’s rotation supervisor. Some evenings and weekends may be required.
Application Process
Applicants who meet the above requirements must submit an application to the Child Life Internship Committee to be considered for an interview. Please submit all application materials together in one envelope. A complete application must include all of the following:
- Internship Application Form
- Professional resume including academic and clinical experience
- Academic transcripts from all colleges/universities attended (unofficial copy is acceptable)
- Two professional letters of recommendation from an academic professor, supervisor, or other professional who has directly observed the applicant's work with children. Please do not include more than 2 letters of recommendation as they will not be considered.
- Essay (300-500 words) explaining why the applicant is pursuing a child life internship, the applicant's professional goals and objectives, and the applicant’s personal beliefs about the value of Child Life as a component of quality healthcare.
- Verification of at least 150 hours working with children in a healthcare setting on institution letterhead - this can include volunteer work and/or practicum experience. Please include a copy of any written evaluation received from a volunteer or practicum experience.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received. Based on the quality of each candidate’s education/experience, a candidate may or may not be contacted for an interview. Not all candidates will be selected for an interview and not all interviewed candidates will be offered an internship.
Applicants who submit incomplete or falsified applications will not be considered.
Deadlines
Internships are offered three times a year. Applications must be received by the application deadline or they will not be considered. Deadlines are set in accordance with the Child Life Council internship scheduling guidelines found at:
http://www.childlife.org/Students and Educators/InternshipProgramDevelopment.cfm
| Internship Begins | Application Deadlines |
Offer Deadlines |
Acceptance Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | May 5 | June 22 | June 28 |
| January | September 5 | October 22 | October 28 |
| May | January 5 | February 22 | February 28 |
Internship Components
- The internship experience includes a one week orientation and 2 seven week clinical rotations. Interns will be supervised by a Certified Child Life Specialist meeting all eligibility requirements established by the Child Life Council.
- Observation of and experience in assessment of needs and documentation in the medical chart
- Planning and implementation of developmentally appropriate activities and therapeutic play in group and individual settings.
- Observation of and experience in providing patient and family support through coping interventions, developmentally appropriate education and preparation, emotional support and interactions that facilitate expression.
- An average of 3 educational inservices per week facilitated by child life professionals and multidisciplinary staff covering a variety of topics applicable to child life practice and profession.
- Participation in multidisciplinary meetings and rounds, special hospital events, and support groups.
- Completion of assignments including weekly readings and journals, case presentation, and a major project.
- Regularly scheduled opportunities for verbal and written evaluation and intern support.