The Child Life Department provides the opportunity for individuals to learn more about the Child Life profession. Our mission, as stated by the Child Life Council, is as follows: "We…strive to reduce the impact of stressful or traumatic life events and situations, which affect the development, health, and well-being of infants, children, youth and families. We embrace the value of play as a healing modality as we work to enhance the normal growth and development of infants, children and youth through assessment, intervention, prevention, advocacy, and education.'
If you are accepted as a practicum student, you will provide age-appropriate play to patients in our various activity areas and you will have the opportunity to spend some time with a Child Life Specialist to learn more about interventions in their area. Students will accumulate approximately 250 hours over the course of the semester (about 14 weeks). A student's weekly schedule is dependent on the supervising Child Life Specialist, so we ask that applicants be flexible during the practicum semester.
Application Deadline Schedule:
|
Practicum Begins |
Application Deadlines |
|---|---|
|
January (winter/spring) |
October 5 |
|
May (summer) |
February 5 |
|
September (fall) |
June 5 |
Practicum Application Requirememts
- Completed Application
- Current Resume
- Minimum of 50 hours of volunteer experience in a medical setting with children (25 hours required at time of application deadline).