Program Requirements
To qualify for an interview for a clinical child life student placement, you must:
- Be currently affiliated with an established child life academic program (Independent studies do not qualify)
- Be enrolled in a practicum or internship corresponding academic course with a syllabus during clinical experience
- Have completed a minimum of 50 volunteer hours in a pediatric hospital setting
- Have completed a minimum of 1 child life course taught by a certified child life specialist, per recommendation from the Association of Child Life Professionals
- Have completed a university-affliated practicum, with a corresponding practicum academic course during the clinical experience, totaling a minimum of 100 hours under the direct supervision of a certified child life specialist before interviewing for internship
Practicum
By shadowing and observing a certified child life specialist, our practicum gives you an opportunity to:
- Develop an understanding of the effects of hospitalization on patients and families
- Enhance awareness of patient and family needs
- Observe preparations for procedures and accompany child life specialist throughout procedure to observe how support is given
- Demonstrate knowledge of growth and development
- Increase understanding of the multidisciplinary team approach within a healthcare environment
Internship
Akron Children's Hospital child life internship shifts the focus from observation to you becoming independent and functioning in the role as a child life specialist.
As an intern, you will have the opportunity to:
- Observe medical treatments and procedures
- Participate in preparation for procedures and accompany patients and families during procedures
- Provide emotional support to patients and family members
- Attend multidisciplinary rounds
- Implement developmentally appropriate therapeutic activities
- Supervise volunteers
- Document patient care in Epic
- Develop an internship project that will benefit the needs of our patients and families
- Communicate effectively with multidisciplinary team
Clinical Placement Deadlines
We follow the Association of Child Life Professionals' recommendations for deadlines:
| Placement | Application Deadline | Offer Deadline | Acceptance Deadline |
| Fall | Mar. 15 | 1st Tuesday of May | Following Wednesday |
| Winter/Spring | Sept. 5 | 2nd Tuesday of October | Following Wednesday |
| Summer | Jan. 5 | 2nd Tuesday of February | Following Wednesday |
