Child Life Specialist Student Program

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 healthcare setting with children
• 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

Practicum Application Requirements

• Completed Akron Children's Practicum Application
• Typed essay responses
• Submit completed Child Life Practicum application to childlifestudents@akronchildrens.org

Internship

Akron Children's 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

Internship Application Requirements

• Submission of a signed Child Life Practicum evaluation
• Apply for Child Life Internship
• Submit Completed Internship Readiness Common application to childlifestudents@akronchildrens.org

Clinical Placement Deadlines

We follow the Association of Child Life Professionals' recommendations for deadlines:

For more information, contact:

childlifestudents@akronchildrens.org