Child Life Specialist

Overview

The Child Life Specialist is a key member of the pediatric healthcare team. The Specialist, under general supervision, works in a health care setting focusing on the emotional and developmental needs of children and their families.

The Specialist reduces stress associated with the health care experience and enables a child and their family to cope by providing play experiences, presenting medical information in a way that children can understand, and encouraging family involvement in the child's medical care.

The Specialist routinely works in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary healthcare team and other professionals in ambulatory care, emergency care, and inpatient settings.

• Provide play experiences to reduce stress and support emotional and developmental needs of children and families.
• Present medical information in an age-appropriate manner to help children understand their care.
• Encourage and facilitate family involvement in the child’s medical care.
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary healthcare team and other professionals in ambulatory care, emergency care, and inpatient settings.

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Work Experience: Two years of experience as a Certified Child Life Specialist in a hospital setting is highly preferred.
• Licenses: CCLS-Certified Child Life Specialist - ACLP - Association of Child Life Professionals required or must be eligible for CCLS certification.
• BLS-Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) - AHA - American Heart Association required.