Child Life Education & Training
The mission of our Child Life Services department is to advocate for the psychosocial, developmental, emotional, and educational needs of all our patients and families. Child Life specialists strive to create a supportive environment, while helping empower patients and their families to make decisions affecting their care. Learn more about education and training opportunites avaiable.
Child Life Internship
The child life department at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital offers a 640 hour (16 week) comprehensive internship for Fall and Spring semesters. Our program is designed for students or graduates in the discipline of child development or related areas who have fieldwork experience with hospitalized children, and are seeking to enter the child life profession. A Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) will supervise the student while he/she participates in clinical experiences with children and families. For questions about the program, please email our internship coordinator, Jen May, at jennifer.may@ssmhealth.com.
To be an eligible candidate you must be a college senior or college graduate and possess:
- At least 100 hours of practicum experience within a child life department under the direct supervision of a CCLS. Practicum can be in progress at time of application as long as it is completed prior to the internship start date.
- At least 100 hours of volunteer work experience with infants, toddlers, school-age and adolescents.
- Successful completion and documentation of the core curriculum classes, including a course taught by a CCLS as approved by an Association of Child Life Professionals Assessment/Coursework Review. Confirmation of Course In-Progress forms are accepted.
- We accept one intern for fall (August to December) and one intern for spring (January to May) semester. Our interns will gain experience with a wide variety of patients. Rotation options typically consist of the following units: Infant/Toddler General Medicine, School-age/Adolescent Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Pediatric Intensive Care, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Transitional Care Unit, Dialysis, Emergency Department, Procedure Center, Diagnostic Imaging and Outpatient Surgery.
- We can only accept interns affiliated with a college or university.
Child Life Practicum
The purpose of the Child Life practicum program at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital is to prepare students for child life internships. Our 160-hour practicum includes interactive seminars, multidisciplinary shadow opportunities, and experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Students can expect to gain knowledge while observing and participating in the job duties of Certified Child Life Specialists. For questions about the program, please email our practicum coordinator, Emily Bozzer, at Emily.Bozzer@ssmhealth.com.
Other Ways to Get Involved with Child Life Services
Learn how to become a Child Life volunteer.
The Child Life department relies on dedicated volunteers every day. Volunteers are primarily responsible for overseeing the playrooms, visiting patients at the bedside and assisting with scheduled special events. Learn more about how to become a volunteer.
How can I become a Child Life specialist?
For more information about the education and training required to become a certified child life specialist, please visit www.childlife.org.