The Internship Experience
Child Life students come to St. Louis Children’s Hospital to complete their Bachelor or Master’s degree requirements through an internship. The fifteen week unpaid internship experience gives the student an opportunity to practice child life theories, and provides exposure to the special needs of hospitalized children in a variety of both in-patient and out-patient settings. The student will complete three rotations, which begins after two weeks of initial orientation.
The internship program is designed to compliment academic studies. The purpose is to provide a clinical program for students to develop a professional identity in working with children, families and staff within a pediatric setting. Through clinical experiences students will seek, identify and develop professional responsibility, philosophies and ethics relating to Child Life. As a result of this training, students will have the opportunity to acquire entry level skills needed to enhance those already established.
Internship Selection Criteria
Students must have a child life practicum in a hospital setting under a certified child life specialist. A minimum of 100 hours can be completed prior to or in progress at the time at the time the application is due.
Students must have experience with well infants, children, youth and/or families (ex. child care facilities, school programs and/or camps).
Students affiliated with a university must be of senior standing, or have completed the educational requirements that meet the Child Life Council's educational standards. Students no longer affiliated with a university will be required to provide his/her own liability insurance during the internship.
Students affiliated with a university must have support throughout the internship, with an advisor making a site visit or communicating with the student and the Child Life internship educator.
Students must be able to display strong knowledge and understanding of child life philosophy as well as child and family development.
Internship Application Process
To apply for an internship in our department, we ask that you send the following information to be received by the application deadline stated in this packet. We request that all of this information be sent at one time, however letters of reference can be sent separately if necessary. If you have any questions about what date will close your opportunity to apply for a specific internship period, please call us--we will not be able to accept late applications.
The following information is required and will make up your internship application:
- A cover letter stating your interest in applying for an internship citing the specific semester you are interested in
- A current resume
- Completed standardized CLC internship application: Common Child Life Internship Application -PDF version or Common Child Life Internship Application -Word Version (Also available to download on the CLC website)
- A copy of your university transcript, official or student issued (Web based transcripts are not accepted). A CLC course review is not required but preferred.
- Two references letters
-One from a university instructor or advisor
-One from a practicum or volunteer supervisor in a child life setting
- A paper answering the following question: "What are your specific reasons for pursuing an internship at St. Louis Children's Hospital?"
Students interested in applying for an internship must submit the completed application requirements to the address below, to be received by the application deadline for the appropriate semester. The Child Life Services staff will review all completed applications. Students who are selected to complete the first round phone interviews will be contacted shortly after the application deadline.
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Child Life Services Department
Attn: Internship Committee
One Children’s Place, 8W24
St. Louis, Missouri 63110
Internship Application Deadlines
|
Semester
|
Application Deadlines(received by) |
Offer Deadlines
|
Acceptance Deadlines
|
Internship Dates
\
|
|
SUMMER SEMESTER |
January 5th |
2nd Tuesday in February |
Following day |
*Starts 3rd Monday in May
May 17 - August 27, 2010
May 16 - August 6, 2011
May 21 - August 24, 2012
May 20 - August 31, 2013
May 19 - August 29, 2014 |
|
WINTER/SPRING SEMESTER |
September 5th |
2nd Tuesday in October |
Following day |
*Starts 2nd Monday in January
January 11 - April 23, 2010
January 10 - April 22, 2011
January 9 - April 20, 2012
January 14 - April 19, 2013
January 13 - April 18, 2014 |
**St. Louis Children’s Hospital does not offer internships for the fall semesters.
Please note the following: The application dates are in agreement with the Child Life Council guidelines as set by the Education Committee. Should a deadline fall on a weekend or holiday, then the deadline will be moved to the next business day. All internship dates are subject to change by a week or more due to holidays, intern schedules or staff schedules.
For additional information or questions regarding our internship program, please contact Jenny Brandt, CCLS at jab3372@bjc.org or 314.454.4543.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is your internship?
Our internship is a 40-hour per week, 15-week internship. After completion you will have a total of 600 hours, which exceeds the minimum 480 hours required to apply and sit for the Child Life Certification exam. We currently offer internships for the Winter/Spring and Summer semesters only.
How is your internship set up?
A student in our internship program can expect two weeks of hospital and departmental orientation, followed by three rotations of 4-5 weeks in a variety of areas within the hospital. Our child life staff provides services in all inpatient units including cardiology; heart, lung, liver and kidney transplants; PICU; CICU; pulmonary services; general medicine, surgical services and burn center, hematology/oncology, neurology and rehabilitation. Services are also provided in several outpatient clinics, same day surgery, radiology, dialysis, emergency unit and the ambulatory procedure center.
In addition to direct clinical work, interns also get opportunities to work with special events (activities and performers from outside the hospital for the patients), closed-circuit television programming, and numerous volunteers. We also include time toward the end of the internship to allow students to visit other child life and children’s programs in our area, to shadow staff they may not have gotten to complete rotation with, and to attend procedures and/or surgeries.
What course work will I be required to complete during the internship?
Daily journals, charting, two site visits, two case studies, weekly activity plans and developmental assessments, and a project are all required. Each rotation is subject to other possible assignments as well. All internship requirements must be successfully completed prior to receiving the internship verification form required to apply for the certification exam.
Are there any fees? Do you offer any compensation?
There is no cost to you to work as an intern at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. While we cannot offer any compensation to our students, they do receive discounts in our cafeteria and free parking.
Will a certified Child Life Specialist supervise me?
Full-time certified Child Life Specialists do supervision of your internship. You will have a direct supervisor for each of the three rotations, as well as your Intern Educator that follows your progress throughout the entire internship. The Intern Educator will be available to assist in your training on charting and clinical skills, and will meet with each intern weekly to discuss progress on goals and projects.
Is housing available?
We are happy to offer suggestions for students finding temporary housing for their internship period. Many students live with a family member or friend during their internship. A few students have arranged a short-term lease at an apartment complex that is close to the medical center; unfortunately, this can be a more expensive option.
Do I need a contract between your hospital and my university?
All students currently enrolled in school who are seeking hours for credit will need to be under a contract between the College/University and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The hospital currently has contracts with several universities that are periodically revised and renewed. Once a student is selected as an intern, the manager of the Child Life department will ensure that a valid agreement is reached between the university and the hospital prior to the onset of the internship. The university has the option to provide liability insurance for students studying/working off campus. If the university does not cover students under the university liability insurance, or if the student will not have an affiliation with a college/university, professional liability insurance must be provided by the student. Proof of insurance will need to be provided to the Child Life manager prior to beginning the internship.
The students selected to intern in our department will be registered with Volunteer Services to track the number of hours worked during the internship. Each student must complete the following before the scheduled start date: a volunteer application, references, health forms, recent flu shot and have a current TB screening (valid within a year of when the student expects to complete his/her internship at St. Louis Children’s Hospital). Please share this information with your university supervisor. If you have any questions about this issue, and feel free to contact the Child Life Services manager with any questions or concerns.
Do I need to be affiliated with a college or university in order to complete your internship?
No, a school affiliation is not necessary at the time an internship is occurring. However, you will be required to meet all of the internship selection criteria and provide your own liability insurance (since this is typically done through the student’s school).