Child life student program

• Offered spring (Jan-Apr)
• 16 weeks, 600+ hours
• Application deadlines: Sept. 5

To be considered eligible for a child life internship, a student must:

• Have completed a bachelor’s degree with coursework that meets eligibility requirements for certification with ACLP, or be a senior undergraduate, or graduate-level student in good standing in an approved program of study
• Provide documentation of a completed coursework review by the ACLP showing a minimum of 10 approved courses completed. Course taught by a CCLS (as defined by the ACLP) must be completed prior to beginning of internship or intern must have proof of enrollment in a course.
• provide documentation of volunteer/work experience with children, preferably hospital-based volunteer or practicum experience

To be considered eligible for a child life practicum, a student must:

• be a student in good standing in an approved program of study
• provide documentation of past volunteer/work experience with children

To be considered complete, a student’s application must include the following:

• Completed application form
• 3 completed recommendation forms in sealed envelopes with recommender’s signature over flap
• Copy of completed course work review from ACLP
• College/university transcripts (student copies acceptable, but selected candidates will need to provide official transcripts prior to start of internship.)

All items should be mailed to:

Child Life Dept.
550 N Hillside
5 Tower- Pediatrics
Wichita, KS 67214

An interview is required for internship selection. Preferably, all interviews will be conducted face-to-face at the medical center. This allows for the applicant to be given a tour of the facility and program in order for the applicant to determine whether the facility and program will meet their needs. If it is impossible to arrange a personal interview, one may be conducted over the phone. During the interview, applicants will be asked a series of questions regarding child life theories and application, and the role of Child Life in a health care setting. *Please note that applicants will be contacted after the application, transcript, and personal recommendations are reviewed, and not all candidates may be contacted for an interview.*

Individuals will be notified of their acceptance into the internship program on the dates specified by the ACLP, and applicants have until the listed dates to confirm or decline acceptance into the program.

Housing arrangements are the responsibility of the intern.

All students must provide liability insurance ($1 million per occurrence, $3 million aggregate). This can be provided either by the student’s school or independently by the student. *If using included HPSO application for insurance, select “Rehabilitation Therapist” rate and write “Child Life Specialist student” on application.*

This is an unpaid internship, and no stipend is provided.

Child Life Interns are required to complete the full 16 weeks, usually working 40 hours per week. While much of the student’s time will be spent working daytime hours, weekend and evening hours are mandatory during some rotations.

All internship students must adhere to the “Clinical Practice Guidelines” put in place by WMC’s staff development department. These include:

• a fully executed contract between the student’s school and WMC, or a contract between the student and WMC for independent interns
• required health immunizations and current TB skin test results
• drug screening
• passing a background check

Call our Internship Co-Coordinator at (316)962-2177