Child Life Associate

The Child Life Associate (CLA) provides pediatric patients, siblings and other family members developmentally appropriate play and recreation opportunities in our pediatric specialty spaces, playrooms, and at bedside with patients. The CLA maintains all spaces and CFL resources while ensuring proper cleaning and safety precautions are taken. The CLA promotes normal growth and development in the medical environment for pediatric patients in collaboration with Child-Family Life Specialists and other care team members. The CLA will also collaborate with other Patient and Family Support Services departments to assist with various duties associated with implementing patient and family oriented programs and resources and training/orienting volunteers.

This position is located in the Kyle Rudolph End Zone.

Schedule includes 1 weekday 8:00am-4:30pm, 2 weekday evenings 4-8pm and every other Saturday/Sunday 8am-4:30pm.

This position is benefits eligible with 48 scheduled hours per pay period (every 2 weeks).

Plans, implements and/or facilitates developmentally appropriate individual and group activities for patients and families.  

• Collaborate with CFL Specialists to ensure normal growth and development opportunities are encouraged in the medical setting. 

• Consult with other health professionals and departments 

• Provide input to other health care team members about observed needs of patients and families.  

Creates and promotes a patient/family centered, safe, and therapeutic healing environment within the health care setting. 

• Maintains safety, clean and developmentally appropriate environment in playrooms and oversees activity materials. 

• Provides input into space design from child development perspective.
• Establish supportive relationships with patients and families

Coordinates special projects of the program/service in collaboration with others in the organization and community. 

• Assists in facilitation of donations, community engagement events, and patient activity opportunities.  

• Manages wish lists and recommended activity supply lists based on knowledge of child development. 

• Collaborate and coordinate program/services with other departments as needed 

• Excellent team collaboration abilities working with other disciplines 
• Sets appropriate priorities among competing demands. 

Assist with playroom volunteer programming. 

• Delegate tasks to assigned volunteers as needed. 

• Contribute to volunteer orientation in playrooms.  

• Recommend 1:1 volunteer support for patients as appropriate.

Use of quality improvement processes for assigned programs 

• Utilize systems within the hospital to successfully implement program(s). 

• Uses quality improvement tools and techniques to assess work issues and make improvements. 
• Demonstrates ability to provide care or service adjusting approaches to reflect developmental level and cultural differences of population served. 

Education:

Minimum Education 

Associate’s Degree in child development or related field.   

Preferred Education 

Bachelor’s Degree in child development or related field 

Minimum License/Certification/Registration 

BLS 

Additional Requirements: 

Exceptional interpersonal skills. Good knowledge of growth & development and stress response of children and families to health care situations. Exceptional problem solving and communication skills.   

Experience: 

Minimum Experience 

2 years of working with children in a structured environment. 

Preferred Experience 

2 years of experience working with children in healthcare setting.