Dear Applicant: Thank you for your interest in the Child Life Program at The Children s Hospital of The Greenville Hospital System. Involvement of students with the Child Life Department promotes professional growth for the student, the supervisor, other staff, the Child Life profession and the healthcare community. Our Internship Program offers a variety of opportunities for learning applications and interventions in healthcare dealing with children and families. It is designed to facilitate the student s growth as a professional by participating as a member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team. We offer a multi-level internship experience ranging from 160 1000 hours dependent upon whether it is a Child Life or health related profession. We are pleased you are interested in our Internship Program. Please return the application, your resume and any other information you would like to share. You may call to discuss your application and/or possible interview. The phone number is (864) 455-3639. Sincerely, M. Beth Ball, CTRS, CCLS Child Life Program Manager BB/vw 5/01
Background Child Life Student Internship Description The Children s Hospital of The Greenville Hospital System offers Child Life Internships to individuals who meet internship criteria. Criteria include applications to the program, personal recommendations and review of an official transcript. We encourage students to have completed a Medical Terminology and Anatomy and Physiology Course prior to internship. A personal interview is also required for consideration as an intern. Child Life Goals & Responsibilities The Goal of the Child Life Program is to work as a member of the health care team to help provide for the total needs of the pediatric patients and their families. The department seeks to minimize the anxiety and stress experienced by hospitalized children, and to encourage adaptive coping skills. Staff works to promote the child s normal growth and development while in the health care setting. The Responsibilities of the Program include: Providing opportunities for therapeutic play Preparing children and parents emotionally for hospitalization, surgery and medical procedures Providing emotional support to patients and families Providing developmental assessment and interventions Advocating the patients point of view to other health care staff Encouraging an environment that is receptive to children The primary areas covered by Child Life include Infant, Toddler, Preschool Inpatient Unit, School Age/Adolescent Inpatient Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic, Outpatient Pediatric Clinic, Outpatient Surgery, Children s Emergency Center, and diagnostic areas. Internship Curriculum Under the supervision of a Child Life Specialist, the student is given basic responsibility for patients and families in a therapeutic setting. The goal of the internship is to provide the student with supervised, guided experience with children and families while learning about the provision of professional Child Life Services. The basic components of the internship are organized around the Child Life competencies and include assignments such as: Weekly journal and evaluation Diagnosis cards Patient priority Theory application to patients (Erikson, Piaget) Multidisciplinary exercise Documentation (brief and SOAP format) Charting Skill Instruction and implementation of APIE process
(Assessment, Planning, Intervention, and Evaluation) Case study presentations Medical Play Skill Preparation Skill Medical Accompaniment Facility design project Cultural awareness activity Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST II) Departmental staff meetings Policy Manual Quality Improvement Organizational Structures The basic curriculum includes readings and videos on the following topics: Children s Psychological Reactions to Hospitalization and Illness and Implications to Child Life Work Communication Growth and Development Therapeutic Use of Play Medical Play Preparation Chronic Illness Child Abuse Charting Coping Environments Death/Dying Family Centered Care Pain Cultural Awareness/Spirituality CQI/ Management These readings and videos are integrated into the student s direct work with children and families and are discussed weekly with the student coordinator. Additional learning experiences may be developed with the student to meet special interest areas of the student/academic institution s requirements. Student Evaluation The student evaluation is conducted at midpoint and completion of internship using: The Child Life competencies tool Objectives determined by student Staff evaluation tools of the child life department Objectives established by the student s academic department
Interns become members of the health care team, working towards comprehensive care and are expected to uphold the policies of GHS. Typically an intern works 40 hrs. per week Monday thru Friday with an emphasis in at least two specific populations. However, special events/projects may require evening and weekend work. Attire must be appropriate for public professional contact. 7/03
The Child Life Department Intern Information APPLICATION PROCESS: Students interested in the Child Life Internship Program should follow the time schedule below for application procedure. Internship Session FALL WINTER/SPRING SUMMER Application Deadline May 5 September 5 January 5 Offer Deadlines June 22 October 22 February 22 Notification June 28 October 28 February 28 Intern Dates Sept Dec Jan- April May - August APPLICATION: An application for Internship is included in the packet. Please return along with an official copy of University transcript and two (2) letters of recommendation. Please be sure that at least one letter is from a professor. INTERVIEWS: An interview is required. Also, during an interview, you will be given a tour of the hospital and may be able to better determine whether our facility and program will meet your needs. Interviews can be arranged by calling the Child Life Manager. It if is impossible to arrange a personal interview, one can be conducted over the telephone. ACCEPTANCE: Students will be notified of their acceptance in the Internship Program on or before the date specified above. Male or female candidates may apply. HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS: The hospital offers student housing during the Internship period. Speak to the Child Life Manager if you will be requiring housing. VACCINATIONS: Rubella Titer and Tuberculin Skin Tests will need to be documented by your school or family doctor. The TB test will have to be within the thirty (30) day period prior to beginning the internship. INSURANCE: Professional Liability Insurance is the student s responsibility to secure prior to beginning the Internship. A copy of the policy with policy number is needed before your internship begins. STIPEND: No stipend is paid to the Child Life Intern, however, a meal ticket is provided each day and parking is free of charge. INTERNSHIP: Child Life students are required to complete a minimum of fifteen (15) weeks of forty (40) hours per week. However, if you or your school desire/require a longer internship period, arrangements can be made to accommodate you.
The Child Life Department Intern Application Personal Information: Name: Preferred Name: Address: Phone: Email: Social Security #: Emergency Contact: Relationship: Address: Phone: University Information: University: GPA: Address: Advisor: Phone: Major: Emphasis: Degree: Anticipated Graduation Date: If applying for Graduate Internship, list undergraduate college/university: Address: Yr. Graduated: Major: Emphasis: Degree: Date & Length of Internship Desired: to Number of Weeks: Time Requirements of University: Hours Weeks 1. Describe previous work experiences with healthy and/or special needs children: 2. Describe previous work experience with hospitalized children: 3. What experience have you had with hospitals or health care centers? How have they affected your attitude towards them?
4. How do you think you would handle your feelings if you were working with: (A) an acutely ill child (B) a chronically ill child with a life threatening illness (C) a terminally ill child 5. Please list relevant coursework related to Child Life as stated by Child Life Council: Child Life Child/Family Development Family Dynamics Human Development Psychology Sociology Counseling Education Expressive Therapies (e.g., play, music, dance, art) Therapeutic Recreation Other relevant courses 6. Describe your present state of health and include any health/physical limitations, which may need consideration 7. What do you hope to gain from this experience?
8. You will be required to adhere to all hospital policies and be under constant supervision by a Child Life Specialist. How do you feel about this? (please comment in detail) 9. Do you anticipate any other commitments during your internship? (classes, work, correspondence course) 10. How did you learn about Child Life at this hospital? 11. Are you obtaining credit for this placement from school or college? If so, please list the course and state and whether a written evaluation and/or letter grade will be required. 12. Career Objective: Please Attach: 1. Current Resume 2. Transcript 3. Letters of Recommendation you will need to have 2 letters. Please note that 1 of these letters must be from your professor 4. Philosophy of Child Life handwritten in your own words Send Completed application and direct questions to: Manager, Child Life The Children s Hospital of the Greenville Hospital System 701 Grove Road Greenville, SC 29605 (864) 455-7846 Revised 7/03