Child Life internship

Advocate Children's Hospital Child Life internship is designed with all content and assignments focused on clinical preparation to support the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) – with all content and assignments focused on certification preparation. Internships are available to undergraduate and graduate-level students pursuing a career with children and adolescents in the healthcare setting.

Education requirements include the completion of all undergraduate coursework and experience necessary for internship readiness.

Before your application is complete, approval from your academic supervisor will be required to receive course credit for this clinical experience. The hospital setting must also meet your university’s requirements for field placement.

Independent internships are also available to candidates who have successfully completed their undergraduate degree and are no longer enrolled in further undergraduate studies.

Advocate Children’s Hospital is looking for Child Life candidates who demonstrate:

• Strong knowledge of child development
• A sincere interest in the well-being of children and families
• Goals appropriately matched with our program
• An ability to be self-directed and flexible
• Personal commitment to the assignment
• Investment in opportunities for learning
• A passion for the Child Life profession

All interns must display professionalism throughout their internship experience. Interns will be required to support the mission, values, and philosophy of Advocate Health.

As an Advocate Children’s Hospital Child Life intern, you can expect a rewarding experience filled with educational opportunities for your professional and personal growth.

This internship will allow interns to connect theory to practice in real-time. Interns will be working in rotations to see Child Life from multiple perspectives to develop your own unique Child Life skills.

Weekly meetings with your internship coordinator will allow you to:

• Connect regularly with program leadership
• Follow up with important topics being taught through the ACLP modules and the clinical world
• Reflect and process daily experiences within the hospital
• Gain a clear understanding of Child Life through supervisors’ observation-co-treat-independence model of teaching in specific clinical areas

Interns will also complete the following during this internship:

• Weekly journals linked with the ACLP modules – with journal prompts provided to you each week
• Weekly assignments listed in the ACLP modules
• A written comprehensive care plan for patient whom intern has worked closely with during hospital visit
• A therapeutic play project that will be presented to the Child Life team
• A final project of intern’s choice, approved by internship coordinator
• Interns may be assigned additional assignments and learning opportunities

Q: Do interns need a bachelor’s degree in Child Life?

A: Child life interns do not need a bachelor’s degree specifically in Child Life, but many child life specialists have degrees in related areas such as child development, human development and family studies and psychology.

Q: Do you provide housing?

A: No. Advocate Children’s Hospital does not provide student housing.

Q: What are your interview requirements?

A: A formal interview with members of our Child Life team will be required prior to internship offer date. If you receive an interview, you will be notified and it will be arranged on an individual basis.

Q: If I’m accepted as an intern, what other requirements must I meet before beginning my internship?

A: If accepted as an intern, you’ll need to complete a health screening (2-Step TB test/blood test and required vaccines) and criminal background check. These will be provided by Advocate Children's Hospital before beginning your internship.

Q: Is parking available for interns?

A: Free parking is available.

Q: What is the intern dress code?

A: Interns are required to wear business casual attire throughout internship.

Q: Am I expected to have liability insurance?

A: All interns are required to have liability insurance. Independent interns must purchase insurance and provide proof of liability insurance in order to begin internship. Many schools provide insurance through the college or university for affiliated students. Please be sure to check with your school first.

Please note that we strictly abide by the ACLP offer and acceptance dates.

Oak Lawn Campus Email: ACH-OL-CL-Internship@aah.org

Park Ridge Campus Email: ACH-PR-CL-Internship@aah.org

Advocate Children’s Hospital will accept all applications by email. Only the ACLP Internship Readiness Common Application will be accepted. Do not send additional documentation.

All submissions must be sent as Microsoft Word or PDF Documents ONLY (google docs, iCloud docs and ZIP files will not be accepted). Please put your full name in the subject box of the email.