Child Life Program
The Child Life Program recognizes the importance of human growth and development, as well as the impact illness, injury, disability and hospitalization can have on the process. The Child Life Programs strives to reduce the stress of hospitalization through promoting the normal social, emotional, and educational development of the hospitalized children.
The goals of the Child Life Program are:
- Providing age-appropriate play and other activities that will encourage mastery, coping and the expression of feelings.
- Increase familiarity with hospital surroundings and to prepare children, teens and families for the medical experience
- Develop supportive relationships with patients and family members
- Bridge the gap between home and hospital by providing familiar activities (play, school, holiday parties and birthday parties)
What is a Child Life Specialist?
Child Life Specialists have earned bachelor's or master's degrees in Child Life, Child Development or a related field, and are professionally certified by the Child Life Council. They are experienced on how children respond to hospitalization and illness. Through education and play, a child life specialist can help your child understand and cope with his/her hospitalization.
Services Provided:
- Promote patient and family-centered care philosophy
- Age-appropriate playroom activities
- Therapeutic play, including medical play
- Preparation for procedures, surgeries and tests
- Support and coping mechanisms for medical procedures
- Sibling support and education
- “What About Us” Sibling support days
- Oncology Support Groups
- Sickle Cell Support Groups
- Bereavement Support
- Special events, birthday and holiday celebrations are scheduled throughout the year.
- Teddy Bear Tours (for children coming in for surgery) – click here for Teddy Bear Tours flyer
- Pet Therapy
- Hospital Homebound
- In-Hospital School Program
- Lemonade Tours
These are special activities that the Child Life Department offers for students in Pre-K through 5th grade. The class takes a tour of the Radiology Department, NICU, Labor and Delivery and Pediatrics. During the visit, students can ask questions and can get a better idea of what it is like to be in the hospital. The best part about the visit, the students are able to see that the hospital can be a fun place.
- Parties & activities sponsored by community agencies
The Child Life Student Programs
Volunteering
Volunteering is an opportunity to gain familiarization with the hospital environment. This will be helpful for students to gain service hours for school or to determine whether or not they want a career in the healthcare setting. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our Community Relations Specialist at 954-355-5161.
Practicum - not accepting at this time
The practicum experience is specifically designed to help students, who have decided to actively pursue a career as a Child Life Specialist, to obtain a competitive child life internship placement. The placement consists of 150 hours with a requirement of 12 hours per week. The days the student will participate are flexible according the student's academic schedule. Some evenings and weekends will be required in order for the student to experience a variety of settings.
Qualifications:
- Applicants must be at least in their junior year at an accredited college or university
- Applicants must have experience working with children one on one and in a group setting
- The applicants curriculum should reflect courses that have lead to an understanding of growth and development across the lifespan and family theories
Internship - not accpting at this time
The internship is specifically designed to help student meet the eligibility requirements set by the Child Life Council for child life certification. The internship will consist of 480-600 hours over a term of 13-15 weeks. The interns will be directly supervised by a Certified Child Life Specialist.
Qualifications:
Candidates should be college seniors with a background of child development or related fields.
The Staff
The Child Life Staff consists of a Child Life Coordinator, Certified Child Life Specialists, and a Community Relations Specialist. The Child Life staff has a vast knowledge and years of experience in childhood growth and development, and the effects of hospitalization and illness on children of all ages.
Donations and Support
Gifts of toys for playroom use, craft supplies, books, DVDs, video games and the like are most welcome. Donations must be new and safe. If you are interested in reviewing our wish list please see below. If you are interested making a monetary donation or in supporting a specific program, you may call the Broward Health Foundation at 954-712-3980.
Download the Child Life Program Wish List
For more information about our Child Life Program please call our Child Life Coordinator at 954-355-4356.
