Child Life Internship and Practicum

Practicum students usually work Sunday through Wednesday or Wednesday through Saturday.

Schedules may be 8:30 - 5:00 or 11:30 - 8:00, and may vary throughout the week.

The Division of Child Life and Integrative Care has responsibility for patient care 365 days a year with morning, afternoon and evening programs. As a result, schedules and assignment locations of practicum students at Cincinnati Children's will vary. Most practicum activities will take place at the main campus on Burnet Ave., but there may be outings to Liberty Campus, College Hill Psychiatric campus, or to spend several hours in a camp setting.

Each student will be individually assigned to observe/participate with specific child life specialists in their areas of expertise in the outpatient and inpatient settings. Practicum students will attend seminars together in order to promote group interaction and reflective learning. Written assignments will be completed individually and submitted to the program coordinator for review. Sunday and Saturday work will be primarily focused on group dynamics and learning to manage programs in activity centers.

Through completion of assignments, Practicum students will achieve these goals / objectives.

Goals and Objectives of Child Life Practicum

1. To become familiar with the child life profession and the Child Life Department at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
2. To discuss and understand family centered psychosocial care as the foundation of child life.
3. To gain an understanding of the impact of health care on the emotional and developmental needs of children.
4. To observe a variety of clinical experiences in order to develop a foundation of understanding child life’s role in a health care setting.
5. To have the opportunity to interact with patients on a one-to-one basis and in group situations.
6. To recognize creative and flexible programming that meets patients’ and families’ psychosocial needs.
7. To develop an understanding of team effort in affecting positive experiences for children in the medical environment.
8. To practice providing an acceptable, non-judgmental approach to promote healthy interactions between child, staff and family. 
9. To begin transition from student to professional, developing professional attitude, growth, maturity and judgment.
10.  To evaluate oneself under the guidance of experienced professionals.
11.  To begin to develop a professional mission statement that will drive one’s future education and work.

These items must be provided three weeks before the program begins.

• Health requirements: Students will be in good health before beginning a child life practicum at Cincinnati Children's and shall comply with the following standards:
• Each individual shall have a negative two-step tuberculin skin test by the Mantoux method PPD-S US units per test within nine months prior to date of initial clinical experience. Exceptions: 
  • Those individuals having a documented clinical record of tuberculosis and treatment with INH
  • Those individuals supplying a written record from a physician stating that the individual had a severe or markedly positive reaction to prior Mantoux test
    *Individuals with exceptions must have a physician's certification that they do not have communicable tuberculosis infection.
• Each individual must have a documented clinical record showing immunity to rubella (either a positive rubella titer or a rubella vaccination).
• Each individual must have a documented clinical record showing immunity to rubeola (measles). Proof of immunity can be shown by having a birth date prior to 1950, a rubeola vaccination after 1980, or with documentation of a physician stating the student has had rubeola.
• Each individual must have a documented clinical record showing immunity to mumps (documentation from a physician stating the student had either mumps or a mumps vaccination).
• Each individual must have a documented clinical record showing immunity to Hepatitis B or having started the series of three doses of Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombivax HB or Engerix - B).
• Required of accepted practicum students participating in program as part of a college / university curriculum:
• A signed contract of agreement for practicum participation with your college / university.
• A copy of the evaluation forms required by your program.
• List of special assignments or project requirements from your school.

• Must have completed at least 5 three credit hour classes in Child Life, Child Development, Counseling, Education, Expressive Therapies, Psychology or Recreational Therapy or provide evidence of registration for these courses in the next semester.
• Must have 75 hours of experience with children.

To apply for the Child Life Practicum at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, complete and return a completed application packet.

Practicum applications must be RECEIVED by Feb.1.

Application packets must include the following:

• Practicum Application
• Official transcript
• One letter of reference

We eagerly await the opportunity to train highly motivated and qualified students and invite you to apply.

Click the link to download a PDF of the Practicum Application.

Personal telephone interviews will be required of top candidates as part of the application process.

Individuals will be contacted and invited to interview by March 1.

Those candidates not invited to proceed with admitting process will be notified by letter by March 1.

Please return application packet to:

Child life Education Specialist

Child Life Department, MLC: 5003

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

3333 Burnet Ave.

Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039

Questions may be addressed to Lynn Sanner, 513 636 8973

lynn.sanner@cchmc.org