Child Life Internship and Practicum
Practicum Program Components

Practicum Program Components

Program Schedule / Assignment Locations

The Division of Child Life and Integrative Care has responsibility for patient care 365 days a year with morning, afternoon and evening programs at various buildings and campuses throughout Cincinnati. As a result, schedules and assignment locations of practicum students at Cincinnati Children's will vary.

Practicum Format

Week 1: Orientation

  • Students will participate in informational in-services.

Weeks 2-3: Clinical Rotation 1 &  Weeks 4-5: Clinic Rotation 2

  • Students will be individually assigned to observe a CCLS in the outpatient or inpatient clinical setting.

Additionally:

  • Students will meet with the practicum coordinator weekly as a group for processing of clinical observations and experiences to deepen their learning.
  • Students will have opportunities to observe and practice in an inpatient activity center.

Practicum Syllabus of Assignments includes:

  • Reflective Daily Journal – submitted weekly to practicum coordinator
  • Question and Terminology Logs
  • List: What belongs in your bag of alternative focus/emotional support tools?
  • Patient Support Tracking Log
  • Observation Guide of non-clinical patient environments
  • Two completed Procedure Observation Forms that evaluate procedures that the student has observed.
  • Five Case Reports based on observed patients representing differing developmental stages (infant – adolescent)
  • Personal Philosophy of Child Life Statement
  • Practicum Program Evaluation
  • Weekly Patient Assessment Observations
  • Two Diagnosis Reviews relevant to observed patients (One per clinical rotation)

Goals and Objectives

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 through in-person clinical observation.
  2. To gain an understanding of the impact of health care on the emotional and developmental needs of children and families.
  3. To develop skills through patient interactions as guided by a CCLS.
  4. To recognize creative and flexible programming that meets patients’ and families’ psychosocial needs.
  5. To begin transition from student to professional, developing professional attitude, growth, maturity and judgment.
  6.  To evaluate oneself under the guidance of experienced professionals.
  7.  To begin to develop a professional mission statement that will drive one’s future education and work.