Jun 28 2008
Child Life Assistants
I’ve been learning more about Child Life Assistants lately. I didn’t know much about them because the children’s hospital I volunteer at, Primary Children’s Medical Center, does not employ any Child Life Assistants. I don’t know if this is a budget issue or something else. Anyone have ideas? I have noticed that some Children’s hospitals have Child Life Assistants, but there are still many who do not. It’s a little bewildering to me because I think it is blindingly obvious the benefits and rewards of having a Child Life Program; in terms of decreased hospital stay time needed as well as decreased need for pain medications. Shouldn’t employing a few Child Life Assistants be viewed as a vital part of a program? Just a thought.
I love your blog! You are right- there needs to be a place where more resources can be found and where child life departments can share tips and ideas with one another! I am currently a child life assistant at a hospital in Miami. I have my undergraduate degree in elementary education and taught for 3 and a half years. I found out about child life during the beginning of my Master’s program in KY, but at the time, there was no where for me to pursue this career choice. Since moving to Miami I continued to search for ways to get into the field and this past February I left my current position with a university and was hired as the child life activity assistant.
My job is to plan the weekly playroom activities, create the calendar for the patients’ rooms, train, supervise, and evaluate the playroom volunteer staff, inventory and order supplies for the department, and support the child life specialists in any way I can. I also assist with discharge parties, birthdays, and last chemo celebrations and assist with any special events we may have.
Next week I will begin my journey as an intern. I will leave my position for several months so I can have the internship experience necessary to sit for the certification exam. I also already have my Master’s degree and found that it seemed to be different trying to find an internship since I am no longer affiliated with a university. My department has been wonderful in supporting me through this endeavor and the hospital helped as well. I am so thankful they are taking me on and that I will be able to be one step closer to my goal. Please keep up the great work on this site! I’d never come across it before, but found it today when googling “child life resources”.
You asked why many hospitals don’t have child life assistants, and it is a budget issue. Many child life departments have difficulty supporting enough child life specialists and are unable to have any assistants.