Child Life Specialist Associate

The Certified Child Life Specialist is responsible for supporting pediatric and adult patients and their family members in adjusting to healthcare experiences, illness/injury and loss across critical care, acute and ambulatory health care settings. Assessing the developmental, psychosocial, emotional and cultural needs using a strengths-based approach, the child life specialist provides developmentally appropriate education for medical procedures and diagnoses, non-pharmacological pain management, therapeutic play and emotional and bereavement support for the patient and family. The child life specialist orients and trains child life students and volunteers, provides interdisciplinary education related to the psychosocial and developmental needs of patients and families, and participates in patient related programming and events.

• Assess and prioritize patient and family needs for developmentally appropriate child life intervention.
• Support patients and families in coping with stresses associated with health care experiences through the development of therapeutic and supportive relationships.
• Plan and implement therapeutic interventions and a variety of individual and group play experiences promoting development, self-expression, and mastery.
• Advocate for patient and family-centered care through communication, involvement, partnership with and empowerment of patients and family members.
• Contribute to overall departmental coverage needs through daily coverage plan and float pager coverage.
• Document treatment plans/outcomes for patients within the electronic medical record as required by department guidelines and professional standards.
• Provide a physically and emotionally safe, therapeutic and healing environment for patients, families and staff.
• Provide education regarding illness/condition, treatment, procedures and coping techniques to patients, family members, and the larger community as appropriate.
• Actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, integrating goals and plans to promote optimal patient care that is family-centered, developmentally appropriate, culturally sensitive, and psychosocially sound. Regularly attends and participates in medical, multidisciplinary, and psychosocial team meetings.
• Co-treat and refer patients and families to multidisciplinary services and resources as needed.
• Maintain and order supplies and equipment as needed. Serve as a financial steward by implementing cost effective programming.
• Orient and supervise volunteers and participate in education for Michigan Medicine and visiting students.
• Facilitate ongoing formal and informal education and orientation for unit and multidisciplinary team on availability and provision of child life service.
• Remain abreast of current developments in the child life profession and participate in professional development to enhance clinical knowledge and skills. Professional involvement with the ACLP is highly encouraged.
• Represent Child and Family Life and manages clinical responsibilities on evenings, weekends, and holidays as assigned.
• Actively participate in monthly clinical team and committee meetings.
• Exemplify Michigan Medicine’s values related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
• Adhere to and embrace Child and Family Life team norms.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

One of the following three educational requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Child Life meets the Child Life Certification Commission's academic eligibility requirements allowing for credentialing as a Certified Child Life Specialist.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study (i.e., child development, family studies, psychology) and 10 college/university courses that meet the Child Life Certification Commission’s academic eligibility requirements allowing for credentialing as a Certified Child Life Specialist.
• Bachelor's degree in any field of study and 10 college/university courses that meet the Child Life Certification Commission's academic eligibility requirements allowing for credentialing as a Certified Child Life Specialist.

Additional requirements:

• Certification from the Association of Child Life Professionals as a Certified Child Life Specialist within first 18 months of hire. A minimum of two attempts to pass the exam are required within the first year of hire.
• Some Pediatric healthcare experience.
• ACLP and Great Lakes Association of Child Life Professionals (GLACLP) membership.

Primary Work Location: CCLS Leave/Backfill

Schedule: The CCLS leave/backfill position covers leaves, vacancies and time off. Work location (including offsite locations) and shifts schedule will vary based on coverage needs.

Some holidays are required.

*This position is eligible for shift premium.