We are pleased to offer three professional development opportunities – a child life fellowship, internship and a practicum experience for health professionals. *Upon selection, practicum and internship candidate interviews will take place virtually via video conference*
Information Sessions and Career Day have been postponed due to COVID. We will re-evaluate possible options in the fall.
Child Life Specialist Accredited Internship Program
The Child & Family Life Department at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital offers a fifteen week internship. The experience consists of 40 hours per week resulting in a 600 hour clinical internship. This opportunity is provided three times per year:
- Winter Internship – begins in January
- Summer Internship – begins in May
- Fall Internship – begins in September
The Child Life Intern is responsible for supervised involvement in the planning and implementation of developmentally and psychosocially supportive programming for children and adolescents. Services will be provided in both the inpatient and outpatient areas of C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in a rotation schedule designed by the intern and his/her supervisor.
The intern will be expected to incorporate play, emotional support, healthcare education, and family involvement in order to enhance the optimum development during the healthcare experience. Social, emotional, intellectual and physical well-being of children and families will be addressed by the intern with supportive daily supervision, training and evaluation by certified child life specialists and other members of the multidisciplinary medical team.
The ongoing guidance and evaluation will enable the Intern to:
- provide meaningful therapeutic interventions and activities
- assist children and families in their adjustment to the healthcare setting
- share observations, experiences, and assessments with his/her on-site supervisor
- develop assessment skills and intervention strategies
- participate in multidisciplinary team approach to family centered care
Internship Program Components
- inpatient/outpatient rotations
- participation in monthly child life staff meetings
- record daily intern journal entries
- participate in assigned readings and discussion through weekly Journal Club
- clinical training experience - Interns will have the opportunity to observe, shadow, and implement therapeutic interventions on different units in a rotation schedule
- two patient case studies are required during the course of the internship
- attend clinical skills and seminars throughout the course of the internship to enhance hands-on understanding and multidisciplinary learning
- on-going self-evaluation including: reflection, weekly meetings and feedback by rotation supervisor and internship coordinator
- develop, implement and assess an approved project
- perform at least two site visits to other child life programs
- develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become a certified child life specialist
Internship Eligibility Requirements
- Relevant coursework as deemed by the ACLP Eligibility Assessment Report
- in-progress courses are accepted as long as they will be complete prior to the internship start date
- A course taught by a child life specialist is required
- Experience working with well infants, children, and/or teens
- We accept both affiliated and non-affiliated applicants
Apply to the Internship Program
We follow the ACLP guidelines for offer and acceptance dates. Please follow this link for application deadlines.
If selected for an internship, official transcript will be required.
Apply Online
You will need to email [email protected], the ACLP Internship Readiness Common Application. We do not require recommendation letters, but you will be asked for references if selected for an interview.
Applications should include the following documents
- ACLP Common Application
- ACLP Eligibility Assessment
- Unofficial Transcripts
For More Information
Jenn Holly, MS, CCLS, CEIM
Internship Coordinator, Child and Family Life
Michigan Medicine
C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
734-232-7131
Kim Manasco, CCLS, CEIM
Internship Coordinator, Child and Family Life
Michigan Medicine
C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
cflintership
734-232-6744
Child Life Fellowship
Michigan Medicine along with the Child and Family Life Department is committed to providing quality education and training for both students and professionals. The Fellowship offers entry-level child life experience for a college graduate who has completed a minimum 600 hour Child Life internship. Certification or exam eligible required. Details pertaining to the start date and application due date can be found on the application.
Child Life Practicum Program
Currently at this time, we have placed practicum placements on hold.