My brother has Batten's Disease which is a very rare genetic disease. Fortunately, he has a different type of the disease so it hasn't affected him like it's supposed to. That may sound bad but instead of him supposed to pass away by 10 like most people affected by this disease, he is 21 years old and is doing pretty good.
I want to become a child life specialist because I love helping the disabled. I wanted to be a nurse but a child life specialist is just like a nurse without having to do the gross stuff and all I have to do is make kids happy and make sure them and their families know what's going on.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Working hours
Being a child life specialist means you can have long working hours just like a nurse. Most child specialist work from 7:30am to 7:30pm.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/careerawareness/ce-childlife.html
http://www.mayoclinic.org/careerawareness/ce-childlife.html
Child Life Council
Child Life Council represents a group of trained professionals with expertise in helping children and their families overcome life’s most challenging events
http://www.childlife.org/
http://www.childlife.org/
Podcast- Julia Collins
This podcast by Julia Collins talks about the educational solutions for pediatric patients.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-19-educational-solutions/id281301994?i=64262470&mt=2
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-19-educational-solutions/id281301994?i=64262470&mt=2
Child Life Julz- Julia Collins
Julia Collins is a child life specialist who has toured the world of Child Life and does interviews from people in the field. Each podcast will give you a rare glimpse into hospitals and programs through the eyes of Child Life specialists and other medical professionals who work closely with children in various locations throughout the world.
Ms. Collins made twenty podcasts including the intro. In the podcast I selected it is her third episode and she explains the lives of the professionals that work with kids and families with Cystic Fibrosis and Diabetes.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-3-cystic-fibrosis/id281301994?i=27270536&mt=2
Ms. Collins made twenty podcasts including the intro. In the podcast I selected it is her third episode and she explains the lives of the professionals that work with kids and families with Cystic Fibrosis and Diabetes.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-3-cystic-fibrosis/id281301994?i=27270536&mt=2
Blog about Child Life Specialist
Below is a link written by a child life specialist at LeBonheur Children's Medical Center. The blog explains the academic requirements and schooling to become a child life specialist. The blog also states what a child life specialist is and how to get an internship.
http://www.lebonheur.org/blogs/childlifeblog/page/child-life-specialist
http://www.lebonheur.org/blogs/childlifeblog/page/child-life-specialist
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Smiles
In the picture is a child life specialist talking to one of her patients. The child actually looks happy even though she is sick in a hospital.
Career Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TcbK8BvHVw
The woman in the video discusses her typical work day as a child life specialist.
Child Life Specialist- WFAA Saturday Morning Show
This video is a child life specialist Amy Fisher explaining the "Teddy Bear Concept" which uses stuffed animals to explain heart health to kids.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85IUJ_R3zSY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85IUJ_R3zSY
Roar
Just like the "Stronger" I previously posted. This video is kids at Children's Hospital in Dartmouth- Hitchcock singing the song Roar by Katy Perry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnG3MKos87A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnG3MKos87A
Stronger
Places to Work
There are many children hospitals to work at in the United States. I will however, stay in Texas but I do not know which hospital yet. The "big" hospitals in Texas are Dells Children Medical Center of Central Texas, Cooks Children Hospital, Cooks Children Heart Center, Children Medical Center Dallas and Shiner's Hospital for Children.
g.com/entities/search?q=children+hospitals+in+texas&filters=segment%3a%22local%22&PC=IPGTDF&src=IE-SearchBox&qpvt=children+hospitals+in+texas&FORM=MAPAGG
g.com/entities/search?q=children+hospitals+in+texas&filters=segment%3a%22local%22&PC=IPGTDF&src=IE-SearchBox&qpvt=children+hospitals+in+texas&FORM=MAPAGG
Internships
I live in Austin, Texas so if I want to do an internship I would most likely go to Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas.
The requirements to intern at Dells are as followed:
The requirements to intern at Dells are as followed:
- Applicants must be currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree and receive course credit for the internship. Priority is given to applicants with an educational background in child life, child development or human development, family systems, psychology or another closely related field.
- Completion of a minimum of 10 college-level courses in child life or a related subject, including one or more courses taught by a Certified Child Life Specialist covering all of the required applied areas of study, as listed on the CLC Child Life Course Verification Form.
- Work or volunteer experience with well children in a group or individual setting.
- A minimum of 150 hours experience working directly with children in a healthcare setting, preferably in a child life program. These hours must be verified by a supervisor on institution letterhead.
- Commitment to a 600 hour, 15 week, full time internship. Work days and hours will vary depending on the schedule of the intern's rotation supervisor. Some nights and weekends may be required.http://www.dellchildrens.net/services_and_programs/child_life_services/child_life_internship/
Benjamin's Story
Salary
On average a child life professional earns $35,593.00 per year. This salary varies based on the region of the country, position held, number of years of experience in the field, education level, certification status, education level and the size of the child life program. The person's salary can range from 12,500-100,000 depending on hours worked per weak and other factors. https://www.childlife.org/files/SalarySurvey.pdf
To apply to be a volunteer
To apply to be a volunteer at a children's hospital in Texas you have to read about each volunteer program (Adult, Teen/Junior and Groups/Community Organizations) and determine which program you are interested in joining. Then follow application instructions for the volunteer program you have selected.
https://waystogive.texaschildrens.org/page.aspx?pid=1739
https://waystogive.texaschildrens.org/page.aspx?pid=1739
How to become a child life specialist
How to become a Child Life Specialist-
1) Apply to a four-year college that offers solid foundations in psychology, education or child development. Some colleges offer a bachelor's degree in child life.
2) Find a part time job that involves children. Look for work with your city parks and recreation department or as a summer camp counselor.
3) Volunteer in a hospital or clinic that employs a child life specialist. This is where you will obtain most of your experience, and it will be an important item on your résumé.
4) Apply for certification if it is mandatory in your state. Find out about child life certification in your state.
5) Earn a master's degree in child life if you would eventually like to manage a program or be a director of child life, although some hospitals will accept a complementing degree in child development, therapeutic recreation or child psychology.
6) On your résumé and in your interviews, emphasize your previous hospital experience. Look for work in big cities, because most child life programs are located at large medical centers.
2) Find a part time job that involves children. Look for work with your city parks and recreation department or as a summer camp counselor.
3) Volunteer in a hospital or clinic that employs a child life specialist. This is where you will obtain most of your experience, and it will be an important item on your résumé.
4) Apply for certification if it is mandatory in your state. Find out about child life certification in your state.
5) Earn a master's degree in child life if you would eventually like to manage a program or be a director of child life, although some hospitals will accept a complementing degree in child development, therapeutic recreation or child psychology.
6) On your résumé and in your interviews, emphasize your previous hospital experience. Look for work in big cities, because most child life programs are located at large medical centers.
What is a Child Life Specialist
Monday, March 10, 2014
Dresscode
The link below states the dress code to be an intern at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&sqi=2&ved=0CHQQFjAJ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdevoschildrenshospital.org%2Fdocuments%2Fchildlifeinternship.doc&ei=ZAwqU5CUEOah2gWmwoCIBQ&usg=AFQjCNG9MAc9wbueNk8k6moK0llS9BAPvA&sig2=QA6nTjQeDD9kc5GLr9VEhA
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&sqi=2&ved=0CHQQFjAJ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdevoschildrenshospital.org%2Fdocuments%2Fchildlifeinternship.doc&ei=ZAwqU5CUEOah2gWmwoCIBQ&usg=AFQjCNG9MAc9wbueNk8k6moK0llS9BAPvA&sig2=QA6nTjQeDD9kc5GLr9VEhA
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