Child Life Specialist - Women's Support Services

Overview

At East Alabama Medical Center, our mission is high quality, compassionate health care, and that statement guides everything we do. We set high standards for customer service, quality, and keeping costs under control.

Provides information, education, support and guidance to parents, siblings and other family members. Promotes effective coping and play, preparation, education, bereavement support and self-expression activities. Provides emotional support for families and encourages optimum development of children facing a broad range of challenging experiences, particularly those related to healthcare and hospitalization. This position specifically encompasses work in the Emergency Department, Pediatric Unit, Radiology and NICU at a community-based hospital serving both pediatric and adult patients

• B.S. or B.A. in child life, child development, human development, psychology or closely related discipline.
• Completion of a child life internship under the supervision of a certified child life specialist is required.
• Required Registration/License/Certification
• The candidate must meet requirements set forth for certification by the Association of Child Life Professionals Certifying Commission. Certification must be obtained within 12 months of hire. Preference is given to applicants who are certified upon application submission.
• Must have current CPR training or obtain CPR training within 3 months
• BLS within 90 days of hire/transfer
• Preferred Education
• Hold a graduate degree in child life or a related field
• Preferred Experience
• Have previous experience in supervision of child life practicum and/or internship students
• Preferred Registration/License/Certification
• Membership in the Association of Child Life Professionals and other professional affiliations is encouraged
• Other Requirements
• The individual must demonstrate extensive knowledge and skill regarding child and adolescent development and appropriate interventions for children age neonate to young adult. Knowledge and competence in the following is required: knowledge of family systems theory; of the developmental effects of stress and trauma on children and interventions to alleviate distress; a working knowledge of medical diagnoses and procedures and their relationship to children’s behavior and development;
  
  broad based knowledge regarding the special needs of children with chronic or disabling conditions; knowledge of play activities and therapeutic interventions; and an in depth knowledge of body of research relating to children in health care settings.