Child Life Specialist

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.

Work Shift: 8 Hours - Day Shifts (United States of America)

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40

Compensation: Salary Range: $23.00 - $34.50 $5,000 Sign-On bonus with a commitment!

Union Position: No

Department Details

Summary Focus on helping children and families cope with medical experiences in an outpatient environment. Provide emotional support, education and coping strategies to pediatric patients and their families during medical visits, procedures and ongoing treatment plans.

Job Description Help children and families cope with the anxiety, fear or stress related to medical visits, procedures or diagnoses. Utilize expert knowledge of child development, family systems theories and the developmental effects of stress and trauma on children to establish appropriate interventions to alleviate distress. Prepare children for exams and procedures using developmentally appropriate explanations while supporting families by explaining medical processes, offering guidance and advocating for the child's emotional and developmental needs within the healthcare team. Understands special needs of children with chronic or disabling conditions, with expertise in the use of play activities in a healthcare environment. Normalize the clinic environment through familiar, child-friendly interactions using distraction techniques during procedures and medical visits. Work closely with physicians, nurses, social workers and other healthcare staff, communicating patient needs and coping plans to the care team.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Child Development, Human Development, or related field required.

Completion of Child Life internship required.

Minimum two years experience working with various age groups of children is preferred.

Experience working with pediatric population in a therapeutic setting desired.

Certification as a Child Life Specialist (CCLS) is required or must be obtained within one year of hire.

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required within six months of hire.

Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

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The Sanford organization owns and manages multiple distinct brands, including Sanford Health, Marshfield Clinic, and Good Samaritan, as well as Lewis Drug, Sanford Health Equip, Solutions by Sanford, Great Shots, and Blue Rock Bar & Grill.

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.

Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 53,000 employees and serves over 2 million patients and nearly 425,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 56 hospitals, 288 clinic locations, 147 senior care communities, 4,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 1,500 active clinical trials and studies.

The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to 78 specialties.

Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.

Good Samaritan, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of senior care and services, is committed to transforming the aging experience through innovation, compassion and personalized care.

As part of Sanford Health, an integrated nonprofit health system headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Good Samaritan serves 10,000 seniors and offers access to a full continuum of care, including 94 rehabilitation and skilled nursing centers, 56 assisted living and memory care facilities, 44 independent living locations and 37 home health and hospice agencies.

The senior care provider delivers services across the upper Midwest, with 70% of residents living in rural communities.

Learn more about Good Samaritan’s mission and commitment to delivering high quality senior care in rural America at good-sam.com.