Child Life Associate

About Children’s Minnesota

Children’s Minnesota is one of the largest pediatric health systems in the United States and the only health system in Minnesota to provide care exclusively to children, from before birth through young adulthood. An independent and not-for-profit system since 1924, Children’s Minnesota is one system serving kids throughout the Upper Midwest at two free-standing hospitals, nine primary care clinics, multiple specialty clinics and seven rehabilitation sites. As The Kids Experts™ in our region, Children’s Minnesota is regularly ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top children’s hospital. Find us on Facebook @childrensminnesota or on Twitter and Instagram @childrensmn. Please visit childrensMN.org.

Children’s Minnesota is proud to be recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of 2023’s Top Diversity Leaders. The national honor recognizes the top diverse healthcare executives and organizations influencing public policy, care delivery, and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in their organizations and the industry.

Department Overview

The Child Life group promotes the continuous development of children to optimize their responses to medical care, to minimize psychological stress and trauma, and to increase understanding and coping with illness and health care experiences. Child Life provides children with opportunities for gaining a sense of mastery, for play, for learning, for self-expression, for family involvement and for peer interaction. As members of the health care team, child life staff advocate for children and families in ambulatory and inpatient settings. They serve as resources to all staff and to the community on issues related to child development and child health experiences.


Position Summary

The primary responsibilities of this position are planning and implementing activities and programs that support and promote normal growth and development, training and oversight of volunteers and maintaining community ties that enhance program delivery. The Child Life Associate works independently, but in collaboration with the Child Life Music Therapy department to provide a safe environment in play areas and when working at the patient bedside. The patient /family interactions may happen in inpatient settings, ambulatory care areas and the play spaces. Service hours/care delivery might include weekend and evening work hours independent of a CCLS.