Child Life

Overview: To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.

Designs And Provides Programs And Services To Reduce The Stress Of Hospitalization, To Promote Optimum Development And To Maintain Normal Living Patterns For Children, Adolescents And Families Who Come To The Hospital. Through Therapeutic Interventions Such As Play And Preparation For The Hospital Experience, The Child Life Coordinator Facilitates The Child And Family's Positive Coping With, And Adaptation To, The Hospital Environment.

EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran Responsibilities:

• 1. Designs And Offers Age-Specific Pre-Admission Programs For Children And Families Scheduled For Surgery Or Other Medical Procedures.
• 2. Coordinates Interactive Age-Specific Orientation Programs For Community School Children To Familiarize Them With The Hospital Environment.
• 3. Acts As An Advisor To Various Clinical Teams Within The Organization To Create ?Child Friendly? Care Environments (Asu, X-Ray, Ed, Clinic).
• 4. Communicates With Health Care Staff, Integrating Child Life Theory And Practice To Obtain And/Or Share Data Pertinent To Patients? Needs And Condition. Serves As Resource To Hospital Staff And Families In Dealing With Children?S Hospital Related Anxieties. Uses Developmentally Appropriate Play As A Primary Tool In Assessing And Meeting Child?S Psychosocial Needs.
• 5. Uses Formal And Informal Assessment Techniques To Determine Patient?S Developmental And Emotional States. Collaborates With Nursing Staff To Develop Age-Specific Care Plans For Hospitalized Children.
• 6. Provides Varied Therapeutic Activities/Experiences For Children In The Playroom, At The Bedside, Or In Outpatient Settings. Matches Interactions And Activities To Developmental Level And Emotional State Of The Child.
• 7. Maintains Child Life Policies And Procedures. Collaborates In The Development Of Age-Appropriate Pediatric Policies And Procedures.
• 8. Networks With Other Child Life Therapists To Ensure Current Practices.
• 9. Ensures Adequate Numbers Of Safe, Age-Appropriate Toys, Books, Games, Videos, Etc For Use By Pediatric Patients In Various Settings Within The Organization. Accepts Such Donations From Community Members And Philanthropists. Coordinates The Storage And Distribution Of Donations To Pediatric Patients.
• 10. Develops Operational And Capital Child Life Budget To Ensure Delivery Of Quality Services.
• 11. Meets Performance Expectations For Customer Service, Teamwork, Resource Utilization, And Staff And Self Development As Outlined In Performance Review.
• 12. Performs Other Duties As Assigned Or Directed To Ensure Smooth Operation Of The Department/Unit.

Qualifications:

EDUCATION

B.S. Degree In Child Life/Child Development Or Related Field. Child Life Certification Is Strongly Preferred.

EXPERIENCE

Two (2) Years Experience In A Child Life Department

LICENSURE

Not Applicable

SPECIAL SKILLS

Not Applicable