Practicum & Internships
Child life student opportunities
NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital offers Child Life practicums and internships to applicants who are pursuing a career as a Certified Child Life Specialist.
The deadlines for Summer & Fall 2021 applications have passed. At this time we are unable to accept internship applications for the Spring 2022 semester. We are also not accepting practicum applications at this time. We will update this webpage once we start accepting applications again.
Please note: Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital uses an online application process for our Child Life student programs. Please refer to the appropriate link to submit your application. Feel free to reach out to the Child Life Education Committee ([email protected] with any questions. Thank you.
Practicum
The mission of our 100-hour practicum is to provide an experiential learning opportunity for individuals interested in a career in child life, who are motivated to grow and learn but are not yet ready for a child life internship. This practicum fosters an environment for students to develop their strengths, interests & skills by observing and reflecting on the clinical work of a child life specialist in a hospital. This opportunity to observe the application of child life theory to practice will provide students with a foundational experience in their continued work towards a child life internship placement. We seek to support students committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the healthcare setting and the field of child life.
To submit your application, please fill out the NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital Child Life Practicum Application.
Our 100-hour practicum program is offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Our practicum application is available for students who meet the following requirements:
- Completion and a grade of B or higher in Child Development course (include curriculum/syllabus for class with application)
- 100 hours of experience in a healthcare setting (work experience, volunteer experience, etc.). Please document and submit verification of your experience(s) using ACLP Verification of Related Experience Hours form. (Please note that this experience is preferred, not required.)
When applying to the practicum, students will also be asked to submit:
- A copy of their resume
- Two reference contacts
- References should complete the required online recommendation form.
- Unofficial transcript from ALL colleges/universities attended (official transcript may be required upon acceptance)
- Responses to open-ended questions (see application link)
*ALL application components MUST be submitted electronically by the application deadlines in order to be considered for the Child Life Practicum.
Other Information:
- Students who have met the deadline and all requirements should be available for an interview via video conference.
- Due to a limited number of spots, submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.
Internship
NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital Child Life Internship Application
The mission of our child life internship program is to prepare future Certified Child Life Specialists as clinicians, collaborators, and lifelong learners. This internship supports students in identifying their strengths & opportunities for growth within a self-reflective environment, while helping them attain (at minimum) entry-level practice in all core competencies defined by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP). Our Child Life Department is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion both within the healthcare setting and the field of child life; we seek students who share similar commitment to these goals.
Our interns have the opportunity to engage in:
- Daily application of developmental theory to the provision of psychosocial support for children & families
- Preparation, education, and procedural support interventions for pediatric patients with high acuity healthcare needs
- Supporting children & families in coping with traumatic injuries, life-threatening diagnoses, and grief & loss
- Collaboration with interprofessional colleagues
- Play-based programming & events
- Simulation-based learning
- Reflective practice, supervision & mentorship
Our 15-week (600 hours) full-time internship program is accredited by the ACLP and offered during the fall & spring semesters. Child life students who meet the following requirements are welcome to apply:
- Completion of at least 100 hours of experience working with well infants, children, youth and/or families
- Completion of at least 100 hours of experience working with infants, children, youth and/or families in stressful situations, healthcare settings, and/or programs designed for children with special needs
- IF the applicant's experience with youth in stressful situations was NOT completed in a healthcare setting, the applicant must have additional experience within a healthcare environment
- Completion of all coursework required for child life certification
- 3.0 or higher overall GPA
- Affiliation with a college or university that has signed NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital's agreement for student interns (only needed if internship is offered; must be received at least one month before internship start date)
When applying to the internship, students will be asked to submit:
- ACLP Common Child Life Internship Application (including cover letter & resume)
- Two reference contacts
- References will be asked to submit ACLP's reference form for internship applicants here; additional letters of recommendation are NOT required
- Unofficial transcript from ALL colleges/universities attended (official transcript may be required upon acceptance)
- Completed ACLP Eligibility Assessment Report
NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital abides by the Association of Child Life Professional’s Internship Deadlines for all student applications, found at www.childlife.org.
*ALL application components MUST be submitted electronically by the application deadlines in order to be considered for the internship.
Other Information
- Students who have met the deadline and all requirements should be available for an interview via video conference.
- Due to a limited number of spots, submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.
For more information contact:
Child Life Education Committee
E-mail: [email protected]
FAQs