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 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.
Applications for the the child life internship for Spring 2024 semester are now open. There is no practicum being offered for the Spring 2024 semester. Continue to check this webpage for updates regarding any future programming beyond Spring 2024. Thank you.
Student Programming 2023:
- Filled and completed. No additional programming is being offered in 2023.
Student Programming Spring 2024:
- Internship application now open
- Application Deadline: September 7, 2023 (see instructions below)
Student Programming Summer 2024:
- Not Yet Determined
Student Programming Fall 2024:
- Not Yet Determined
Please note: Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital uses an online application process for our Child Life student programs. Please refer to the appropriate link below 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 which varies based upon departmental availability. Please note that we regularly update this webpage to reflect the most accurate and up-to-date record of the student programming that we are planning for upcoming semesters. We are only offering student programming documented here and we encourage you to continue to check this page for more information about future 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. If you need any accommodations for the application process or program, please reach out to our education committee via email ([email protected]).
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
If you are a student who will be affiliated with a college or university, you may refer to the instructions below to submit your completed application:
- Complete the Internship Readiness Common Application found at aclp.smapply.io. Detailed instructions on how to complete the application can be found in the guide here.
- Follow the link to where you will complete the form and upload your Internship Readiness Common Application: https://cumc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cYfVVdtWUGm7THo
- The PDF of your completed ACLP Internship Readiness Common Application is the only attachment that will be reviewed. No additional documentation will be required or reviewed or a candidate’s initial submission (no letters of recommendation, cover letters, resumes, etc.).
- Please note that the Application Deadline for the Spring 2024 semester is September 7, 2023 at 11:59pm (EST).
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:
- We follow ACLP application guidelines, therefore please refer to the common app to understand the application requirements and guidelines.
- 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)
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. If you need any accommodations for the application process or program, please reach out to our education committee via email ([email protected]).
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]