What is a child life specialist?

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Child Life Profession Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a child life specialist?
• The goal of a certified child life specialist
  (CCLS) is to reduce the stress and anxiety
  children
• and families experience related to healthcare and
  hospitalization. CCLSs are experts in child
• development. They promote effective coping
  through education, preparation, and play.
• What interventions do child life specialists
  provide?
• -Preparation for tests, surgery, and procedures
• -Procedural support and distraction
• -Non-pharmacological pain management
• -Education regarding new or existing diagnoses
• -Medical play
• -Developmental play
• -Emotional support
• -Sibling and family support
• -Bereavement support
• -Preoperative tours
• What are the typical responsibilities of a child
  life specialist?
• -Communication with interdisciplinary team
  members

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• What degrees do most child life specialists have?
• -Child Life -Psychology
• -Child/Family Development -Sociology
• -Human Development -Therapeutic Recreation
• -Family Dynamics -Education
• -Expressive Therapies (play, music, dance, art)
• What colleges in my area offer a child life
  program?
• For a list of colleges that offer a specific
  child life program, visit the Academic Program
• Directory at www.childlife.org. Identify
  colleges that have a child development program.
• If I do not have a degree that fits or I am
  making a career change, what do I do?
• The Child Life Council (CLC) requires a total of
  10 college-level courses in child life or a
• related field, which they approve in order to be
  eligible to sit for the Child Life Professional
• Certification Examination. For more information
  about the CLC reviewing coursework, visit
• http//www.childlife.org/Certification/Getting20C
  ertified/CourseWorkReview.cfm.
• Do I have to be certified to become a child life
  specialist?
• Most hospitals require child life professionals
  to be certified or at least to be eligible to sit
  for

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