Child Life Internship and Practicums

About the Child Life Department

  • Oldest Child Life program in Texas, celebrating 40 years in (2014)

  • Among the largest Child Life programs in the country (30 full time CLS)

  • The child life department includes: child life specialists, child life assistants, music therapists, a special events/arts program coordinator,  and facility dogs

  • There are 6 playrooms hospital wide and a therapeutic arts room

  • There is pet therapy weekly, in addition to seven in house facility dogs

Overview of the Internship

Children's Health clinical internship program has met the minimum standards for a clinical internship program set forth by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP). Children's Health clinical internship program is currently accredited and recognized by the ACLP on their professional website. 

  • We offer fall, spring, and summer internships

  • All rotations are at the Children’s Medical Center Dallas campus

  • The internship is 600+ hours, 15 weeks long, 5 days a week,  with 2 main rotation placements that are each six weeks long, and then with an additional 1 week rotation placement of choice

  • The internship consists of daily student group sessions as well as other readings, assignments, and journals throughout

  • Large assignments include: two small case presentations, a diagnosis presentation and a project presentation

  • There is a designated site visit week for interns to explore other child life programs in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

  • The interns will work a designated holiday each semester (Easter, July 4 or Thanksgiving)

  • The application and detailed requirements are on www.childrens.com

Overview of the Practicum

  • We offer fall, spring, and summer practicums

  • Placements will be at either the Children’s Medical Center Dallas and/or Plano campuses

  • The practicum is 192+ hours, 12 weeks long, 2 days a week,  with 2 main rotation placements that are each six weeks long. The practicum students get to choose the two, consistent days a week to come (Tues, Wed, or Thurs)

  • The practicum is observational based with the hands-on activities being planning and implementing therapeutic activities in the playroom and at bedside and introducing services and building rapport with patients/families

  • The practicum consists of daily student group sessions as well as other readings, assignments, therapeutic activities and journals throughout

  • Large assignments include:  individual stress potential, census stress potential and portfolio presentation

  • The application and detailed requirements are on www.childrens.com

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I still apply for a practicum or internship if I already have a degree? Yes, but you must be affiliated (enrolled) with a University

  • I will graduate before the practicum/internship starts, so I will not be affiliated with a university. Is this okay? No, all candidates must be affiliated

  • I really want to do my practicum at Children’s; will I still be eligible for an internship at Children’s? No, students can complete a practicum or internship at Children’s, not both.

  • I am interested in gaining more volunteer experience, what can I do? We recommend volunteering at camps, day care centers, children’s hospitals, babysitting, etc

  • I completed a practicum at my university child development center; will this suffice for the child life practicum? No, a practicum must be conducted under the supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist

Currently Affiliated Schools

  • Below is a list of schools currently affiliated with Children’s Health. We will consider adding additional schools with child life programs on a case by case basis:

    • University of North Texas

    • Texas Woman’s University

    • Texas Christian University

    • University of Texas at Dallas

    • Texas State University

    • Ohio University

    • The University of Alabama

    • University of Iowa

    • The University of Georgia

    • East Carolina University

    • Towson University

    • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

For more information/ questions

Krista Stringer, MS, CCLS, Education Coordinator[214-456-3209](tel: 214-456-3209)[krista.stringer@childrens.com](mailto: Krista.stringer@childrens.com) 

Visit websites for current and updated informationwww.childlife.org and www.childrens.com