Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) are professionals
who are specially trained to help children and their families
understand and manage the hospital experience. Certified
Child Life Specialists strive to minimize the stress and
anxiety that often accompany a hospital stay and medical
procedures. Child Life Specialists are skilled in providing
developmental, educational, and therapeutic interventions
for hospitalized children and their families. Child Life
Specialists support growth and development while recognizing
family and individual strengths and respect different methods
of coping.
What areas at Children’s Hospital of New
Jersey do we cover?
Our Child Life Department supports our all of our pediatric
sub-specialty areas, as well as our general pediatrics units.
How does a Child Life Specialist benefit your child and family?
- Help to increase the understanding of hospital experiences
- Help children maintain positive self-esteem, optimal
development of motor, intellectual, social and emotional
skills
- Provide opportunities to restore a sense of control and
mastery over their body and experiences
- Recognize and support strengths within your family
- Provide an environment that includes emotional support
- Promote normal growth and development
- Help with non-medical needs
- Advocacy for patients and for parents
What services do Child Life Specialists provide?
- Preparation for tests, surgeries and other medical procedures
- Support during medical procedures
- Therapeutic medical play using special dolls, stuffed
animals and medical equipment
- Activities to continue normal growth and development
of infants, children and adolescents in patient rooms and/or
activity centers
- Sibling support
What other roles do Child Life Specialists fulfill?
- Working with a multi-disciplinary medical team
About our staff
Child Life Staff are required to have an undergraduate degree in a number of
disciplines related to the child development field, complete a 480-hour supervised
internship as well as pass a national certifying examination. Many staff
members also hold multiple degrees in higher education covering a variety of
specialties and services along with additional certifications. All Child
Life Specialists are trained to work with hospitalized children and their families
as well as to understand the difficulties that accompany hospitalization.
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