Project Connect Note Cards Flashcards
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“Certification”, www.childlife.org/certification
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Child Life: Job Description
“Certified Child Life Specialist provide evidence based, developmentally appropriate interventions including therapeutic play, preparation and education that reduces fear, anxiety, and pain for infants, children and youth.”
- ACLP
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History: The Beginning
Began in the 1920s to help improve healthcare experiences with children by play, preparation and educating the child and their families. These services are necessary to assure emotional stability and to help promote healthy development of children in hospitals and to help with the feeling of fearing pain.
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History: First Meeting
In 1965, women in the Child Life Field met in Boston to discuss creating a Child Life organization. They established the Association for the Well Being of Hospitalized Children and their Families, later becoming Association for the Care of Children in Hospitals in 1967. In 1979 it became Association for the Care of Children Health.
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History: 1970
Child Life programs in hospitals increased substantially and colleges started to offer Child Life as a career option.
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History: 1980
The independent Child Life Council was created in 1982. Professional certification was adopted to assure Child Life standard. By the end of the 80’s, “extensive criteria and supporting documents had been produced: program review tools, requirements of professional competency, outlines of how to start a Child Life program, standards of
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History:1980
clinical practices, and standards of educational preparation.”
-ACLP
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History: 1990
The financial crisis developed, causing reduced number of Child Life Specialist positions, shortened stay length, increased out patient visits, increased home care and hospice for children. The CLC developed the Vision-to-Action planning process in response. Also, by 1998, The Child Life professional certification examination was placed.
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Present Day
The Child Life profession work in all pediatric in patient units, including the critical care unit and they work in all out patients unit, including Emergency Department, Radiology and Imaging, Specialty Care Clinics, Behavioral Facilities, and Rehabilitation Facilities. They also work in community outreach programs, private practices, hospice
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Present Day
Services, Home Health, camps for children, Private Medical Practices, Private Dental Practices, and services to children of adult patients.
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Future for Child Life
The Child Life Council is in the process to rebrand and has officially been changed to the Association of Child Life Professionals in 2016.
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Need for Child Life Services
Children face stressful and traumatic events that may overwhelm their ability to cope. Parents and guardians can feel unsure of how to help their child through the hospital stay and how to understand and/or manage situations. Child Life Specialist are trained to help children and their parents and siblings transition to
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Need for Child life Services
hospital life and help them understand and cope with procedures and diagnoses.
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“Commonly Asked Questions about the Child Life Profession.” St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org/treatment/services/support-services/child-life/for-students/commonly-asked-questions-about-the-child-life-profession.html
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Qualifications
- Complete a minimum of 480 hour Child Life Internship.
- Complete at least 10 courses deemed appropriately the Child Life Council, now the Association of Child Life Profession
- Bachelors in related field
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2013, Boston Children’s Hospital. “Child Life Services.” Boston Children’s Hospital.
www.childrenshospital.org/patient-resources/family-resources/child-life-specialist