Child Life Specialist

Shriners Children’s is an organization that respects, supports, and values each other. Named as the 2025 best mid-sized employer by Forbes, we provide excellence in patient care, embrace multi-disciplinary education, and research with global impact. We foster a learning environment that values evidence-based practice, experience, innovation, and critical thinking. Our compassion, integrity, accountability, and resilience define us as leaders in pediatric specialty care for children and their families. With 20+ hospitals, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care centers, and outreach locations across the globe, we provide excellent care to children up to age 18 regardless of their family’s ability to pay or insurance status.

About the role

The Child Life Specialist provides developmentally appropriate interventions to reduce the stress and anxiety associated with healthcare experiences for pediatric patients and their families at The Shriners Hospital for Children.

Responsibilities

• Performs a comprehensive assessment of child's development, temperament, coping style, medical plan, and available social supports to develop an individualized treatment plan; utilizes therapeutic play techniques as a diagnostic and treatment tool.
• Utilizes developmentally appropriate methods to prepare children and/or families for diagnostic and treatment procedures.
• Utilizes stress reduction techniques to facilitate adaptive coping and provides emotional support during identified stress points.
• Facilitates a therapeutic play program in cooperation with the Activities Coordinators promoting self-healing, self-expression, understanding, and mastery; involves family and patient in selection of treatment goals, plans, and implementation of daily child life activities.
• Maintains a working relationship with parents and families and provides supportive services to the entire family unit. Supports family bonds and utilizes family strengths in the care of the child. Provides parent education in the area of child development and collaborates with families regarding patients' goals, progress, and discharge plan.
• Plans, coordinates, implements, and/or supervises activities for patients including special events, outside group entertainment, patient birthday parties, as well as in-house group programs such as arts and crafts, expressive arts, medical play, baking group, preschool play, and other recreation and diversionary/non-structured activities in the Therapeutic Recreation/Child Life Department.
• Supports the School re-entry program by working cooperatively with the team in preparing patients for re-entry to their home schools. When appropriate, travels to the patient’s home school to directly implement the re-entry.
• Plans and coordinates therapeutic outings with the TR Specialist as appropriate for patient care.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree
• Child Life Certificate, or proof of eligibility
• CPR

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree
• Previous experience working with hospitalized and healthy children
• Background in Child Development, Child Life, Psychology, or similar field

Pay

Compensation is determined based on years of relevant experience and departmental equity.