Child Life Practicum

Purpose

The Child Life Program at Lurie Children’s Hospital offers a comprehensive and structured educational experience for selected candidates pursuing a career in Child Life. The practicum is designed to provide students with exposure to a broad spectrum of clinical interventions, while promoting the development of critical thinking and reflective practice. Observational experiences may include, but are not limited to, diagnosis education, procedural preparation and support, medical play, sibling education and emotional support, bereavement counseling, and psychosocial assessments while working within a multidisciplinary team. Throughout the program, students are encouraged to actively engage in discussions, pose questions, and critically reflect on their experiences. The practicum aims to cultivate foundational competencies that are essential for progression into a Child Life internship. At Lurie Children's Hospital we abide by the national standards set by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) which can be found here.

DEI Statement

As a team of clinical advocates, Lurie Children’s Child Life team affirms its commitment to acknowledging, addressing, and contributing to the eradication of all forms of racism, oppression, and marginalizing practices by incorporating the following into our work: Integrity, Inclusivity and Equity, Advocacy, and Evolving Excellence. To read our DEI complete statement, please click here.

**This hospital fully complies with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1968 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits employment discrimination based upon race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, physical disability or veteran status.**

Program Framework

Our practicum is structured as a fully observational learning experience, grounded in experiential and situated learning theory. Through systematic observation, students engage in the process of bridging theoretical knowledge with clinical practice, fostering professional socialization, critical reflection, and a deeper understanding of interdisciplinary care within healthcare settings. Students will have the opportunity to rotate among multiple supervisors, providing exposure to a variety of clinical approaches and hospital units. Students are expected to complete weekly assignments designed to enhance their comprehension and support the development of reflective practice. Again, our practicum is intentionally designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and professional readiness necessary to excel in future internship placements.

The specific hours and days of our program may vary based on staff availability and the needs of the accepted student. Students are expected to complete approximately 140 hours over the course of 14–16 weeks. Our program is intentionally designed to be flexible and adaptable, ensuring it can meet the diverse needs of both students and staff. Since our students join us from around the world, we strive to establish an individualized consistent schedule that supports a balance between academic, professional, and personal commitments. The Fall session typically begins the week following Labor Day and concludes in mid-December, while the Spring session begins the week following New Year’s and concludes at the end of April.

Practicum Requirements & Application Process

• Applicants are preferred to have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and ideally be enrolled in or completed an undergraduate or graduate program for child life, child or human development, psychology or another closely related field.
  • Affiliation with a university is not mandatory to be considered for the practicum. 
• A copy of all transcripts are required, but do not have to be official.
• Applicants are preferred to have completed 100 hours volunteering with children in a hospital. Verification of volunteer hours should be provided on institution letterhead if applicable.
• All required documents must uploaded with your application by deadline. These documents include:
  • Resume
  • Application
  • Transcripts (official or unofficial)
  • 3 letters of recommendation (1 from volunteer supervisor with recommendation and verification of hours if applicable)

Application

Child Life Practicum Application

Please note that incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Deadlines for application submission:

• Fall – March 15
• Spring – September 5

Please contact Brittany Smith, MA, CFLE, CCLS, at childlifepracticum@luriechildrens.org with any questions.