Child Life Internship

Child Life Internships are offered throughout the year beginning in January, May, and August/September. Child Life internships are 16 weeks in length, 40 hours per week.  Summer interns are strongly encouraged to complete 14-16 weeks as their schedules allow.  Fall and Winter/Spring internships generally follow the university semester calendar (16 weeks).  Students interested in the Child Life Internship Program at Rockford Memorial Hospital Children’s Medical Center need to complete these requirements:

1.      Application:  The Common Child Life Internship Application can be downloaded at www.childlife.org  The application should be filled out, printed, and mailed back to us with the your resume. Also, we require an official transcript sent to us directly from your school, and at least two letters of recommendation (click here for form) from individuals who have supervised your work with children.  Recommendation forms should be mailed to us directly from the person writing the reference. After we have received all of these items and reviewed the applications, we will contact students who have been selected to move on to the interview process.  Summer applications are due no later than January 5, fall applications are due May 5, and Winter/Spring applications are due September 5.  However, we often begin selective interviewing as soon as completed application packets are received, so try to get your application in as soon as possible.

Please send your application, transcript, and references to:

2.      Interview:  An interview is required.  During the interview you will have a chance to tell us about your experiences with children and families and share your interest and knowledge about the field of child life.  You will also have an opportunity to learn more about the specifics of the internship, tour the pediatric and pediatric intensive care departments, and meet child life staff members and other child life interns who may be present. Phone interviews can sometimes be arranged for long distance students, although in-person interviews are preferred.

3.  Acceptance:  Selection of child life interns is made on the basis of personal qualities, academic performance, application information, previous experience working with children (paid and volunteer), references, and an interview. Students who are selected will receive a phone call and then will be notified in writing of their acceptance in to the Internship Program.  Students who have been interviewed, but are not offered an internship, will receive a letter confirming this.

4.  Housing:  Housing is available for a fee (currently $5.00 per night) on a limited basis in a dormitory adjacent to the hospital.  Our Child Life Specialists can help you make arrangements if you require housing.  Occasionally the hospital has furnished apartments for rent as well. 

5.  Health Screening:  Current vaccination records are required.  If necessary, Rubella Titer and Tuberculin Skin Tests will be administered by the hospital at the start of the internship.  A general physical examination report from within the past year is also required. 

6.  Stipend and Fees:  Interns are not charged a fee, nor is any stipend paid to Child Life Interns.  Interns will receive the employee meal discount. Independent interns will be required to carry a private liability insurance policy.  Child Life staff can assist in finding this.

To be considered for a Child Life Internship, Bachelor level students must have senior level status at the time of the internship.  Graduate (Master’s Degree) and independent internships (for students who have completed their Bachelor degree) are also offered.  Internship candidates should major in a child related field such as Child Life, Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Family and Human Development, Early Childhood Education, Special Education or Recreation Therapy.

In addition, interns are expected to have and to further develop the following clinical skills: strong knowledge of behavior and child development, leadership, excellent communication skills, knowledge and understanding of group dynamics, ability to organize and follow through and to work independently, and the ability to provide opportunities for developmentally appropriate and therapeutic play and intervention to children of every age.

Personal qualities should include sensitivity, ability to listen and work closely with adults and children, self-awareness, creativity, spontaneity, independence, flexibility, dependability, a strong work ethic, energetic, and a sense of humor.

Interns are asked to complete specific readings taken from books and articles related to child life.  If possible, it would be to the intern’s advantage to complete some of these readings prior to the internship, although reading sources are available in the child life office and may be borrowed during the internship.  Upon acceptance into the internship program students will be sent a detailed handbook which lists these readings as well as many other details about the internship.

Child life interns will work flexible schedules of approximately 40 hours per week, including day, evening and weekend shifts (generally one or two evenings per week and one weekend day every other weekend). Scheduling will be completed by your immediate supervisor.

Please call the child life office at (815) 971-5309 or e-mail me at Marcia Stalter at mstalter@rhsnet.org with any questions.