what is a child life specialist definition

They may work in hospitals clinics or. Disease or injury poses unique stresses for children their siblings and their parents.

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Child life specialists help reduce these stresses and promote healthy coping skills and development through interventions that include therapeutic play support and counseling and.

. A Child Life Specialists primary function is to work with children facing hospitalization or medical challenges to ensure that their life remains as normal as possible. Some child life specialists work in less common settings like dental offices schools or funeral homes. A child life specialist is a professional who is trained to work with children in a medical environment.

In hospitals specialists work with kids to educate and prepare them for the various aspects of their medical treatment and help them through play. Being a Child Life Specialist monitors child development to ensure normal progression. They provide children with age-appropriate preparation for medical procedures pain management and coping strategies and play and self-expression activities.

For parents it might be education or emotional support. They do this through therapeutic play education and emotional support. These professionals are a hybrid of child development advocate and counselor who helps children and their families navigate the tough waters of hospitalization and long-term medical.

To apply a candidate must hold a bachelors degree in any field complete the 10 required courses related to child life complete a relevant 600-hour clinical internship and finally pass the certification exam. The Child Life Councils definition 2014 is that child life specialists focus on the psychosocial needs of children collaborating with parents and other members of the team to. They help ease childrens fear and anxiety by normalizing the hospital experience.

What do child life specialists do. Child life specialist. While they do not have a hands-on medical role they usually work in medical facilities alongside medical professionals and plan activities and events within the facility.

Although the definition of patient experience continues to be explored and honed by health care leaders there is common agreement that when evaluating health care quality patient satisfaction is an important metric that translates to health care ratings and payment. Child life specialists use their knowledge of child development therapy and psychology to support children and their families through illnesses and medical procedures. The goal of a certified child life specialist CCLS is to reduce the stress and anxiety childrenand families experience related to healthcare and hospitalization.

Certified Child Life Specialists are educated and clinically trained in the developmental impact of illness and injury. Child life specialists are child development experts who work to ensure that life remains as normal as possible for children in health care settings and other challenging environments says the Child Life Council. Child life specialists are pediatric health care professionals who work with children and families in hospitals and other settings to help them cope with the challenges of hospitalization illness and disability.

Child life specialists focus on the emotional needs of children and their family as opposed to the physical needs. CCLSs are experts in child development. Child Life SpecialistsHelping Kids be Kids JourneyCares All About Kids Child Life Specialists help our young patients and their families deal with the fears and emotions surrounding serious illness healthcare and hospitalizations providing effective coping strategies and emotional support through the use of age-appropriate play self-expression activities and more.

A health care specialist who helps children and their families cope with illnesses and injuries. We help children and families understand and cope with a childs hospital experience. 90 Family-centered care is a core principle for child life specialists.

This includes explaining relevant procedures to a child using language he or she can understand supporting or distracting a child during the procedure and providing support. If you are interested in medicine but want to work in a unique capacity working as a child life specialist may turn out to be a great career fit. Empowering the child to feel they have a role in their own healing.

Child Life Specialist is responsible for the design and implementation of pediatric programs therapies and activities among young patients. They may be called to assist in other departments within the hospital setting to comfort children when an adult in their life is receiving care. Many people may not be familiar with the child life profession.

Ease a childs fear and anxiety with therapeutic and recreational play activities. Explaining complex medical terms and procedures to families and children. After obtaining the CCLS credential an individual will need to pay yearly maintenance fees and renew certification every five years.

A person with academic qualifications who is employed in a hospital to help children and their parents handle the stress of hospitalization. Child life specialists are trained to provide care to children and adolescents who may be facing issues such as medical procedures or illness. Advocating on behalf of the child and family with health care team.

Infants children and youth confront a wide variety of stressful and potentially traumatic events that can impact their ability to cope. Works with families to assist in caring for childhood hospitalizations or disabilities. To support a child we might encourage play or self-expression.

Helping children and families adjust emotionally to medical treatment. Child life specialists are experts in child development who promote effective coping through play preparation education and self-expression activities according to the Child Life Council CLC. With a background in child development psychology and counseling child life specialists help explain medical jargon to kids and prepare them for procedures.

Child life specialists work closely with children and families in medical settings serving as emotional support and helping develop family coping strategies. Some of the duties of the child life specialist can include. Hospitals can be overwhelming especially for a child and for the parents or family of a child.

Their role helps improve patient and family care satisfaction and overall experience. Child life specialists work primarily in the pediatric department of hospitals. They promote effective coping through education preparation and play.

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