The child life department at the Memorial Health Dwaine & Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah offers supervised clinical training experiences for college and university students pursuing a bachelor's or master’s degree in child life. These learning experiences include:

Child Life Practicum

The child life practicum is an introductory experience for students who are currently working toward a degree in child life. The child life practicum experience allows students to observe certified child life specialists within the healthcare setting, to increase their knowledge of basic child life skills related to play and developmental assessment, and to engage in experiential learning and integrate child life theory into interventions with infants, children, youth, and families. Through the child life practicum, students increase their comfort level in interacting with infants, children, youth, and families who are experiencing stressful situations, medical events, and/or programs for children with special needs.

The child life practicum learning experience is based on the Association for Child Life Professionals’ recommendations and standards for child life practicums set forth by the Practicum Task Force in 2014.

The child life practicum learning experience is offered each year during the summer semester only. This learning experience consists of a 120 hours of clinical time completed within a children’s hospital (a three-week commitment at 40 hours per week) for each accepted child life practicum student.

During this clinical experience, child life practicum students shadow and observe child life specialists, participate in child life programming, supervise daily playroom sessions, provide directed play interventions with patients and families, complete assignments and activities that support theory integration, and participate in daily lectures and learning groups.

Students interested in applying for the child life practicum clinical experience should review all child life practicum guidelines, qualifications, and application requirements. Completed applications and all application paperwork for the summer child life practicum at Memorial Health Willett Children’s Hospital must be postmarked by January 5 of each year.

Submission of application does not guarantee acceptance into the child life practicum experience. A limited number of child life practicum students will be accepted for each session. The number of students accepted will vary based on availability of supervisors. Generally, three students are accepted for each three-week session.

For more information, call us at (912) 350-2445.

Child Life Internship

The child life internship program at the Memorial Health Willett Children’s Hospital provides a hands-on learning experience for college or university seniors completing a bachelor's or master’s degree in child life or a related field.

Our child life internship is a comprehensive learning program that includes clinical interactions and other experiences for professional development. Child life interns receive training and experience in the following areas: assessment and prioritization, therapeutic play interventions, family-centered care, procedural interventions, medical play and preparation, sibling support, coping and pain management, grief and bereavement support, documentation, child life professionalism, playroom management, child life administration, and other areas. Interns also participate in community outreach programs and support groups as designated by the child life team.

The child life internship experience consists of 600 hours of clinical time completed within a children’s hospital (A 16-week commitment at 40 hours a week). Child life internships are available during the winter/spring and fall semesters. Clinical rotations for the internship may include experiences within the following areas: general inpatient, hematology/ oncology, pediatric intensive care, surgery center, radiology, and outpatient services.

Child life internship candidates must meet all internship qualifications and application requirements set forth by the internship selection committee. A list of qualifications and required documentation is available within the child life internship application packet.

The child life internship at Memorial Health Willett Children’s Hospital follows the internship application deadlines recommended by the Association of Child Life Professionals. These application dates are as follows:

  • Fall internship: application must be postmarked by March 15
  • Winter/spring internship: application must be postmarked by September 5
  • No internship is offered at the Memorial Health Willett Children's Hospital during the summer.

Completed internship applications (single packet including all required documentation) must meet all requirements to be accepted and must be received by the deadlines above to be considered for evaluation. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Submission of application does not guarantee acceptance. A limited number of child life interns will be accepted for each semester. The number of interns accepted will vary based on availability of supervisors. Generally, one child life intern is accepted for each semester.