CHILD LIFE

SPECIALIST 
All you need to know about CLS

What is a CLS? A CLS must be:

A CLS helps families and children Passionate about working
navigate the healthcare process  for with children and families 
any hospitalization reasons. They are Have excellent verbal and
responsible for helping a child cope written skills 
with and understand their illness, Ability to adjust
procedure, or injury.  language/activities according
to age 
Can successfully work in a
team 
Manages emotional stress
well 
Capacity to explain complex
Requirements medical
information/procedures to all
At least a Bachelor's degree ages 
related to child life (Such as:
HDFS, Psychology, Early
Childhood Eduction, etc.)
Experience working with children CLS typically work in hospital
in a pediatric setting settings. The starting salary
Receive a passing grade on ranges from $44,594-54,501.
certification test (150 multiple Salary depends on factors such
as highest level of education,
choice in 4 hours) years of experience, state, and
size of hospital.

Hear from Child Life

Specialist themselves: 
"Using our training in child
development Child Life Specialists
provide psychosocial support to
children and families in the health
care setting. The goal is to help each
family cope more effectively."

CODE OF ETHICS
The Code of Ethics for CLS is outlined by 13 principles. In summary
these principles outline how child life professions should conduct
themselves in order to promote the physical and emotional heath as
well as the social, cognitive and developmental abilities of children.
They also act to ensure that CLS do not add any stress or trauma to
children and their families but instead reduce it. These principles
emphasize that CLS should seek staying up to date with relevant
issues with patients and only act in areas where they are
knowledgeable, respect privacy of children and families, embrace
diversity, and hold the welfare of children and families first and
foremost.
Citations:
Academics School of Health Sciences - Child Life Specialist. (2017, July 17). Retrieved April 18, 2018, from
http://www.mayo.edu/mayo-clinic-school-of-health-sciences/careers/child-life-specialist
Association of Child Life Specialist (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2018, from https://www.childlife.org/certification
Hand to Hold Staff. (2018, April 05). Meet the Professional: What Does a Child Life Specialist Do? Retrieved April
18, 2018, from https://handtohold.org/child-life-specialist/
How Do You Become a Child Life Specialist? (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2018, from
https://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/faq/how-do-you-become-a-child-life-specialist/