The Child Life Program
Illness, injury, and health care are inherently distressing experiences for most children, adolescents and families. Psychological problems related to childhood illness, injury and treatment include increased juvenile delinquency, lower reading scores, more negative ratings from authority figures, and greater prevalence of reported psychiatric disturbance in middle childhood, adolescence and adulthood.
Awareness of the potential for negative emotional effects caused by illness, injury and health care experience has led to an increased concern for the psychosocial aspects of pediatric care. In response to this concern one of the unique pediatric disciplines that has developed in recent years is the profession of child life. Child Life Specialists are certified members of the health care team who focus on the developmental, emotional, social, and health care education needs of pediatric patients and families. Relying on creative forms of play and other age-appropriate interactions, child life professionals seek to reduce the stress of health care experiences and enable children, adolescents and families to cope effectively with illness, injury and treatment.
More Child Life Specialist Information
CHILD LIFE TRAINING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH IN THE FCS DEPARTMENT
Informed, educated professionals and family members can reduce the potential
for trauma related to health care experiences of young patients. In conjunction
with the Division for Continuing Education, FCS offers courses related
to working with children, adolescents and families in health care settings.
These courses have been especially developed for students, professionals
and other adults interested in issues pertaining to childhood illness,
injury and treatment.
FCS 5311: CHILDHOOD HEALTHCARE: DEVELOPMENT & FAMILY ISSUES
Prerequisites: FCS 1500, 2400, 3220, 3270, and 5250. Please see advisor for list of additional requirements. This course is designed as an introductory class for persons who want to know more about the psychosocial needs of children, adolescents and families in health care settings and situations. Specific topics covered in this course include: impact of illness, injury and hospitalization on the family; social and developmental issues and how they interface with health care; psychosocial roles of various health team members; an introduction to the field of child life; and a brief overview of helpful interventions for parents, teachers and health care professionals. This is a helpful course for parents, teachers, day care providers, and anyone who is interested in working with children or having children in the future. It is also a good course for increasing one's ability to advocate for the best health care for self and family members.
FCS 5312: CHILDHOOD HEALTHCARE: INTERVENTION SKILLS & TECHNIQUES
Prerequisite: FCS 5311.The second course in this series is designed to teach techniques helpful in minimizing the potential trauma of childhood health care. Topics to be addressed include: values clarification, interviewing and assessing skills and techniques, the development of supportive relationships with young patients and families, preparation of patients and families for health care experiences, and utilizing play for therapeutic purposes. This is a helpful course for any student interested in pursuing work with children and families, especially in helping professions such as social work, work with DCFS, child/family psychology, counseling, etc.
FCS 5920: CHILD LIFE PRACTICUM
Prerequisite: "B-" or better in both FCS 5311 and 5312. This course will provide students with a supervised child life field placement. Students who are interested in the practicum must go through an application process. There are a number of factors involved in the selection process such as: GPA (applicants must have a minimum 2.7 GPA in HDFS courses), volunteer work, experience working with children, course background, and an interview. Students will be required to fulfill a minimum of 25 practicum hours a week for two semesters, and practicum sites are selected and assigned by the instructor prior to the beginning of the semester. The practicum will enable students to gain exposure to, and practice in, the skills and techniques associated with the child life specialist's role. In addition to fulfilling on-site practicum requirements, students will meet every other week to examine various aspects of child life interactions with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals.
Child Life Program Requirements
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