We are not accepting internship applications for fall 2024
Program Information
Thank you for your interest in the Child Life Internship Program at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth). A child life internship provides a poignant beginning in every specialist’s professional journey.
Our internship program is accredited and recognized by the Association for Child Life Professionals (ACLP). We offer a 600-hour child life internship (40 hours per week, over approximately 15 weeks) twice a year. Internships start in August and again in January and are designed for college seniors and graduate students pursuing careers in child life, child development, early childhood education or other fields with a child development emphasis.
Applicants must be enrolled in a college or university at the time of application and during the internship. If you are selected as an intern, your college or university must negotiate a contract with WMCHealth before the internship starts.
Internship Description
The internship includes a one-week orientation, and two six-week clinical rotations. One rotation is in medical/surgical general pediatrics; the other is in critical care. The internship schedule varies depending upon rotations; some evening, weekend, and holiday coverage is required. During the program’s final two weeks, interns will shadow child life specialists in areas that are not part of a planned rotation.
Interns are supervised by certified child life specialists meeting all Association for Child Life Professionals eligibility requirements. Interns meet weekly for one hour with their rotation supervisor and internship coordinator respectively.
Through hands-on clinical experiences, interns receive multiple skill-building and educational opportunities in medical play, psychological preparation, charting, planning and supervising developmentally appropriate play activities, working within a multidisciplinary team, family centered care, family support, prioritizing needs and developmental assessment.
The internship, designed to complement academic studies, is based on Association for Child Life Professionals Standards of Academic and Clinical Preparation Programs in Child Life, Child Life Competencies, and current Child Life Certification Committee recommendations.
To Apply
Applicants should apply through the Internship Readiness Common Application - Application Portal (smapply.io). Once all application tasks have been completed, please email materials to MFCHchildlifeinternship@WMCHealth.org. Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital follows the internship application, offer and acceptance dates set by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).
Interview Process
Once all applications have been reviewed, selected candidates will be asked to send pre-recorded video responses to specific questions. Of the candidates who have sent in video responses, several will be selected to participate in a WebEx interview.
If selected as an intern, you will be responsible at your own expense to complete a background check, physical exam including immunization documentation and titers, and a drug screening. Internship offers are contingent on securing an affiliation agreement between your college/university and Westchester Medical Center Health. A hospital orientation must be completed prior to the internship.
Failure of any of these stipulations will result in withdrawal of the internship offer.