Self Serve Portal

My Profile Menu

Child Life Program Directory Listing

ACLP recognizes that practicums have become a barrier within the pathway to the child life profession. Pre-internship experiences, such as practicums, are not required by the Child Life Certification Commission and ACLP does not endorse practicums or other pre-internship programs.

Penn State Health Children's Hospital
500 University Dr
Hershey, PA 17033-2360
Phone: (717) 531-8366
Email: childlife@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Web: http://www.pennstatehershey.org/web/childrens/home

Click on photos to enlarge and see more information

Areas Where Child Life Services Are Offered

Program Description
The Child Life Program at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital promotes the positive development of children, teens and families by providing age-appropriate programming to build coping skills and reduce emotional distress.

Year the Program Began
1972

COVID-19 Operating Status
Some restrictions are in place due to changing COVID-19 policies, however, all Child Life staff are in place along with our student programs. Volunteer services have returned as of February 2022.

Facility Type
Children's Hospital within an Adult Academic Hospital

How patients receive child life services
A patient referral or consultation is required for some child life programs and services

Areas where child life services are provided on the main campus
- Ambulatory Clinics (Primary Care & Specialty)
- Ambulatory Surgery
- Children of Adult Patients
- Emergency Center
- Inpatient Acute Care
- Inpatient Critical Care (includes PICU, NICU, and CICU)
- Inpatient Hematology/Oncology
- Radiology
- Trauma Service
- No information provided

Provision of services to areas or facilities outside of the main campus
Outside areas are serviced

Areas where child life services are provided off the main campus
None of the above

Who does the child life program report to?
Nursing

Complementary Programming

Animal Assisted Activities (Pet Therapy) Program
Managed by the child life department

Arts in Medicine Program
Offered by the hospital/other department

Art Therapy Program
Offered by the hospital/other department

Clown Care Program
Program is not offered

Facility Dog Program
- Offered by the child life department
- Managed by the child life department

Inpatient Hospital-Based Playrooms Program
- Offered by the child life department
- Managed by the child life department

Integrative Care Program
- Offered by the hospital/other department
- Program is not offered

Music Therapy
Offered by the hospital/other department

Outdoor Play Space Program
- Managed by the child life department
- Program is not offered

Outdoor Healing Space Program
Offered by the hospital/other department

Outpatient Play Space Program
- Offered by the child life department
- Managed by the child life department

Recreation Therapy Program
- Offered by the child life department
- Managed by the child life department

Resource Library Space Program
Program is not offered

Sensory Integration Space Program
Program is not offered

Sibling Drop-Off Program
- Managed by the volunteer program
- Program is not offered

Volunteer Program
- Offered by the child life department
- Offered by the hospital/other department
- Managed by the child life department
- Managed by the volunteer program

Child Life Staffing

Total Number of Child Life Program Staff
22

Total Number of Child Life Program Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs)
21

Number of Weekdays the Child Life Program is Staffed (Monday-Friday)
5

Number of Weekend Days the Child Life Program is Staffed (Saturday and Sunday)
2

# Child Life Specialist FTE Positions That Are Exempt
11

# Days Per Week Program is Staffed
7

# of Child Life Specialists
13

Internship Availability Information

Student Programming Status
https://www.pennstatehealth.org/childrens/childrens/your-visit/support-services/child-life/students/child-life-internship-program

Does this program offer internships?
Yes

Is the Internship paid? -
No, the internship is not paid.

Internship Coordinator Name
Natalie Chango

Internship Coordinator Email
nchango@pennstatehealth.psu.edu

Internship Coordinator Phone
717-531-0003 x282258

Web Site
https://www.pennstatehealth.org/childrens/childrens/your-visit/support-services/child-life/students/child-life-internship-program

Number of Internship Hours Offered
600

Internship Application Requirements
Affiliation with a College or University

Does this program follow the ACLP recommended application deadlines?
Yes

Does this program accept unaffiliated interns?
No

Does this program require liability insurance for unaffiliated interns?
No information provided

Does this program accept international interns?
Yes

Number of Open Internship Positions - Fall Cycle
2

Number of Open Internship Positions - Winter/Spring Cycle
2

Number of Open Internship Positions - Summer Cycle
0

Number of Open Internship Positions - Other/Non-standard Cycle
0

Does the internship require application materials in addition to the common application?
No

Does the internship application require official transcripts?
No

Does the internship require an in-person interview?
No

Practicum Availability Information

Does this program offer practicums?
Yes

Practicum Coordinator Name
Carrie Ashby

Practicum Coordinator Email
cashby@pennstatehealth.psu.edu

Practicum Coordinator Phone
717-531-0003 x282897

Practicum Program Website
https://www.pennstatehealth.org/childrens/childrens/your-visit/support-services/child-life/students/child-life-practicum-program

Total # of practicum hours
120

Practicum Application Requirements
- Affiliation with a College or University
- Relevant Volunteer Experience
- Relevant Work Experience
- Other

Does this program accept unaffiliated practicum students?
No

Does this program require liability insurance for unaffiliated practicum students?
No information provided

Does this program accept international practicum students?
No information provided

Number of Open Practicum Positions - Fall Cycle
0

Number of Open Practicum Positions - Winter/Spring Cycle
0

Number of Open Practicum Positions - Summer Cycle
2

Number of Open Practicum Positions - Other/Non-standard Cycle
0

Does the practicumapplication require official transcripts?
No

Does the practicum require an in-person interview?
No

Fellowship Availability Information

Offers Fellowships
Yes

Fellowship Program Description
Child Life fellowship positions are considered entry-level, paid Child Life Specialist positions, with additional mentorship, support, and expectations for fellow goal planning and execution. Our fellowship is 1-year in length. Fellowship availability is subject to clinical staffing needs, and is not always available.

Fellowship Coordinator Name
Ashley Kane

Fellowship Coordinator Email
akane@pennstatehealth.psu.edu

Fellowship Coordinator Phone
717-531-5347

Number of Fellowships Available Annually
1

Volunteer Opportunities

Type of Volunteer Opportunity
In-person

Are there volunteer opportunities at this hospital?
Yes

Hospital Volunteer Program Phone #
717-531-8278

# of Hospital Volunteers
150

Are there child life specific volunteer opportunities at this hospital?
Yes

Child Life Volunteer Program Phone #
717-531-0003 x282257

# of Child Life Program Volunteers
25

Main Hospital Beds

Number of Pediatric Medical/Surgical Inpatient Beds at Main Facility
54

Number of beds in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at main facility
18

Number of beds in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at main facility
56

Number of beds in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at main facility
0

Number of Pediatric Hematology and/or Oncology and/or Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) beds combined at main facility
18

Number of pediatric psychiatric beds at main facility
0

Number of pediatric rehabilitation beds at main facility
0

Satellite Hospital Beds

Number of Pediatric Medical/Surgical Inpatient Beds at Satellite Location
0

Number of beds in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at satellite location
0

Number of beds in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at satellite location
0

Number of beds in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at satellite location
0

Number of Pediatric Hematology and/or Oncology and/or Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) beds combined at satellite location
0

Number of pediatric psychiatric beds at satellite location
0

Number of pediatric rehabilitation beds at satellite location
0