Child Life and Family Development student opportunities

Please email the Child Life and Family Development team at childlifeandfamilydevelopment@nebraskamed.com with additional questions.

Child Life Practicum 

The practicum is designed to help students: 

• Become comfortable in a hospital environment.
• Become familiar with the typical diagnosis and treatments encountered in this setting.
• Observe a wide range of Child Life services and interventions provided to patients and their families.
• Engage hospitalized children in play.
• Become an educated observer of hospitalized children’s play.
• Gain a greater understanding of the child life profession.

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

• Have experience interacting with children in a health care setting (40 to 60 hours).
• Have completed the required ACLP child life course taught by a certified child life specialist at the time of application (in progress forms not accepted).
• Preference is given to applicants who have completed additional developmental courses and required courses by ACLP.

Things to note:

• The practicum is 150 hours spread over five weeks. Our pediatric population comprises solid organ transplant, bone marrow transplant, hematology/oncology and trauma patients. Experience will be gained with inpatient and outpatient populations, including time in the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.

How to apply 

We follow the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) application deadlines. Refer to the ACLP website regarding dates for each cycle. Email your completed application to childlife@nebraskamed.com or print and mail it to the address listed below.

Please note: Mailed applications must be postmarked by the application deadline.

Child Life Department – Attn: Practicum Coordinator
Room 7420
4400 Emilie St.
Omaha, NE 68198

Your complete application must include: 

• Application form and essays
• Unofficial transcript
• One letter of recommendation from someone who has observed your interactions with children.
• Resume
• A completed Child Life Course Verification form (in progress forms not accepted).

Child Life Internship 

Our internship is designed to support career training for students at the baccalaureate and graduate level.

Our program provides students the opportunity to: 

• Expand their knowledge of child life and child development.
• Develop their ability to plan recreational and therapeutic activities for patients and siblings.
• Advance their ability to provide education and procedural preparation.
• Develop techniques to assist children with coping during medical procedures.
• Sharpen their assessment, intervention and evaluation skills.
• Gain comfort in providing guidance and supervising volunteers. 
• Observe child life specialists during adult consults to assist children of adults.

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

• Have completed a Child Life practicum under the supervision of a certified child life specialist (in progress practicums are not accepted).
• Have completed the ACLP required child life course taught by a child life specialist at the time of application (in progress forms not accepted).
• Have completed 10 required courses listed by ACLP by the time of internship start (in progress forms for additional courses are accepted at the time of application).
• Students applying must be affiliated with a university that will supply a background check and liability insurance. The inability of a university to agree to these terms may result in the internship placement being revoked.
  • ** Students who are not currently enrolled in a university are encouraged to look at child life extension programs or local colleges that may offer affiliation agreements (which needs to be established before submitting an application).

The 600-hour internship program requires students to work approximately 40 hours per week for 15 weeks. Housing is the intern’s responsibility. Our pediatric population comprises solid organ transplant, bone marrow transplant, hematology/oncology, and trauma patients. Interns will gain experience with inpatient and outpatient populations, including a rotation in the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.

How to apply 

We follow the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) application deadlines. Refer to the ACLP website regarding dates for each cycle. Email your completed application to childlife@nebraskamed.com or print and mail it to the address listed below.

Child Life Department – Attn: Internship Coordinator
Room 7420
4400 Emilie St.
Omaha, NE 68198

Your complete application must include:

• Application form and essays 
• Unofficial transcript
• Two letters of recommendation, preferably one from a child life specialist and someone who has observed your interactions with children in a health care setting (recommendation forms not required/accepted).
• Resume
• Cover letter
• Verification of Child Life Practicum Experience Hours form
• Proof of course work (option A or B):
  • A – If all ACLP-required coursework has been completed, only a copy of the eligibility assessment is required.
  • B – If some coursework is still in progress at the time of application, you must submit an eligibility assessment (for proof of courses that have been completed) AND must also submit Confirmation of Child Life In-Progress: Additional Required Courses forms for classes that are in progress.

No additional forms are required than what is listed above.

Music Therapy Practicum 

We host music therapy students to complete course-required practicum placements through university-affiliated contracts upon request.

The Music Therapy Practicum is designed to provide students with opportunities to:

• Observe a board-certified music therapist.
• Lead music therapy sessions within the pediatric medical setting. 
• Learn about a variety of medical procedures and treatments. 
• Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration (e.g., OT, PT, SLP, Child Life, Nursing). 
• Gain knowledge related to standard hospital policies and procedures.  
• Be exposed to an integrative approach to music therapy in family-centered care.
• Build professional skills and competencies necessary to prepare for a music therapy internship.

Please email the Child Life and Family Development team at childlifeandfamilydevelopment@nebraskamed.com with additional questions.