It can be scary for anyone in the hospital, but even more so for a child. Our Child Life Specialist work along side the health care team at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital to help children cope while being in the hospital – and add a little bit of fun, whenever possible.
What is a Child Life Specialist?
A Child Life Specialist is a trained healthcare professional whose role is to improve patient and family centered care while reducing the stress and anxiety that can be associated with hospitalization. Each specialist has a bachelor’s or master’s degree in child development or a closely related field. All Child Life Specialist at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital are also certified through the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).
What does a Child Life Specialist do?
The main responsibilities of a Child Life Specialist are to:
- Offer play and normalization activities such as toys, games, crafts, etc.
- Increase a child’s understanding of their hospital experiences through the introduction of supervised medical play and preparation for procedures.
- Explain procedures in language a child can understand, using preparation books, medical dolls, tablets and other resources.
- Offer support and distraction during medical procedures with sensory toys and games as well as techniques such as deep breathing, alternative focus, guided imagery, etc.
- Conduct therapeutic activities with children to help them cope with being in the hospital or with a particular illness or injury.
- Educate siblings or other family members about a child’s diagnosis or reason for hospitalization.
- Offer emotional and grief support for patients and families.
The Child Life Department consists of 6 Certified Child Life Specialists that cover the following pediatric units:
- General Pediatrics
- HOPE for Kids
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Children’s Hospital Outpatient Services (CHOPS)
- Surgery
- Crescent House (Child Advocacy Center)
- Pediatric Critical Care
- Emergency Center
- Radiology
If you would like to contact the Child Life Department, please email childlifemacon@atriumhealth.org
A Child Life Practicum is a pre-internship experience for individuals interested in pursuing a career as a Child Life Specialist. Our practicum program offers a 100 hour in-person clinical experience in which the student will observe and shadow a Certified Child Life Specialist(s) over the course of a semester. For more information about this program and application requirements, please review the Child Life Practicum Application.
If you have any questions, please email childlifemacon@atriumhealth.org or contact 478-633-6384.
We are not accepting applications for the Child Life Internship until further notice. Please check back for future updates.
Each Spring and Fall semester, the Child Life Department offers an Internship for Child Life Students in the process of pursuing a degree in Child Life or a related field at a college or university. We provide a minimum of 600 hours which satisfies the Association of Child Life Professionals’ requirement of 600 hours. This internship provides students with hands-on experience and clinical training under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist in preparation to take the Child Life Certification Exam and to apply for professional Child Life positions. For more information on eligibility and application requirements, please click here.
The Child Life Department offers Georgia College and State University Music Therapy students the opportunity to complete clinical hours in the Children’s Hospital during the Spring and Fall semesters.
For more information on how to apply, view our Music Therapy Application Requirements.
We are so grateful to everyone who wishes to give back to Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital. Please see below for several ways to become involved.
Material Donations: With the help of our generous community, we strive to make sure that each patient can still be a child while in the hospital by providing them with opportunities for play and normalization. If you are interested in helping by donating material items, please view our Donation Wish List for a copy of our current Donation Wish List. You may also access our online Amazon wish list to have your gift mailed directly to the children’s hospital. For the safety and consideration of our patients and families, we are unable to accept the following items: used/pre-owned items, religious items, toy weapons, latex balloons, and homemade food.
Donations may be dropped off at any time (no appointment required) at the registration desk in the lobby of the Children’s Hospital located at 700 Spring Street Macon, GA 31201. For more information, please contact the Child Life Department at 478-633-7219 or email childlifemacon@atriumhealth.org
Service Projects: If you or your organization is looking for a hands-on way to support our patients, view our Services Project Ideas List.
Monetary Donations: In addition to our wish list items, we also rely on monetary donations to help make each patient experience as pleasant as possible. Philanthropic dollars allow the Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health to purchase the “extras” such as therapy items for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, specialized medical equipment for our various pediatric units, pediatric wheelchairs, child life iPads for used for distraction, and much more. Your donation is tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.
For monetary donations, please contact Navicent Health Foundation at 478-633-GIVE.
Visiting Groups
- Visiting group activities are an opportunity for community members or organizations to visit the hospital and facilitate a fun activity for patients and families to enjoy. Please contact 478-633-7219 or email childlifemacon@atriumhealth.org for more information or to schedule an activity.
Holly Jolly Shoppe
- The Holly Jolly Shoppe is a holiday donation program benefiting Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital. This event is sponsored by the Navicent Health Foundation and is made possible by generous donations from the local community. Please view the Holly Jolly Shopper Flyer. You can also access our online Amazon Wish List here to view examples of popular items or to have a gift mailed directly to the hospital. If you have any questions, please contact the Child Life Department at childlifemacon@atriumhealth.org or 478-633-7219.
Trick or Treat Parade
- Each October, we host a Trick or Treat Parade for patients who must spend Halloween in the hospital. This is an opportunity for patients and families that may have missed out on festivals, trick or treating, school parties, or other fall activities due to hospitalization to still participate while undergoing treatment. If you are interested in donating new costumes or store bought individually wrapped candy or prizes to the parade, please contact the Child Life Department at childlifemacon@atriumhealth.org or 478-633-7219.
Character, Celebrity, and Professional Sports Team Visits
- If you or your organization is interested in visiting the patients at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, please contact the Child Life Department at 478-633-7219 or email childlifemacon@atriumhealth.org
Pet Therapy
- Our Pet Therapy Program consists of volunteers that bring their Certified Therapy dogs to visit the hospital and interact with the patients and families. This is a wonderful opportunity for those undergoing hospitalization to feel the love and comfort that a Certified Therapy dog can provide. For more information regarding this program or to learn how to become a Pet Therapy volunteer, please contact the Child Life Department at childlifemacon@atriumhealth.org or 478-633-7219.
