Supporting Your Family

NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital

Child Life Services

Practicum & Internships

Child life student opportunities

NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital offers Child Life practicums and internships to applicants who are pursuing a NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital offers Child Life practicums and internships to applicants who are pursuing a career as a Certified Child Life Specialist.

Applications are now open for Spring 2025 programming. Continue to check this webpage for updates regarding any future programming beyond the Spring 2025 semester, which have not yet been determined. Thank you.
Please note that in general we follow ACLP application guidelines, and we will post this information in advance with appropriate timing before the deadlines. Once any decisions regarding future semesters have been established, we will post the information, therefore there is no need to email requesting additional information.

Student Programming Fall 2024:

  • All Positions filled for Fall Practicum 2024
  • No Fall internship programming

Student Programming Spring 2025:

  • Applications now open for Spring 2025 Internship
  • No Spring practicum programming

Student Programming Summer 2025:

  • Not Yet Determined

Student Programming Fall 2025:

  • Not Yet Determined

Please note: Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital uses an online application process for our Child Life student programs. Please refer to the appropriate link below to submit your application. Feel free to reach out to the Child Life Education Committee ([email protected]) with any questions. Also note that the information above reflects the most up-to-date information eliminating the need to reach out via email for programming availability. Thank you.

Practicum

The mission of our 100-hour practicum is to provide an experiential learning opportunity for individuals interested in a career in child life, who are motivated to grow and learn but are not yet ready for a child life internship. This practicum fosters an environment for students to develop their strengths, interests & skills by observing and reflecting on the clinical work of a child life specialist in a hospital. This opportunity to observe the application of child life theory to practice will provide students with a foundational experience in their continued work towards a child life internship placement. We seek to support students committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the healthcare setting and the field of child life.

To submit your application, please fill out the NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital Child Life Practicum Application.

Our 100-hour practicum program is offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters which varies based upon departmental availability. Please note that we regularly update this webpage to reflect the most accurate and up-to-date record of the student programming that we are planning for upcoming semesters. We are only offering student programming documented here and we encourage you to continue to check this page for more information about future semesters.

Our practicum application is available for students who meet the following requirements:

  • Completion and a grade of B or higher in Child Development course (include curriculum/syllabus for class with application)
  • 100 hours of experience in a healthcare setting (work experience, volunteer experience, etc.). Please document and submit verification of your experience(s) using ACLP Verification of Related Experience Hours form. (Please note that this experience is preferred, not required.)

When applying to the practicum, students will also be asked to submit:

  • A copy of their resume
  • Two reference contacts
  • Unofficial transcript from ALL colleges/universities attended (official transcript may be required upon acceptance)
  • Responses to open-ended questions (see application link)

*ALL application components MUST be submitted electronically by the application deadlines in order to be considered for the Child Life Practicum. If you need any accommodations for the application process or program, please reach out to our education committee via email ([email protected]).

Other Information:

  • Students who have met the deadline and all requirements should be available for an interview via video conference.
  • Due to a limited number of spots, submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.

Internship

If you are a student who will be affiliated with a college or university, you may refer to the instructions below to submit your completed application:

  1. Complete the Internship Readiness Common Application found at aclp.smapply.io. Detailed instructions on how to complete the application can be found at the link provided.
  2. Follow the link to where you will complete the Qualtrics form to upload your ACLP Internship Readiness Common Application: https://cumc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_74BKOSgheIJsQOa
  3. The PDF of your completed ACLP Internship Readiness Common Application is the only attachment that will be reviewed. No additional documentation will be required or reviewed (no letters of recommendation, cover letters, resumes, etc.).
  4. Please note that the Application Deadline for the Spring 2025 semester is September 6, 2024 at 11:59pm (EST).

The mission of our child life internship program is to prepare future Certified Child Life Specialists as clinicians, collaborators, and lifelong learners. This internship supports students in identifying their strengths & opportunities for growth within a self-reflective environment, while helping them attain (at minimum) entry-level practice in all core competencies defined by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP). Our Child Life Department is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion both within the healthcare setting and the field of child life; we seek students who share similar commitment to these goals.

Our interns have the opportunity to engage in:

  • Daily application of developmental theory to the provision of psychosocial support for children & families
  • Preparation, education, and procedural support interventions for pediatric patients with high acuity healthcare needs
  • Supporting children & families in coping with traumatic injuries, life-threatening diagnoses, and grief & loss
  • Collaboration with interprofessional colleagues
  • Play-based programming & events
  • Simulation-based learning
  • Reflective practice, supervision & mentorship

Our 15-week (600 hours) full-time internship program is accredited by the ACLP and offered during the fall & spring semesters. Child life students who meet the following requirements are welcome to apply:

  • We follow ACLP application guidelines, therefore please refer to the common app to understand the application requirements and guidelines.
  • Affiliation with a college or university that has signed NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital's agreement for student interns (only needed if internship is offered; must be received at least one month before internship start date)

NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital abides by the Association of Child Life Professional’s Internship Deadlines for all student applications, found at www.childlife.org.

*ALL application components MUST be submitted electronically by the application deadlines in order to be considered for the internship. If you need any accommodations for the application process or program, please reach out to our education committee via email ([email protected]).

Other Information

  • Students who have met the deadline and all requirements should be available for an interview via video conference.
  • Due to a limited number of spots, submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.

For more information contact:
Child Life Education Committee
E-mail: [email protected]

FAQs

Please refer to the website of the Association of Child Life Professionals, our professional association.

Practicum Applicants: No. There is no requirement to be affiliated with a college or university.

Intern Applicants: Yes. You must be affiliated with a college or university that has a signed student contract with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

Practicum: Offered during the Fall (September-December), Spring (January-April), and Summer (May-August) semesters.

Internship: Offered during the Fall (September-December) and Spring (January-April) semesters.

Each term varies based off our staffing availability. During most terms, we accept two practicum students and two interns.

Practicum: 100 hours

Internship: 600 hours

Our education committee will contact all applicants by either e-mail or telephone to offer or decline an interview.

Our education committee will contact all applicants by either e-mail or telephone on the Initial Offer Dates to offer or decline admission to our program.

Our education committee reviews all applications and follows a comprehensive rating system to ensure all applications are given equal opportunity. After the applications are reviewed, students are contacted by telephone or e-mail to either decline their application or offer an interview. After the interview process, the committee discusses the applicants again and decides who will be offered placement in our student program for the term. Applicants are then contacted on the corresponding offer dates as to whether they are accepted for the program.

For more information contact:

NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital

Child Life Education Committee