Child Life program prepares AU grads for rewarding career

Jack Smith | Margeret Stewart

Alumni talk about the HDFS program and their careers as Child Life Specialists

A Child Life Specialist at Children's of Alabama plays with a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figure with a young patient.

A hospital visit can be an overwhelming experience for children. Mary Kate Clements’ job is to make it less stressful.

Clements is one of five Auburn University graduates serving as Child Life Specialists at Children’s of Birmingham. It’s a tough but rewarding job.

“What I enjoy most about my job is being in a supportive role for a family going through a difficult time,” said Clements, an alumna of Auburn University’s Human Development and Family Science program with a Child Life concentration.

Child Life Specialists focus on making hospital stays comfortable for the patient. They are trained to meet the unique needs of children in healthcare environments. From teaching and explaining an upcoming procedure to therapeutic playtime, Child Life Specialists are a critical resource for doctors, children and their families.

Auburn graduate Joy Hardy is a Child Life Specialist and internship coordinator at Children’s. The best part of her job is knowing the impact she makes in the lives of hospitalized children.

“What we do helps children learn coping skills to reduce anxiety and fear during their time here in the hospital,” Hardy said. “These are skills they will take with them when they leave the hospital and use throughout the rest of their lives.”

Child Life Specialists also help families of patients cope during emotionally difficult times. While working with children who are sick can be challenging, Auburn graduate Lindsey Smith said the patients at Children’s inspire her every day.

“They are the most resilient people I have ever met,” Smith says. “These kids jump back so quickly. They just deal with it, losing their hair or chemo. They have given me a new perspective.”

Auburn is one of three universities in Alabama with a Child Life program, which is housed in the College of Human Sciences. Classes students are required to take range from child development and early education to medical terminology.

Amanda Butler, Auburn HDFS’s Child Life advisor, is a certified Child Life Specialist. Butler’s experience gives her students critical knowledge with a real-world perspective on the field.
Students in the Child Life program at Auburn must complete a practicum of 100-150 hours and a demanding internship of 450-600 hours. They also benefit from a strong Child Life club, which offers peer guidance in working toward graduation and in finding jobs.
Allison Leaver says her volunteer and practicum hours in a hospital were critical in her journey to becoming a Child Life Specialist.

“It was important for me to know that I could handle a hospital setting, Leaver said. “That is something you need to learn about yourself early in your college career when pursuing a Child Life degree.”

Allison Miller volunteered at Auburn’s Early Learning Center and at a local preschool early in her Auburn career. The experience helped her learn how children interact and develop, critical knowledge for Child Life Specialists.

Miller always knew she wanted to work with children, but she wasn’t sure in what capacity.

“Child Life allows me to educate patients on their diagnosis and different things they’ll experience in the hospital,” Miller said. “It’s a good balance between nursing and teaching.”

Clements said their job is not just about sharing information with children facing illness or hospitalization. It’s about giving them hope.

“Not only does my role allow children to be set up for success in an intimidating environment, but a child life specialist can also provide hope that this child will be able to cope long-term with whatever they face,” Clements said.

For more information on Child Life, visit the Association of Child Life Professionals website