Child Life Specialist

About Children's Minnesota

Children's Minnesota is one of the largest pediatric health systems in the United States and the only health system in Minnesota to provide care exclusively to children, from before birth through young adulthood. An independent and not-for-profit system since 1924, Children's Minnesota is one system serving kids throughout the Upper Midwest at two free-standing hospitals, nine primary care clinics, multiple specialty clinics and seven rehabilitation sites. As The Kids Experts in our region, Children's Minnesota is regularly ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top children's hospital. Find us on Facebook @childrensminnesota or on Twitter and Instagram @childrensmn. Please visit

Children's Minnesota is proud to be recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of 2023's Top Diversity Leaders. The national honor recognizes the top diverse healthcare executives and organizations influencing public policy, care delivery, and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in their organizations and the industry.

Department Overview

The Child Life group promotes the continuous development of children to optimize their responses to medical care, to minimize psychological stress and trauma, and to increase understanding and coping with illness and health care experiences. Child Life provides children with opportunities for gaining a sense of mastery, for play, for learning, for self-expression, for family involvement and for peer interaction. As members of the health care team, child life staff advocate for children and families in ambulatory and inpatient settings. They serve as resources to all staff and to the community on issues related to child development and child health experiences.

Position Summary

The Child Life Specialist focus is to promote the continuous development of children to optimize their responses to medical care, to minimize psychological stress and trauma, and to increase understanding and coping with illness and health care experience.

*Bachelor's degree required in child life or child development/developmental psychology concentration. Master's degree preferred.
*Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
*Child life certification preferred at time of hire otherwise required within first year of hire.
*480 hour child life internship with supervision by a CCLS.
*Specific child life specialist jobs may require a minimum number years of work experience.
*Previous working experience with children and families.

The posted salary represents a market competitive range based on salary survey benchmark data for similar roles in the local or national market. When determining individual pay rates, we carefully consider a wide range of factors including but not limited to market indicators for the specific role, the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate, internal equity and organizational needs.

In addition to your salary, this position may be eligible for medical, dental, vision, retirement, and other fringe benefits. Positions that require night, weekend or on-call work may be eligible for shift differentials or premium pay.

All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of an occupational health assessment, drug screen, background investigation, and compliance with the U.S. Government Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.

Children's Minnesota is proud to be an equal opportunity employer whose staff is representative of its community and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, creed, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

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