Child Life Assistant Facility Dog Handler-Behavioral Health & Wellness

Schedule: Monday - Friday - Days & Evenings

At Children’s, the region’s only full-service pediatric healthcare center, our people make us the very best for kids. Come cultivate your passion, purpose and professional development in an environment of excellence and inclusion, where team members are supported and deeply valued. Opportunities for career growth abound as we grow our services and spaces, including the cutting-edge Hubbard Center for Children. Join our highly engaged, caring team—and join us in providing brighter, healthier tomorrows for the children we serve.
Children's is committed to diversity and inclusion. We are an equal opportunity employer including veterans and people with disabilities.
A Brief Overview
The Child Life Assistant (CLA)/Child Life Assistant Facility Dog Handler support the Child Life Team in providing a safe and developmentally appropriate environment for pediatric patients and families. The role promotes positive healthcare experiences through play, education and socialization activities that support coping, normalization and emotional well-being. The Facility Dog Handler role combines Child Life Assistants responsibilities with facilitation of animal-assisted interventions. Under the guidance of the Child Life Team, the CLA facilitates developmentally appropriate play, coping activities, maintains play spaces and resources, supports volunteers, and helps with special events. When serving as the Facility Dog Handler, the CLA provides care for the facility dog and facilitates facility dog visits and program activities. The role collaborates with the interdisciplinary team members to support the psychosocial and developmental needs of patients and families. Children's Facility Dogs are specially trained and co-owned by Canine Assistants of Atlanta to support the therapeutic needs of patients and team members. Dogs are matched to the hospital based on organizational needs and functions. Facility dogs live with their primary handler, who must be a Children's team member working at least 32 hours per week and committed to the program for five years. Children's covers facility dog-related expenses for the workplace including: • Initial placement stipend • Weekly grooming • Veterinary care and medications • Food, treats, leash, bed, and toys as approved by their leader
Essential Functions

• Supports patient and families developmental, emotional and psychosocial needs.
  • Provides toys, activities, developmental play and therapeutic interactions to patients in the playrooms and at bedside. Facilitates 1:1 play opportunities for patients in isolation or unable to leave their room/unit.
  • Plans, coordinates, and facilitates group activities designed to support normalization, coping and socialization. This includes but is not limited to special guests and holiday celebrations.
  • Supports Child Life Specialist in identifying patient and family needs and implementing developmentally appropriate activities and interventions that promote coping and adjustment to the health care experience.
  • Observes and reports patients developmental, emotional and psychosocial needs to team members as appropriate. Recognize patient and family needs that require a referral to a Child Life Specialist or other health care team members
  • Participates in interdisciplinary rounds, patient care discussions and department initiatives as appropriate.
  • Documents activities, interventions, patient responses and relevant observations accurately, objectively and in a timely manner within the medical record.
  • Facility Dog Handlers : Facilitates animal-assisted interventions with the facility dog when serving as a designated handler, to support patient coping, comfort and engagement.
  • Facility Dog Handlers : When serving as a designated handler, provides supervision, care and daily management of the facility dog. Assist in ensuring compliance with animal-assisted therapy program standards.
• Maintains a clean, safe environment, ensuring age-appropriate and developmentally suitable material
  are available. Follows infection prevention, animal safety, and hospital policies and procedures, including cleaning and sanitizing toys and equipment using approved methods.
• Assist with accepting, distributing and organizing donations as well as screening for appropriateness. Maintain storage areas ensuring compliance with fire and safety guidelines.

• Assist with training, orientation and management of volunteers in child life areas. Help volunteers feel comfortable in 1:1 and group settings.

Education Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent required
• Must demonstrate a commitment to obtaining Child Life Certification and are expected to make measurable progress towards completing requirements for a Child Life Specialist role during their employment

Experience Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year of experience in a childcare setting required
• Experience working in a hospital setting with hospitalized children and their families preferred

Skills and Abilities

• Possesses interpersonal skills which enable the individual to establish professional rapport with patients and families, and possesses assertive skills necessary to facilitate group activities
• Knowledge of child development preferred

Licenses and Certifications

• Basic Life Support from the American Heart Association required

Children’s is the very best for kids and the very best for your career! At Children’s, we put YOU first so together, we can improve the life of every child!