Child life specialists are part of health-care teams that serve the medical needs of children in hospitals, doctors' offices, and other organizations. They help children and families manage challenging life events and stressful health-care experiences through the use of conversation, play, artwork, and other forms of activities to ease anxiety.  Child life specialists are trained in child development and focus on the emotional and developmental needs of children. 

The following occupations represent some career opportunities available to child life specialists.  Some will require additional education.  For more information visit the Career and Experiential Learning Resource Lab in Lucina 235.

4-H Specialist
Activities Director
Activity Therapist
Adoption Counselor
After-School Program Supervisor
Art Teacher
Art Therapist
Audiologist
Author, Children's Books
Bibliotherapist
Camp Director
Child Abuse Counselor
Child Advocate
Child Care Worker
Child Development Specialist
Child Development Supervisor
Child Life Administrator
Child Life Assistant
Child Life Specialist
Child Protection Social Worker
Child Protective Services Specialist
Child Psychologist
Child Support Enforcement Specialist
Child Welfare Worker
Child, Youth, and Family Counselor
Children's Librarian
Children's Program Director
Community Service Worker
Day Care Center Director
Dental Hygienist, Children
Elementary School Guidance Counselor
Elementary Teacher
Family Advocacy/Public Policy Specialist
Family Advocate
Family and Consumer Scientist
Family Counselor
Family Life Educator
Group Home Administrator
Head Start Program Director
House Parent, Halfway House
Juvenile Court Caseworker
Juvenile Officer
Mental Health Counselor
Music Therapist
Nurse Practitioner
Obstetrical Registered Nurse
Parent Educator
Patient Relations Representative
Pediatric Dentist
Pediatric Medical Assistant
Pediatric Rehabilitation Counselor
Pediatric/School Nurse
Pediatrician
Personal/Home Care Aide
Preschool Teacher
Public Health Specialist
Recreation Therapist
Sales Representative, Child Care Products
School Social Worker
Social Service Aide
Social Worker
Special Education Teacher
Speech/Language Pathologist
Teacher Aide
Therapeutic Recreation Therapist
Youth Counselor
Youth Services Director

Resources available in the Career and Experiential Learning Resource Lab, Lucina 235

Careers for Kids at Heart & Others Who Adore Children (OCC PT 37)
Careers in Child Care (OCC 34.8)
Careers in Focus: Family and Consumer Sciences(OCC 78)
Careers in Focus: Therapists (HEAL 56)
Careers in Health Care (HEAL 4)
Careers in Social and Rehabilitation Services (OCC 196)
Career Opportunities in Education (EDU 4)
Exploring Health Care Careers (HEAL 8)
Opportunities in Allied Health Careers (HEAL 1)
Opportunities in Counseling and Development Careers(OCC 51)
Opportunities in Social Work Careers (OCC 198)
Opportunities in Public Health Careers (HEAL 54)

Web sites:

BSU Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences: http://www.bsu.edu/fcs/ 
Career Links for BSU Majors (see Family and Consumer Sciences):  http://www.bsu.edu/careers/students/linksmajors 
Great Links to Explore (BSU Career Center):  http://www.bsu.edu/careers/students/links 
American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences:  http://www.aafcs.org/ 
America's Career InfoNet: http://www.acinet.org
Child Life Council:  http://www.childlife.org 
Employment Outlook:  http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0854971.html 
Family and Consumer Sciences Resources Online:  http://members.tripod.com/~kburge/fcs.html 
IndianaINTERNnet:  http://www.indianaintern.net/home.asp 
Internships.com:  http://www.bsu.edu/careers/secure/pwinternships
Internships USA.com:  http://www.bsu.edu/students/careers/secure/internpw 
Monster.com Major to Career Converter:  http://content.monstertrak.monster.com/tools/careerconverter 
NationalAssociation of Social Workers:  http://www.naswdc.org 
O*NET:  http://online.onetcenter.org 
Occupational Outlook Handbook:  http://www.bls.gov/oco/ 
Salary.com:  http://www.salary.com
Volunteer Match:  http://www.volunteermatch.org