Certified Child Life Specialist-Primary Facility Dog Handler

Ebenezer; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading healthcare provider as a Certified Child Life Specialist, primarily working with pediatric patients and a facility dog. This role supports children's coping and adaptation to the hospital environment using play therapy. You will play a vital part in a multi-disciplinary team and handle care responsibilities for the facility dog. The position calls for certification, experience, and a compassionate approach to child development.

Benefits

Medical and dental insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of child life specialist experience required.
• Completion of a child life internship with at least 480 hours.
• Flexibility in daily work and schedule is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate play for pediatric patients to promote healing.
• Collaborate within a multi-disciplinary team for psychosocial support.
• Transport facility dog and provide daily care.

Skills

Child life skills

Therapeutic play

Leadership

Animal assisted intervention

Education

B.S./B.A. in Child Life or related field

CCLS certification

Job description

Job Overview

Fairview is looking for a Certified Child Life Specialist to join our team!

Bring Your Possibilities to Fairview At Fairview, we believe in the power of possibility — within ourselves, our teams, and the communities we serve. We believe that leadership isn’t just a title — it’s a mindset we all share. Whether you’re providing hands-on care, innovating behind the scenes, or supporting those who do, your work matters.

Job Summary:

The Certified Child Life Specialist Primary Facility Dog Handler, in partnership with a facility dog, provides the following: services to pediatric patients and their families to support coping and adaptation to the health care environment, utilizing play as a therapeutic modality. Provides clinical psychosocial services throughout the hospital system based on the competencies of a certified child life specialist (CCLS). The Child Family Life Specialist will function as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team, applying a knowledge of child development and family systems to their practice. A primary facility dog handler will demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaborate with other disciplines as well as members of their own department. They will show initiative in creative interventions using facility dog to reach unmet patient treatment goals. This position requires a mastery of child life skills and knowledge to allow for focused growth on animal assisted interventions. Flexibility with daily work and schedule is necessary. Minimum of a BA/BS in child life, therapeutic recreation, family or child development, counseling, child psychology, education, social work, nursing or related fields. Completion of a child life internship with a minimum of 480 hours. CCLS certification through the ACLP required. 3-5 years of child life specialist job experience required.


Responsibilities

• Ability to provide opportunities for play for infants, children, youth, and families
  • Articulate and implement theories of human growth and development, play, and family systems
  • Demonstrate the ability to assess individual play needs and incorporate play into daily practice.
  • Facilitate opportunities for play to decrease distress, provide enjoyment and comfort, enhance mastery, and promote healing.
  • Plan and implement appropriate play activities and materials for children and families of diverse cultures, varying developmental needs, and physical abilities.
  • Establish safe and engaging play spaces that promote cross cultural connections, facility group play, and encourage children to choose and explore at their own pace.

Required Qualifications

• B.S./B.A. with completion of child life internship
• 3 years experience with increasing responsibility and demonstrated leadership
• This position requires the facility dog to live with the child life specialist/primary handler.
• This position will be responsible for transporting the facility dog to medical appointments, grooming appointments, and to/from work each day.
• The individual must commit to educating family on appropriate care of dog and follow expectations and education of breeder specific to facility dog.
• In addition to daily patient care needs, this individual is responsible for providing facility dog with daily care breaks and appropriate assessment and communication of needs.
• CCLS certification

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Degree
• 5 years experience as a certified child life specialist
• Experience in program development and/or participation in rolling-out new programs or incentives

Benefit Overview

Fairview offers a generous benefit package including but not limited to medical, dental, vision plans, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, PTO and Sick and Safe Time, tuition reimbursement, retirement, early access to earned wages, and more! Please follow this link for additional information: https://www.fairview.org/careers/benefits/noncontract

Compensation Disclaimer

The posted pay range is for a 40-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). The actual rate of pay offered within this range may depend on several factors, such as FTE, skills, knowledge, relevant education, experience, and market conditions. Additionally, our organization values pay equity and considers the internal equity of our team when making any offer. Hiring at the maximum of the range is not typical.

EEO Statement

EEO/Vet/Disabled: All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to any lawfully protected status

Fairview is looking for a Certified Child Life Specialist to join our team!

Bring Your Possibilities to Fairview At Fairview, we believe in the power of possibility — within ourselves, our teams, and the communities we serve. We believe that leadership isn’t just a title — it’s a mindset we all share. Whether you’re providing hands-on care, innovating behind the scenes, or supporting those who do, your work matters.

Job Summary:

The Certified Child Life Specialist Primary Facility Dog Handler, in partnership with a facility dog, provides the following: services to pediatric patients and their families to support coping and adaptation to the health care environment, utilizing play as a therapeutic modality. Provides clinical psychosocial services throughout the hospital system based on the competencies of a certified child life specialist (CCLS). The Child Family Life Specialist will function as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team, applying a knowledge of child development and family systems to their practice. A primary facility dog handler will demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaborate with other disciplines as well as members of their own department. They will show initiative in creative interventions using facility dog to reach unmet patient treatment goals. This position requires a mastery of child life skills and knowledge to allow for focused growth on animal assisted interventions. Flexibility with daily work and schedule is necessary. Minimum of a BA/BS in child life, therapeutic recreation, family or child development, counseling, child psychology, education, social work, nursing or related fields. Completion of a child life internship with a minimum of 480 hours. CCLS certification through the ACLP required. 3-5 years of child life specialist job experience required.


Responsibilities

• Ability to provide opportunities for play for infants, children, youth, and families
  • Articulate and implement theories of human growth and development, play, and family systems
  • Demonstrate the ability to assess individual play needs and incorporate play into daily practice.
  • Facilitate opportunities for play to decrease distress, provide enjoyment and comfort, enhance mastery, and promote healing.
  • Plan and implement appropriate play activities and materials for children and families of diverse cultures, varying developmental needs, and physical abilities.
  • Establish safe and engaging play spaces that promote cross cultural connections, facility group play, and encourage children to choose and explore at their own pace.

Required Qualifications

• B.S./B.A. with completion of child life internship
• 3 years experience with increasing responsibility and demonstrated leadership
• This position requires the facility dog to live with the child life specialist/primary handler.
• This position will be responsible for transporting the facility dog to medical appointments, grooming appointments, and to/from work each day.
• The individual must commit to educating family on appropriate care of dog and follow expectations and education of breeder specific to facility dog.
• In addition to daily patient care needs, this individual is responsible for providing facility dog with daily care breaks and appropriate assessment and communication of needs.
• CCLS certification

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Degree
• 5 years experience as a certified child life specialist
• Experience in program development and/or participation in rolling-out new programs or incentives