Has multiple definitions based on which profession it comes from. Social work focuses on relationship building and creating community networks for a client. Teaching, it is about being self-reflective in their practice and understanding how they impact their students. As a child life specialist in a school, this approach is more about focusing on the strengths of others (students, staff, families). Instead of identifying deficits, this practice is holistic and multi-disciplinary to work with an individual to promote their success and wellness.
Published in Chapter:
School
Audra Holst-VanNoord (Lowell Area School District, USA), Jessica Lewin (River Valley School District, USA), and Courtney Rosborough (Edmonton Catholic School District, Canada)
Copyright: © 2023
|Pages: 41
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-5097-0.ch005
Abstract
Child life specialists in schools help students, school staff, and families function more cohesively, advocating for the needs of each individual while continuing to prioritize child development. This chapter will outline the student and staff needs that child life specialists are uniquely suited to meet while also giving an overview of interventions, supports, roles, and coping strategies that can be led by a child life specialist within the school setting. Throughout this chapter, one will see how easily a child life specialist can integrate into existing systems or propose a new position within the school environment.