The world today has turned into a different one than students and professionals are used to operating in. Covid-19 has changed the healthcare environment and as an unfortunate consequence, limited the ability for students to complete their volunteering, practicum, or internship hours. So, what are we to do in the child life community?
I hope that students are bing supported by their academic advisors and hospital professionals alike. The loss of plan and coordination, which you have worked so incredibly hard to maintain, is palpable to everyone in the community. As a professional myself I know that I can't imagine what it must feel like to have your chartered corse de-railed like this.
If we could continue to to have students within our hospital walls we would! Please don't mistake this delaying of opportunities or limitation of contact as us wanting you to stay away. We don't. We want our students present and learning under us. However, child life specialists don't run the hospital, so we can't bend or break the rules set by the executives. Please know that we are grieving your absence and change of course too.
Reach out to those in the community you know for help or advice! Having a difficult time coming to terms with what this means for your graduation plan? Call on us, we are great listeners. Worried you won't have enough hours to apply for practicums or internships? Talk to the program coordinators and ask about their thoughts and opinions for what you can do.
No one really knows what is going to happen right now. What we do know though? The child life community is strong, we know how to help each other out. We are great at being adaptable and flexible, we will figure it out as we go! We are better when we collaborate and use our creativity to figure out previously unthought of solutions.
Until students are back within the hospital walls, we will miss you, and when you can finally return we will celebrate too.
-K
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