Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital

Child Life Specialist Opportunities + 1:1 Conference Meet & Greets (ACLP May Conference)

At Penn State Health and Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, our Child Life program continues to grow—and we’re excited to connect with passionate professionals who are looking to grow their impact in a collaborative, academic environment.

Current Opportunities

As part of this continued growth, we are hiring:

• 3 Full-Time Child Life Specialists
• 1 Child Life Specialist – Primary Facility Dog Handler

These roles support a highly integrated, multidisciplinary pediatric care environment within a nationally recognized academic medical center.

We offer:

• Relocation support (typically up to $8,000)
• Strong interdisciplinary collaboration
• Opportunities to innovate and grow programs (including integrative therapies and facility dog programming)
• A supportive, mission-driven culture focused on patients and families

Meet Our Team at ACLP – Let’s Connect 1:1

We’d love to meet you during the Association of Child Life Professionals Conference in May.

Rather than a quick conversation in a busy hallway, we’re offering scheduled 1:1 time with our leaders to talk about your goals, our roles, and how we can support your career.

Best availability for meet-ups:

• Thursday afternoon / evening
• Friday morning
• Friday late afternoon / evening

We’ll coordinate exact times once you sign up.

Meet Penn State Health Leaders – Fill out form

(Provide your contact info + availability, and our team will reach out to schedule your personalized session.)

Presenting at ACLP

Join us for our session:

“Sharing the Load: Shared Governance in a Multi-disciplinary Team”
Friday, May 22 | 2:00–3:00 PM CST | Salon A-4

This session highlights how we empower Child Life Specialists within a shared governance model—ensuring your voice is heard and your expertise shapes care delivery.

Meet Our Leaders

Ashley – Manager, Child Life & Integrative Therapies

Ashley is a Certified Child Life Specialist who has led Child Life & Integrative Therapies at Penn State Health since 2010. She has been instrumental in growing and evolving the program, including pioneering the organization’s first facility dog program with Kaia.

Ashley is a certified instructor in Youth Mental Health First Aid and Nonviolent Crisis Prevention and contributes to the profession as an instructor for Commonwealth University and consultant with ACLP’s Program Review & Development Services team.

Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to innovation, team development, and advancing the role of Child Life across the continuum of care.

Alexis – Child Life Leader

Alexis Steefel, MA, ATR-BC, is a registered and board-certified art therapist practicing at a children’s hospital, where they provide trauma-informed, developmentally attuned care to a diverse range of patient populations. Their clinical work spans general pediatrics, pediatric oncology, behavioral health admissions, and antepartum care, supporting both patients and families through complex medical and emotional experiences.

In addition to their clinical role, Alexis serves as a supervisor for a multidisciplinary team that includes child life specialists, child life assistants, recreational therapists, music therapists, and art therapists. She is dedicated to fostering collaborative, compassionate care environments and supporting professionals in integrative therapeutic practices.

Alexis is also a trained facility dog handler, incorporating animal-assisted interventions to enhance patient engagement, reduce stress, and promote healing across care settings.

Not Attending the Conference? We’d Still Love to Connect

If you’re unable to attend ACLP but are interested in learning more, you can apply directly below.

Our team will follow up to connect, share more about the roles, and explore how your experience aligns with our opportunities.

Why Hershey, PA?

Located in Central Pennsylvania, Hershey offers the best of both worlds—a safe, family-friendly community with easy access to major cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. Along with a lower cost of living, great schools, and outdoor recreation, it’s an ideal place to build both a career and a life.

If you’re looking for a place where your work truly matters—and where your voice helps shape the future of pediatric care—we’d love to meet you.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Child Development, Family Studies, Education, or Psychology required or related degree.
• One (1) year supervised experience in an established Child Life Program. 
• Completion of a 600-hour Child Life internship required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree preferred. 
• Child Life Certification preferred.