What are the responsibilities and job description for the Education Liaison Child Life Specialist position at College Medical Center Phoenix?
College Medical Center Phoenix is proud to be part of College Hospitals and is expanding rapidly. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality customer service, delivered with warmth, friendliness, and organizational pride. Become part of a team that offers a respectful environment, flexibility, a tight-knit group, and the autonomy to utilize your knowledge and experience. Join us as our Education Liaison Child Life Specialist.
Job Summary:
The Education Liaison/ Child Life Specialist plays a key role in supporting pediatric patients' educational continuity and advocating for their academic needs during hospitalization and partial hospitalization. This position serves as a bridge between the hospital treatment team, patients' families, and educational institutions, ensuring effective communication, appropriate planning, and smooth reintegration into school environments post-discharge. This role will coach and mentor other team members to support communication and collaboration with families and schools. This role provides direct instruction tailored to the individual needs of the patient.
Job Qualifications:
Placement in the pay range is based on multiple factors, including but not limited to relevant years of experience and qualifications. In addition to base pay, there may be additional compensation available for CMC Phoenix roles, including but not limited to shift differential and other special pay practices, etc. The posted compensation for the position is a reasonable estimate that extends from the lowest to the highest pay that CMC Phoenix in good faith believes it might pay for this particular job, based on the circumstances at the time of posting.
Job Summary:
The Education Liaison/ Child Life Specialist plays a key role in supporting pediatric patients' educational continuity and advocating for their academic needs during hospitalization and partial hospitalization. This position serves as a bridge between the hospital treatment team, patients' families, and educational institutions, ensuring effective communication, appropriate planning, and smooth reintegration into school environments post-discharge. This role will coach and mentor other team members to support communication and collaboration with families and schools. This role provides direct instruction tailored to the individual needs of the patient.
Job Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Special Education (required)
- Child Life Specialist Certification (required; upon hire)
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience teaching in school or hospital settings, including serving in a Child Life Specialist role (required)
- Experience supporting students with emotional or behavioral challenges, IEPs, or 504 Plans (required)
- Strong understanding of child development, trauma-informed education, and differentiated instruction
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and advocacy skills
- Demonstrated ability to work across multiple systems (e.g., healthcare, education, family services) to support continuity in learning and developmental growth
- Understanding of trauma-informed care principles and application within educational settings to foster safety, emotional regulation, and academic resilience
- Lead the school program and support coordination with the clinical team
- Work with schools, teachers, and district staff to gather assignments, IEP/504 documentation, and relevant educational records
- Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning meetings to provide insight into educational status and support needs
- Provide guidance to families about educational rights, special education services, and options for continued academic support after discharge
- Maintain documentation of school communication and educational services delivered during hospitalization, in accordance with HIPAA, FERPA, and hospital policy
- Coordinate closely with the multidisciplinary team to align educational activities with each patient’s treatment plan
- Educate school personnel about behavioral health diagnoses, treatments, and temporary learning needs or return‑to‑school accommodations, in collaboration with clinical staff and with parental consent
- Facilitate school reentry planning, including return‑to‑learn accommodations and reentry meetings, with parental consent
- Assess each patient’s academic functioning and learning readiness, and communicate how educational challenges may influence or be influenced by behavioral health needs
- Adapt lesson plans and materials across subjects and grade levels (K–12) using trauma‑informed teaching strategies that emphasize safety, predictability, empowerment, and relational trust
- Provide individualized and small‑group academic instruction to pediatric patients during hospitalization, accommodating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral health needs
- Collaborate with team members to develop treatment plan goals related to educational concerns
- Work closely with clinical staff to provide education and support
Placement in the pay range is based on multiple factors, including but not limited to relevant years of experience and qualifications. In addition to base pay, there may be additional compensation available for CMC Phoenix roles, including but not limited to shift differential and other special pay practices, etc. The posted compensation for the position is a reasonable estimate that extends from the lowest to the highest pay that CMC Phoenix in good faith believes it might pay for this particular job, based on the circumstances at the time of posting.