ACLP Community
Career Center
CCLS Directory
Join ACLP
Support ACLP
Contact Us
Child Life Store
Login
About ACLP
History of ACLP
Purpose, Mission, Values
2019-2021 Strategic Plan
Bylaws
Official Documents
ACLP Board of Directors
Board Positions & Qualifications
Board Nominations & Voting
Bylaws
Child Life Certification Commission (CLCC)
CLCC Overview
ACLP Committees & Working Groups
Committee Infrastructure & Appointment
ACLP Staff
Support ACLP
Corporate Sponsors
Donate
Advertise
Contact Us
The Child Life Profession
The Case for Child Life
Child Life in Action
Awards
NEW! One-Person Program Conference Scholarships
Distinguished Service Award Overview
Research Recognition Awards
Mary Barkey Award Overview
International Awards
Operating Principles
Mission, Values, Vision
Membership
Membership Categories
Networking
Regional Child Life Groups
International Child Life Groups
ACLP Bulletin
Bulletin Submission Guidelines & Instructions
ACLP Forum Guidelines
Volunteer Opportunities
Certification
Pursue Certification
Requirements
Eligibility Assessment
Child Life Academic Programs
Academic Programs Offering CCLS Course
Child Life Practicum
Internship Information
Academic Requirements
Endorsed Program Directory
Pre-Approved Courses
The Exam
Preparing for the Exam
Exam Registration and Exam Registration FAQs
Exam Day
2019 Exam Content Outline
Maintaining Certification
Certification Maintenance FAQs
Recertification
Recertification (by PDU) Fees
Professional Development Units
How can I earn PDUs
Certification FAQs
Code of Professional Practice
CCLS Directory
Job Analysis Results
Resources
For Child Life Specialists
Child Life Resource Library
Child Life Professional Data Center
CLPDC Subscriptions
PRAP
Program Review
#ChildLife Podcast
For Educators & Internship Coordinators
Undergraduate Endorsement
Graduate Endorsement
Internship Accreditation
Internship Deadlines
Pre-Approval of Courses
PDU Pre-Approval
For Parents and Caregivers
Parent testimonials
CCLS testimonials
For Healthcare Administrators
Professional Development
Online Education
Mentor Program
2019 Child Life Annual Conference
For Attendees
2019 Keynote Speakers
Networking
Local Attractions
2019 Exhibitors
2019 Sponsors
For Exhibitors
Exhibit Booths
Know Before You Go
For Sponsors
Events
Items
Levels
Future Conferences
Home
/
The Child Life Profession
/
Operating Principles
Operating Principles
We are guided by these principles:
We will collaborate, maintain, and promote a philosophy and identity that is accepted on an international level.
We will maintain the highest standards of professional behavior and practices.
We will be recognized as essential in healthcare, as well as in diverse community settings, and will be available to all infants, children, youth, and families regardless of ability to pay.
We will advocate for the rights of infants, children and youth and support appropriate political, legal, and ethical responses to their psychosocial needs.
We will maintain the child life profession through education and training programs that are diverse, inclusive, continuous, and consistent with our philosophy.
We will initiate research to validate our methodologies and further the practice of child life.
We will maintain meaningful credentialing for child life practitioners that addresses professional philosophy and knowledge.
We will attract highly skilled, diverse, and committed individuals who are able to demonstrate competence in communication and human services skills.We will interface with other disciplines that provide interventions to infants, children, youth and families, and will help them cope with the stress and uncertainty of acute and chronic illness, injury, trauma, disability, loss, and bereavement.
Learn More
Learn more about
Child Life Standards of Clinical Practice
(3 pgs, 63 KB, excerpted from The Official Documents.)
Child Life Profession
About ACLP
History of ACLP
Purpose, Mission, Values
2019-2021 Strategic Plan
Bylaws
Official Documents
ACLP Board of Directors
Board Positions & Qualifications
Board Nominations & Voting
Bylaws
Child Life Certification Commission (CLCC)
CLCC Overview
ACLP Committees & Working Groups
Committee Infrastructure & Appointment
ACLP Staff
Support ACLP
Corporate Sponsors
Donate
Advertise
Contact Us
The Child Life Profession
The Case for Child Life
Child Life in Action
Awards
NEW! One-Person Program Conference Scholarships
Distinguished Service Award Overview
Research Recognition Awards
Mary Barkey Award Overview
International Awards
Operating Principles
Mission, Values, Vision
Membership
Membership Categories
Networking
Regional Child Life Groups
International Child Life Groups
ACLP Bulletin
Bulletin Submission Guidelines & Instructions
ACLP Forum Guidelines
Volunteer Opportunities
Certification
Pursue Certification
Requirements
Eligibility Assessment
Child Life Academic Programs
Academic Programs Offering CCLS Course
Child Life Practicum
Internship Information
Academic Requirements
Endorsed Program Directory
Pre-Approved Courses
The Exam
Preparing for the Exam
Exam Registration and Exam Registration FAQs
Exam Day
2019 Exam Content Outline
Maintaining Certification
Certification Maintenance FAQs
Recertification
Recertification (by PDU) Fees
Professional Development Units
How can I earn PDUs
Certification FAQs
Code of Professional Practice
CCLS Directory
Job Analysis Results
Resources
For Child Life Specialists
Child Life Resource Library
Child Life Professional Data Center
CLPDC Subscriptions
PRAP
Program Review
#ChildLife Podcast
For Educators & Internship Coordinators
Undergraduate Endorsement
Graduate Endorsement
Internship Accreditation
Internship Deadlines
Pre-Approval of Courses
PDU Pre-Approval
For Parents and Caregivers
Parent testimonials
CCLS testimonials
For Healthcare Administrators
Professional Development
Online Education
Mentor Program
2019 Child Life Annual Conference
For Attendees
2019 Keynote Speakers
Networking
Local Attractions
2019 Exhibitors
2019 Sponsors
For Exhibitors
Exhibit Booths
Know Before You Go
For Sponsors
Events
Items
Levels
Future Conferences
Close
About ACLP
History of ACLP
Purpose, Mission, Values
2019-2021 Strategic Plan
Bylaws
Official Documents
ACLP Board of Directors
Board Positions & Qualifications
Board Nominations & Voting
Bylaws
Child Life Certification Commission (CLCC)
CLCC Overview
ACLP Committees & Working Groups
Committee Infrastructure & Appointment
ACLP Staff
Support ACLP
Corporate Sponsors
Donate
Advertise
Contact Us
The Child Life Profession
The Case for Child Life
Child Life in Action
Awards
NEW! One-Person Program Conference Scholarships
Distinguished Service Award Overview
Research Recognition Awards
Mary Barkey Award Overview
International Awards
Operating Principles
Mission, Values, Vision
Membership
Membership Categories
Networking
Regional Child Life Groups
International Child Life Groups
ACLP Bulletin
Bulletin Submission Guidelines & Instructions
ACLP Forum Guidelines
Volunteer Opportunities
Certification
Pursue Certification
Requirements
Eligibility Assessment
Child Life Academic Programs
Academic Programs Offering CCLS Course
Child Life Practicum
Internship Information
Academic Requirements
Endorsed Program Directory
Pre-Approved Courses
The Exam
Preparing for the Exam
Exam Registration and Exam Registration FAQs
Exam Day
2019 Exam Content Outline
Maintaining Certification
Certification Maintenance FAQs
Recertification
Recertification (by PDU) Fees
Professional Development Units
How can I earn PDUs
Certification FAQs
Code of Professional Practice
CCLS Directory
Job Analysis Results
Resources
For Child Life Specialists
Child Life Resource Library
Child Life Professional Data Center
CLPDC Subscriptions
PRAP
Program Review
#ChildLife Podcast
For Educators & Internship Coordinators
Undergraduate Endorsement
Graduate Endorsement
Internship Accreditation
Internship Deadlines
Pre-Approval of Courses
PDU Pre-Approval
For Parents and Caregivers
Parent testimonials
CCLS testimonials
For Healthcare Administrators
Professional Development
Online Education
Mentor Program
2019 Child Life Annual Conference
For Attendees
2019 Keynote Speakers
Networking
Local Attractions
2019 Exhibitors
2019 Sponsors
For Exhibitors
Exhibit Booths
Know Before You Go
For Sponsors
Events
Items
Levels
Future Conferences
ACLP Community
Career Center
CCLS Directory
Join ACLP
Support ACLP
Contact Us
Child Life Store