Child Life United

What Child Life United does

Child Life United is a US-based educational organization founded in 2016 by Courtney Moreland, MPH, CCLS, that delivers introductory and pre-internship practicum experiences for individuals pursuing careers as Certified Child Life Specialists. Its core product portfolio includes the Virtual Foundations to Internship Program (an introductory observational practicum), the Puerto Rico Pre-Internship Experience (a 7-week hybrid program combining 5 weeks of virtual sessions with 2 weeks of in-person clinical rotations in San Juan, delivering 120 supervised hours at $2,800 per participant), and a suite of International Practicum Programs conducted across 10+ countries including Japan, Israel, Sweden, Philippines, Kenya, South Africa, Romania, and Mexico. All programs are designed around the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) Recommended Standards, with supervision provided by CCLSs holding a minimum of 2,000 paid hours of experience.

The underlying technology stack is a hybrid virtual-and-in-person experiential learning model rather than a software platform; programs blend online instruction, journaling, structured readings, and educational discussions with supervised clinical rotations in approved healthcare, hospice, therapeutic camp, and rehabilitation settings. Distribution is direct via the organization's website through an application-based enrollment process with defined deadlines and limited cohort sizes; marketing is driven by the website, a dedicated Social Media Manager, and university relationships stemming from the founder's prior teaching role at UC Santa Barbara Extension. A sub-brand, Child Life United Together (CLU), operates as an education and development platform under Director Rachel Werner. The organization is privately held, founder-led, and operates with approximately 10 employees and no disclosed external funding.

Name

Child Life United

Legal name

Child Life United

Website

https://childlifeunited.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Child Life United is a US-based educational organization founded in 2016 that delivers virtual and international in-person practicum programs for students pursuing Certified Child Life Specialist careers, following ACLP Recommended Standards across 10+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Professional Education

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP) (HLAFAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Health Education & Parent Coaching (Sleep, Safety, Illness Management) (EDACAMAN)

Keywords

• Child life practicum
• Clinical experiential learning
• Healthcare education programs
• Professional certification training
• International medical rotations

Headquarters

HQ city

Stanford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition for international practicum programs. The Puerto Rico Pre-Internship Experience costs $2,800 per participant, with additional costs for lodging and airfare borne by students.
2. Virtual Practicum Programs: Revenue from virtual practicum offerings that follow ACLP Recommended Standards for child life practicums

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Child Life United provides introductory and advanced practicum programs for individuals pursuing careers as Certified Child Life Specialists, combining virtual instruction with supervised in-person clinical rotations in healthcare settings across the United States and internationally. Programs follow the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) Recommended Standards and include a minimum of 100 supervised clinical hours, with the flagship Puerto Rico Pre-Internship Experience delivering 120 hours over a 7-week hybrid format.

Product overview

Child Life United is an educational organization offering a portfolio of experiential learning programs for individuals pursuing careers as Certified Child Life Specialists. The core offerings include the Virtual Child Life Practicum (an introductory observational program following ACLP standards), the Puerto Rico Pre-Internship Experience (a hybrid 7-week program combining virtual sessions with in-person clinical rotations in San Juan), and various International Practicum Programs in countries such as Japan, Israel, Sweden, Philippines, Kenya, and Romania. The organization also provides Social Change and Advocacy Programs, a Mentor Program, and operates the Child Life United Together platform for education and professional development worldwide. Programs follow the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) recommended standards and are supervised by Certified Child Life Specialists with a minimum of 2,000 hours of paid experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Child Life United Together (CLU): CLU's education and development platform focused on fostering new connections and programming opportunities around the world. Led by Rachel Werner as director since 2020.

Products and services

• Virtual Foundations to Internship Program An introductory virtual practicum program for individuals pursuing a career in child life. Students observe Certified Child Life Specialists and engage in supervised learning related to play, developmental assessment, and integration of child life theory into interventions with infants, children, youth, and families. Delivered online following the six ACLP Recommended Standards established by the CLC Practicum Task Force in 2013.
• Puerto Rico Pre-Internship Experience A 7-week hybrid pre-internship program combining 5 weeks of virtual sessions with 2 weeks of in-person clinical experience in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Students earn 120 pre-internship hours through two site rotations in inpatient and outpatient settings, supervised by a Certified Child Life Specialist. Includes weekly assignments, journaling, and small group supervision. Program cost is $2,800, not including lodging and airfare.
• International Practicum Programs Experiential learning programs conducted in international locations including Japan, Israel, Sweden, Philippines, Kenya, Mexico, Romania, and South Africa. Programs offer child life practicum experiences in hospitals, therapeutic camps, hospice settings, and rehabilitation facilities in diverse global communities.
• Social Change and Advocacy Programs International programs focused on social change and advocacy in locations such as Israel and South Africa, combining child life professional development with community engagement activities.
• Mentor Program Mentorship programs connecting experienced child life professionals with students, including international mentorship initiatives in locations such as Romania.
• Child Life United Together (CLU Education Platform) An education and development platform operated by Child Life United that fosters new connections and programming opportunities around the world for child life professional growth. Directed by Rachel Werner since 2020.

Quantifiable outcome

• Minimum 100 supervised clinical hours per practicum program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild Life United aligns all practicum programs with ACLP Recommended Standards as set forth by the Association of Child Life Professionals. The organization's programs follow the six standards established by the CLC Practicum Task Force in 2013, including minimum hour requirements, CCLS supervision standards, and approved healthcare settings for experiential learning.
• Stanford Children's HospitalminorOthersFounder and Director Courtney Moreland worked at Stanford Children's Hospital as a Certified Child Life Specialist for 10 years. This background informed the establishment of Child Life United and contributed to the organization's credibility in the child life profession.
• University of California Santa Barbara ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder Courtney Moreland taught as an online instructor for the University of California Santa Barbara Extension program teaching Introduction to Child Life: Theory and Practice. Through this experience she connected with students interested in global child life opportunities, leading to the founding of Child Life United.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP): The professional governing body that sets the Recommended Standards Child Life United aligns to, and which administers the Child Life Professional Certification Examination. It is the closest institutional incumbent in the child life professional ecosystem and shapes the entire addressable market.
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center — Child Life Program: Top-ranked pediatric hospital with a well-known Child Life and Integrative Care program offering practicum placements. Represents the hospital-based alternative model to independent practicum providers.
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) — Child Life Program: Major pediatric hospital with an established Child Life and Integrative Care program that provides practicum training to aspiring specialists. Like other top children's hospitals, it competes for the same pool of practicum-seeking students.
• Boston Children's Hospital — Child Life Program: One of the largest hospital-based Child Life programs in the U.S., offering in-house practicum placements to students. It represents the dominant alternative to third-party programs like Child Life United, with deeper clinical rosters and brand prestige in pediatric care.
• Texas Children's Hospital — Child Life Program: Large pediatric hospital system with a sizable Child Life department that offers student practicums. Comparable to Child Life United in serving aspiring child life specialists, but as an in-house hospital program rather than a standalone education provider.

Others

• Make-A-Wish Foundation: Large pediatric charity addressing the emotional well-being of children with critical illnesses. Thematically aligned with Child Life United's focus on supporting children and families in stressful healthcare situations, though a wish-granting organization rather than training provider.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Global nonprofit supporting families of seriously ill children. Adjacent to the child life ecosystem Child Life United trains students for, focusing on family-centered support during pediatric medical care.
• Starlight Children's Foundation: National nonprofit delivering programs (entertainment, gaming, distraction tools) to hospitalized children. Adjacent to Child Life United's mission of supporting pediatric psychosocial care, though operating as a charity rather than a training provider.
• Project Sunshine: Nonprofit providing volunteer and recreational programs to children in healthcare settings. Operates in the same pediatric psychosocial-care space as Child Life United's students, but on the programmatic delivery side rather than professional training.

Emerging players

• Coursera: Large-scale online education platform offering healthcare and child development courses. Comparable to Child Life United in delivering structured, cohort-based online learning, though at much broader scale and without the in-person clinical rotation component.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/child-life-united

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Child Life United