The role of the Child Life Therapist/Facility Dog Handler is to assess, plan, implement and evaluate the psychosocial needs of the patients and families we serve. The Child Life Therapist will utilize the facility dog to provide psychosocial support, plan and implement activities to further the social, emotional, intellectual and physical growth of the child within the inpatient and outpatient settings. The CCLS will utilize appropriate principles of growth and development, act as an advocate for patients and families and provide age appropriate medical teaching and distraction, again utilizing the facility dog as an extension of their work to help meet goals and objectives during their hospital stay.