Program Information Contact updated: 2016
Program approved for 1st-Year MSW [X] 2nd-Year MSW [X]
Foster Youth Services
Jeff Middleton, LCSW, PPSC, Social Work Specialist
Foster Youth Services
215 Pacifica Ave.
Bay Point, CA 94565
(925) 381-1447
middletonj@mdusd.k12.ca.us
Vivica Taylor
Taylor@mdusd.org
Diablo Community Center
Isela Garcia, ACSW, PPSC, Social Work Specialist
Mt. Diablo High School, Diablo Community Center
2450 Grant St.
Concord, CA 94520
(925) 682-4030 ext. 2759
garciai@mdusd.k12.ca.us
Mt. Diablo Unified School District
MSW Internship Program
About The MDUSD
Mt. Diablo Unified School District
Administrative Office
1936 Carlotta Ave.
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 682-8000
The Mt. Diablo Unified School District is a public school district located in Concord, California, serving the educational needs of over 37,000 K-12 students, and an additional 30,000 adult students. The district covers over 150 square miles, including the cities of Concord, Pleasant Hill, Clayton; portions of Walnut Creek, Martinez; and unincorporated areas including Lafayette, Pacheco, Pittsburg, and Bay Point.
Nestled at the base of Mt. Diablo in the suburban Eastern San Francisco Bay Area, MDUSD can be characterized as a representative California microcosm. Mt. Diablo Unified is one of the largest school districts in the state of California, with over 56 school sites and programs. The district's statistics for ethnic/racial diversity, average class size, test scores, numbers of English Language Learners and the primary languages they represent, mirror those for the state of California as a whole.
About the MDUSD Internship Program
Mission Statement
Our goal is to help all children succeed in school and beyond. We provide culturally sensitive and comprehensive strength-based opportunities, services, and support for children and families from diverse backgrounds. We believe strongly in equality and the importance of education. We are committed to training mental health and social work professionals to the highest standards of practice and to working within a culture of mutual respect and support.
Purpose of Intern Program
Social Work Interns play an integral role in the provision of services in the Foster Youth Services and The Diablo Community Center programs in the MDUSD. In addition to providing direct services to children and families in the school district, interns bring with them the enthusiasm and high expectations engendered by studying at some of the best graduate institutions in the country.
The main task of the interns at MDUSD is to learn the methods of social work and mental health services through practice. Providing school-based services means continually learning about the needs and aspirations of clients, the systems in which they are involved, and the environments where they live— and then trying to help them to find the best path through all of the obstacles they face. There is not one method or model for any client or any clinician that can be applied in all situations. The process of discovering the best way to assist each client is parallel to the process of learning how to provide professional services. Retaining a “beginner’s mind” (knowing that one does not know), is a helpful discipline in learning how to become a professional and, ultimately, in providing effective services. Interns are not expected to know everything, but are expected to be open to learning from each person or situation they encounter and to search out new experiences and challenges to expand their skills, knowledge, and wisdom.
The Internship Sites
Foster Youth Services (FYS)
MDUSD Foster Youth Services provides individual child and adolescent therapy, group and family counseling, and case management services with clients from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds. MSW Interns are assigned to elementary, middle, or high schools as a primary internship placement and carry a caseload of foster youth and non-foster youth. MSW Interns provide mental health and support services for children and adolescents who have experienced physical or sexual abuse or neglect and, as a result, have been placed in group homes or with a foster family. The foster youth whom we serve demonstrate a range of mental health, social, emotional, and educational concerns. Our program combines professional services (i.e. therapy & tutoring) with strength-based enrichment opportunities (i.e. dance, music, athletics, etc.) to form “packages of support” for individual youth. Interns often provide the coordination and case management of intervention plans made in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team at the school site.
The Diablo Community Center (DCC)
Located on the campus of Mt. Diablo High School, the DCC offers mental health, case management, referral services, and strength-based programs to Mt. Diablo High students and families. MSW Interns provide individual, group, and family therapy, crisis intervention, case management, advocacy, and referrals to community based service providers. Interns also participate in DCC events and activities, positively interacting with students and staff. Interns work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to address school-wide concerns and develop interventions. Students are referred to the DCC for a variety of issues, including but not limited to: depression, anxiety, school adjustment and truancy, behavior and academic problems, family discord and separation, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress, abuse/neglect, homelessness, teen pregnancy, acculturation issues, grief and loss, and gang involvement.
Training & Support
Interns participate in weekly individual supervision with their assigned Field Instructor, and bi-weekly group supervision. Interns may also consult with their Field Instructor regarding urgent matters as needed. Interns are required to attend monthly trainings designed to improve one’s knowledge of school social work practice, and clinical skills for working with children, youth, and families. Training topics have included education laws and policies (e.g. the Special Education process), suicide assessment and crisis response, self-injurious behavior, empathic listening, case-management, Solution-Focused Therapy, eating disorders, group therapy, substance abuse, termination, and more.
Compensation, Pre-Placement Requirements, Special Conditions
- Second year Interns receive a $3,000 stipend. First year Interns receive a $2,000 stipend.
- Interns placed with MDUSD must provide proof of Negative TB test, and complete a Fingerprint (Livescan) Clearance at the District office (DOJ and CAI clearances).
- Interns must agree to continue in placement through the natural end of the school year (early June, although exact end date is negotiable).