Program Information Description updated: 12/20/2011
Program approved for: MSW 1st Year [X] MSW 2nd Year [ X ]
Parent Agency Name:
Health Services Agency, Santa Cruz County
Agency Name:
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Website:
Agency/Program Address:
1400 Emeline Avenue, Building "K"
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Internship contact person:
Alan Sherer
Contact's phone number:
831-454-4949
Contact's e-mail address:
alan.sherer@health.co.santa-cruz.ca.us
Program Description:County Mental Health Services (Children, Adults, and Substance Abuse)
The Recovery Team embraces the recovery model of mental health. This entails supporting consumers of our services to have meaningful daily activities, such as school or work, and to have access to housing in our community. The team is composed of very seasoned and experienced licensed and non-licensed staff, including three psychiatrists, an LCSW therapist, case managers, a team aide, a peer counselor, and support from a nurse practitioner, an occupational therapist, and a housing coordinator. A student volunteer trainee participating on the Recovery Team will have the opportunity to gain a broad overview of clinical, medical, and therapeutic issues. The student will perform a wide variety of clinical activities including providing individual therapy with up to five clients; co-leading a weekly group therapy session along side a senior LCSW therapist; case managing a caseload of approximately five additional clients; attending daily clinical meetings with case managers, therapists, psychiatrists and peer counselors, as well as visiting specialists. The student will also attend clinical staffing at Dominican Hospital's Behavioral Health Unit, medical appointments with the PCP (the Primary Care Physician) and family sessions. There will also be opportunities to support the clinical staff in crisis management. Individual and/or group supervision from a Licensed Clinical Social Worker will be provided in addition to supervision from the team supervisor, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Additionally, the student volunteers will be invited to attend any professional and cultural County trainings, many of which meet licensing requirements.
The team supervisor will work closely with students, monitoring their activities and progress. Initially, they will shadow experienced case managers and attend meetings. Once prepared, the students will enter into therapy and case management roles. The trainees will learn how to diagnose clients utilizing the DSM IV-R and be responsible for writing assessment documents, which will round out the academic portion of their MSW program and assist in preparing them to be successful in their chosen profession. They also are afforded incredible contacts in the professional community, which will ultimately support their future employment and networking.
Jail Mental Health (CIT) Services
Jail CIT Services is seeking volunteer trainees to cover up to 8 hours per week working in the Santa Cruz County Jail providing Crisis Assessment and Intervention services.
Individuals would need to be available 4 hours on Mondays and 4 hours on Sundays to work Crisis services. They may be enrolled in an MFT or MSW graduate program or be licensed-eligible and able to provide suicide assessments and screening for crisis services. The individuals will work with a multidisciplinary team of medical and corrections personnel and must meet Correction standards for clearance to work in the Water Street Jail facility.
Bilingual skills preferred.
Clientele Served:Adults With Severe and Chronic Mental illness
Issues Program Addresses:Mental Health needs
Intern Assignments:Access Team, Jail Team, Recovery Team, Older Adult Team, Trans-Age Youth Team
Intern Training & Educational Opportunities:Monthly trainings, supervision, face to face with individuals, families and groups
Intern Benefits: (Include stipend, conferences, car, food, etc.)N/A
Other Special Placement Procedures or Requirements (Including Dates of Internship, Special Application Forms and Deadlines):