Masters Level Student Internship Training Program

Park Center, Inc.
909 East State Boulevard
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805
Ph: (260) 481-2700, ext. 2188
TDD: (260) 481-2730
FAX: (260) 481-2885
E-mail: vmoore@parkcenter.org

Paul Wilson, MSSW, MHA
President and Chief Executive Officer
Virginia Moore, MSEd., LMHC, LSW
Professional Development Coordinator

TRAINING OVERVIEW

Park Center is committed to providing quality training to students in social work, counseling, nursing, human services and other mental health related fields. Student training is considered a mutual benefit to the student, the academic institution, and Park Center. Supervising students allows Park Center staff the opportunity to assist in the training of future professionals and, in return, providing well-trained students who make an invaluable contribution to the community and to their profession. Placement preference is given to academic institutions with well structured student training programs.

Placement of Masters level interns will be up to the discretion of the clinical program supervisor, and will take into consideration the student's academic and field placement requirements, their current academic learning, as well as site and supervisor availability.

Park Center's Student Training Program is designed to address the needs of students seeking to complete their final placement of their degree. Placements are individually tailored to meet the learning and career goals of the student, as well as the objectives established by Park Center and the student's academic institution. Appropriate duties shall be assigned by the student's supervisor in conjunction with the student's academic requirements.

ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS

Students at the Master level are expected to demonstrate good writing and communication skills, as well as professionalism. It is also anticipated that students are working on the last leg of their degree at this point. Park Center supervisors are generally looking for a commitment of at least one semester, with a preference for two. In addition, Park Center also has a list of academic expectations of students seeking internship at the Center.

Academic Expectations:

A theoretical foundation to work from, i.e., brief dynamic, cognitive behavioral, and group therapies, model for therapeutic change, motivational interviewing, etc,
A basic knowledge of the DSM-IV-TR (soon to be DSM-V) and how to formulate diagnostic impressions.
Prior face-to-face experience with clients
Some experience conducting client interviews and summarizing client clinical information to a point where the student is able to formulate a plan for treatment and demonstrate medical necessity.
Knowledge of one's ethical and professional guidelines
Some familiarity with the types of psychological or psychiatric conditions treated in a community mental health setting
Population-specific training related to the population the student wants to work with, e.g., child developmental psychology, adolescent psychology, adult life span, addictions psychology, etc.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Students are to adhere to Park Center policies and procedures during their internship at Park Center, which includes the Center's policy on confidentiality and client rights. All students are required to complete a "HIPAA, Confidentiality and Client Rights" course and sign the appropriate agreement form indicating they understand Park Center's standards concerning HIPAA compliance, state confidentiality regulations, and client rights, and agree to abide by them.

Park Center does not permit the utilization of any client identifiable health information for class assignments. Therefore, students may not take any written, audio-visual, or computer related client information off Park Center's premises. In addition, faculty advisors are not allowed on-site to observe students with clients. When observation of a student with the client is a requirement of the internship process, we recommend Park Center's clinical supervisor be used to perform that function on behalf of the faculty advisor. Therefore, it is important for faculty advisors to clearly define / articulate the skill areas they want our clinical supervisors to observe on their behalf. Violations of Park Center HIPAA / Confidentiality policy can result in immediate termination of placement.

MALPRACTICE / LIABILITY INSURANCE

Park Center's malpractice / liability insurance policy covers students during their field placement at Park Center. In addition, Park Center believes that the academic institutions placing students and / or the students, themselves, should share the professional risk. Park Center requires all academic institutions placing students at Park Center to submit a copy of their Certificate of Liability prior to student's start date. If the academic institution does not provide their students with malpractice / liability insurance coverage, then the student must acquire the appropriate liability insurance coverage and submit a copy to Park Center.

PLACEMENT BENEFITS

Student benefits include:

Coverage by Park Center's liability / malpractice insurance policy.
Use of Park Center's facilities (e.g. library, staff lounge, intranet, etc.).
Private office space (when appropriate and available).
Access to equipment (e.g. copier, audio-visual, computer, etc.).
Support services (e.g. general secretarial & technical support services).
Participation in staff activities (e.g. in-house training events, Professional Training Series workshops, staff events and meetings, etc.).
Opportunities to learn about and/or experience the various services and programs of Park Center.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply for Internship at Park Center, please submit the following to Gin Moore, Professional Development Coordinator:

A completed Student Intern Application
An official transcript of current academic record (note: a computer printout of transcript can be used as a temorary record until hte official one becomes available - to be provided within two weeks)
A curriculum vita or resume.
Two (2) professional letters of recommendation
Proof of Liability Insurance coverage (if the academic institution does not provide it, the student shall acquire liability insurance coverage)
A letter of institutional sponsorship from the internship/practicum faculty advisor which should address / include:
- Reasons the faculty advisor considers the student ready for internship
- Educational agreement / understanding between academic institution & Park Center which identifies shared responsibilities for the internship process
- Internship expextations / goals

APPLICATION SUBMISSION AND PLACEMENT INTERVIEW :

Submit application requirements as a complete packet, if possible, to the professional development coordinator to avoid the risk of something being lost. applications should be submitted 6 - 8 weeks prior to when the student WANTS / NEEDS TO begin placement. Keep in mind, many students will make contact with Park Center at least 3 or 4 months in advance to ensure park center is aware of their plans to apply and will keep them in mind as the Center begins to consider students for placement.
The Professional Development Coordinator will arrange an initial placement interview. Students may also contact the Professional Development Coordinator to check on the status of their application and to arrange an interview once their application has been submitted and is complete. The initial placement interview with the Professional Development Coordinator shall involve a discussion about the placement process and expectations, and potential placement sites.
Background checks are conducted on all students by the Professional Development Coordinator (PDC) (Park Center pays for the cost of conducting a background check) and acceptance for placement is contingent upon an acceptable finding.
A placement interview is also arranged with a potential Park Center Supervisor. This interview allows the potential Supervisor and student the opportunity to ask questions in order to ensure a "good fit" between the student's placement goals and supervision requirements and what the program can provide.
The Supervisor will make a decision whether to accept the student for placement once the background check has cleared. If accepted, a start and end date will be discussed. The Professional Development Coordinator shall be notified when a student has been accepted so that a copy of the student's application and an internship packet can be forwarded on to the supervisor.

For additional information about the internship process, contact:

Virginia Moore, MSEd, LMHC, LSW
Professional Development Coordinator
Park Center, Inc.
909 E. State Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
(260) 482-9125, ext. 2188
FAX (260) 481-2885
Email: vmoore@parkcenter.org

PLACEMENT PROCEDURES

The Professional Development Coordinator (PDC) and the student’s Supervisor shall maintain a Student Internship File for a period of (7) seven years, and shall include a copy of the:
1. The Student Application
2. Signed agreements, e.g., Educational Contract, Confidentiality Statement, Corporate Compliance Agreement, and Code of Ethics
3. The placement schedule and student training plan
4. Mid and final evaluations
5. Supervision logs
6. Any other information or correspondence related to the student’s internship
The Supervisor shall review the Placement Procedures and Responsibilities with the student and address any related questions the student may have.
The student and the Supervisor shall establish a mutually agreeable start and end and complete the placement schedule.
The student's Supervisor shall make arrangements for the student to meet with the PDC before they get started to complete the necessary HR / IS paperwork to set-up computer access. In addition the PDC will have the student complete the confidentiality, corporate compliance statement, and code of ethic forms. The PDC will enter the student into Essential Learning so the student can begin completing their training requirements.
Following the meeting with the PDC, the PDC will accompany the student to Human Resources (HR), so that the student can be entered into the computer system, assigned an ID, and supplied an ID badge. The PDC shall also provide copies of computer access paperwork to Information Systems (IS), so they can arrange computer access privileges for the student.
Supervisors shall help students become oriented to Park Center by completing the student orientation checklist, by assisting students to access / review the online policies and procedures, by having them complete their training requirements before seeing clients and by arranging computer training.
Students shall comply with Park Center policy and procedures on safety, HIPPA / Confidentiality, notification of absence / illness, supervision, professional conduct, computer use, training, documentation and billing, etc.
During the first week of placement, the Supervisor, Professional Development Coordinator (PDC) and Faculty Advisor shall complete the Educational Agreement / Contract provided by the student’s academic institution, or use Park Center ’s form if one is not provided. A copy of the signed contract shall be forwarded to the PDC.
The student’s supervisor shall assist the student in creating a Placement Training Plan that identifies 3 or 4 internship goals for the field lacement experience. The Placement Training Plan shall be used in determining the success of the student’s placement and help guide the mid / final evaluation process.
Master Level interns shall maintain a record or log of their placement hours that they have completed at Park Center .
Students shall receive at least one hour a week of face to face supervision with their supervisor, which shall be documented on a supervision documentation log (make additional copies of the form as needed). Supervision shall include direct observation of the student with client(s) on a minimum of at least two (2) occasions. Adequate supervision shall be provided as is necessary to protect client welfare. supervisors shall determine how much additional supervision is necessary based on the student's experience, knowledge, and skill level.
The student’s supervisor shall complete a mid and final evaluation of the student’s learning and performance during their internship. A copy shall be forwarded to the PDC.
The student’s supervisor shall complete and return any correspondence regarding the student's internship within the specified timeline.
All medical record entries are to be reviewed and approved by the student’s supervisor as meeting Park Center’s "quality" and "medical necessity" standards, as evidenced by the supervisor’s signature and date, and when required, an HSPP signature shall also be obtained on the medical record entry.
Students shall attend the program’s staff meetings. In addition to the required training, students shall also attend other training events as deemed appropriate by their supervisor.
The (PDC) shall be notified of any problems between Park Center, the student or academic institution. Park Center’s policy and procedure for corrective action and / or termination shall be applicable to student interns.
* Serious violations of Park Center policies and procedures may result in immediate termination. A formal meeting shall be arranged by the PDC with the student, student’s supervisor and faculty advisor, when an internship needs to be terminated
* Less serious violations, where student performance is not in conformance with expected standards, shall, first, require a corrective action plan. The student and the student’s Supervisor shall receive a copy of the corrective action, as well as the PDC. If the student is unable to satisfy the requirements of the corrective action plan within the specified time frame (generally 30 days), the internship may be terminated.
Supervisors shall arrange an exit interview with the pdc for all external master's level students (not staff who are students) to complete corporate compliance exit statement, to terminate computer access, to return student id badges and access cards, and to complete an internship evaluation form
Copies of all supervision documentation and evaluation shall be forwarded to the PDC by the supervisor upon completion of the internship to be kept for a period of seven (7) years (as required by law).

STUDENT INTERNSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

Students are expected to demonstrate professional conduct at all times, including their behavior, conversation, and appearance.
Students are to abide by the Center’s Code of Ethics, the ethical standards of their profession, and the policies and procedures of Park Center.
Students need to be flexible when working out a placement schedule and when scheduling supervision time with supervisors. Clinical supervisors are often very busy individuals who will do their best to work out a mutually agreeable schedule.
*Note on Scheduling Supervision: it may be best to schedule supervision at least six (6) weeks out to reduce the frustration of scheduling conflicts that can come up. It is also good practice to schedule the mid and final evaluation dates at the beginning of placement to avoid scheduling hassles.
Students shall be expected to maintain attendance according to the placement schedule and follow the Center’s policies on attendance. Any changes in the placement schedule need to be approved by the student’s supervisor. If a student is ill, they need to take responsibility for seeing that their appointments are canceled / covered and to notify their supervisor of their absence. If a student is away for more than two weeks, it could result in termination of placement depending on the circumstances.
Students are expected to disclose to the clients they work with: their student intern status and current credentials, the approximate time they will be working at Park Center (duration of placement), and who their clinical supervisor is. Clients have the right to know this information under the Client Bill of Rights Act, so they can make informed treatment decisions, and they have the right to refuse treatment by a student if that is their preference.
Students need to take responsibility to schedule time regularly to staff their cases, either with their Supervisor or during the department clinical staffing time. This includes reviewing diagnostic impressions, client assessments, treatment plans and interventions, and / or progress updates. It is not acceptable for students to do any of this work without direct supervision of the Supervisor. Students are expected to participate in clinical staff meetings on a regular basis.
Students need to allow time for closure with clients they are working with. Clients can get close to students over time and forget they will be leaving, so it is important for the student to take time during their last two or three weeks to say good-bye to those they are working with, including staff. Students also need to plan / decide what responsible action needs to be taken with their client caseload, e.g., transfer / referral of clients to another clinician or group, termination / discharge of clients who have completed their treatment, and completion of remaining documentation requirements. Students need to review this with their Supervisor.

SUPERVISION PROCESS

Student Supervision is a process whereby a seasoned professional has responsibility for the oversight, training, and evaluation of a student in the profession seeking to acquire knowledge and skills from a field placement experience.

OVERSIGHT involves the monitoring of a student's placement experience for:

Placement / environmental adjustment.
Ability to apply academic learning to the placement experience.
Ability to satisfy internal / external documentation requirements.
Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with clients.
Compliance with Park Center's policies and procedures.

TRAINING includes learning opportunities the student receives to further their professional development, such as:

Orientation to Park Center’s service delivery system, i.e., intake, transfer, referral, emergency care, and discharge processes.
Opportunities to participate in training on the electronic medical record and other computerized software, state functional assessments, progress notes, billing practices, clinical training, online training, PTS workshops, etc.
Opportunities to learn how to gather and document clinical information, e.g., how to create a client-centered treatment plan, how to document client contact so that it meets billing guidelines, how to conduct a client interview, how to formulate a diagnostic impression, etc.
Opportunities to experience and learn about the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship.
Opportunities to learn from seasoned professionals during clinical staff meetings, department and service center training events, supervision sessions, etc.
Opportunities to learn networking / case management, in action e.g., linking clients to internal and external resources, supports, information, etc.

EVALUATION is the ongoing assessment and feedback of the student's performance which is used to further their professional development. This includes:

Weekly supervision / consultation sessions with the student’s supervisor and / or with other seasoned professionals designated by the student’s supervisor to assist in supervision. This includes opportunities for direct observation of the student with clients.
Other clinical feedback, i.e., during clinical staffing meetings, from other seasoned professionals, from the licensed psychologists (HSPPs) who sign off on treatment plans and assessments authorizing the medical necessity of treatment, efficiency reports, MRO and HAP audit reports, etc.
Mid / final placement evaluations which provide the student with an evaluation of their placement performance and goal achievement.

PARK CENTER MISSION & HISTORY

Park Center is the largest Mental Health Center in Northeast Indiana , established 60 years ago. With an annual budget of more than 22 million dollars and over 350 employees, Park Center served 7,897 clients last fiscal year through 30 client service programs. Services are provided through three clinical service centers: Managed Care Services, Adult Community Services, and Child and Adult Services. In addition, Medical Services, which is staffed by five psychiatrists and three clinical nurse specialists, provides psychiatric and medical services to these clinical service centers. Support for the clinical service centers is provided by Administrative and Corporate Services staff.

PARK CENTER MISSION AND VALUES:

The mission and values statements that follow were adopted by the Park Center Board of Directors after a strategic planning process that involved consumers, family members, staff, management, and community leaders.

Park Center's Mission : The mission of Park Center is to restore lives. By partnering with consumers, we strive to support and facilitate their journey towards health.

Supporting Values:

Listening to Consumers: We recognize that our customers are in charge of their recovery journey. Whenever possible, we will arrange services dictated by their strengths, dreams and desires.
Commitment to Excellence: We are committed to excellence in every part of our organization and in our relationships to the communities and the clients we serve.
Most In Need As Priority: Park Center places those consumers who are most in need as our highest priority.
Customer Satisfaction: We are committed to customer satisfaction by being flexible, responsive, friendly, and by placing the customer first.
Mutual Respect: We respect staff in a way that promotes a sense of ownership, motivation, growth, trust, and shared responsibility for creating our own future.
Financial Strength: Park Center is best able to fulfill its mission through a position of financial strength. Strong business practices will promote a healthy bottom line.

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Child and Adult	Pro Training Series Workshops	Career & Volunteer Opport.
Adult Services	Bachelor/Assoc. Internships	Newsletter
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Medical Services	Master Level Internships	Annual Report
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