Student Professional Development Program-More Info

Placement Sites
DMH agencies that serve as placement sites have been selected on the basis of their commitment to the Student Professional Development Program and have identified key staff members to serve in the role of primary supervisor (s) and support staff. These agencies are further committed to provide a broad range of experiences depending upon the unique features of the agencies and the qualifications of the students. The range of student placements include the following disciplines:

  • Psychology (doctoral level only)
  • Social work (master’s level only)

Nursing (master’s level only) Plans are under way to expand placements to include additional disciplines such as occupational therapy, recreation therapy, and rehabilitation counselors.

Training Partnership

  • ALLIANT UNIVERSITY, formerly CSPP
  • ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY LOS ANGELES
  • ARGOSY UNIVERSITY (ORANGE COUNTY)
  • AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY
  • BIOLA UNIVERSITY ROSEMEAD SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY
  • CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, BAKERSFIELD
  • CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, DOMINGUEZ HILLS
  • CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
  • CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES
  • CEDARS – SINAI MEDICAL CENTER PROGRAM
  • FIELDING GRADUATE INSTITUTE
  • FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY
  • LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY
  • MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITY
  • MT. SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE
  • PACIFICA GRADUATE INSTITUTE
  • PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION & PSYCHOLOGY
  • PHILLIPS GRADUATE INSTITUTE
  • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES
  • UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE
  • UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON DEPT. OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
  • UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:
    • FORENSIC FELLOWS
    • KECK SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
    • SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
    • SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

Primary Goals
The primary goals of the Student Professional Development Program are to prepare students to:

  • Work with the seriously and persistently mentally ill.
  • Provide ethical and culturally competent services.
  • Integrate theory and practice.
  • Seek employment in public mental health services

Student Responsibilities
The student’s primary supervisor will be responsible for developing a work schedule and assignments. Students are responsible for adhering to this schedule; completing each assignment to the best of his or her ability, attending supervision, case conferences, training events and other activities as assigned. Student’s performance should be guided by the legal ethical code of profession. Students must also abide by the policies and procedures established by DMH. Students must be receptive to guidance, evaluation and supervision of their performance.

Grievance Procedures
In instances in which there is a problem between student and supervisor, the following steps have been developed:

  • Step 1 – The student and supervisor must make an effort to resolve problems.
  • Step 2 – If the Supervisor is unable to resolve to problem, the university liaison will be called upon to intervene. Most conflicts are resolved at this level.
  • Step 3 – Conflicts not resolved at this level may require referral to the university’s student placement staff and/or the Training and Cultural Competency Bureau

Options include the involuntary termination of the student from the DMH placement site, or voluntary withdrawal by the student.

Placement Process
The Training and Cultural Competency Bureau Identifies agencies, job descriptions and key contacts within each agency to facilitate the placement process. Typically, students are referred by their university to several placement agencies where they are interviewed to ensure that there is a good “match” between student and placement site. Once the participating DMH agency agrees to accept the student, they notify the university of their decision. The university and the Training and Cultural Competency Bureau have final authority over all student placements.

Placement Procedures
Universities will provide students selected for DMH placement all the paperwork required. This will include the following: ” the volunteer packet”, Stipend Application, Individual Education Plan and when security clearances are required, the appropriate paperwork. Students will be processed through DMH’s Human Resources Bureau where they will be fingerprinted and badged. Students will also be required to attend an orientation session conducted by the Training and Cultural Competency Bureau.

Supervisor Selection
DMH staff who serve as supervisors have been selected upon the basis of their approval by the DMH agency’s director, their licensure, preparatory training and past experience. Additionally, supervisors have demonstrated a knowledge and capacity to work with students from a wide range of backgrounds and interests. Supervisors typically volunteer for this position and have strong personal identification with the profession and a commitment to promoting student professional development. Supervisors remain in direct contact with the university through its liaison and through staff in the Student Professional Development Program.

Supervisor Responsibilities
The student’s primary supervisor remains the DMH staff member responsible for the student’s educational contract, supervises the student’s activities and provides the student’s evaluation. The supervisor is required to provide the supervision required by the university and DMH regulations. This can be in the form of individual and/or group supervision. In addition to direct supervision, the supervisor may be required to provide didactic training, this may be in the form of “grand rounds” or other education experiences designed to enhance the student’s professional development. In addition to training opportunities offered by student’s placement site, students will be required to attend additional training offered through the Training and Cultural Competency Bureau. Each student and primary supervisor will develop an “Individual Educational Plan” to enhance student’s preparation.

Termination
DMH does reserve the right to terminate a student placement when there has been a significant breach of legal or ethical mandates, a significant violation of DMH policies and procedures of significant failure to fulfill reasonable obligations of the university and/or placement site.