Center for Healthy Schools and Communities - Our Kids Our Family

Name of Organization/Program: Organization: Center for Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC), Alameda County Health Care Services Agency
Program: CHSC Clinical Internship Program
Additional information about the CHSC can be found at: http://achealthyschools.org/
Location: CHSC places interns in school districts across Alameda County, and at REACH Ashland Youth Center; Trainings and group supervision take place at the Center (CHSC) in San Leandro, Ca.
 
Age Group Served: At school sites: school-aged children and youth
REACH: 11yo-24yo
 
Program Description: The Center for Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) is a dynamic division within Alameda County’s Health Care Services Agency. Our work within the 7th largest county in California touches all the 18 school districts and the award winning REACH Ashland Youth Center, providing direct services and support, training and technical assistance and capacity building for students, families, schools, districts and communities.

CHSC partners with Alameda County’s Behavioral Health Care Services agency to provide high quality services to children and families through our school based behavioral health initiative (SBBHI) and the Our Kids Our Families (OKOF) program. OKOF fosters social-emotional wellness in an education environment so that children and families feel connected and safe at school and in their communities. Our clinical teams, including interns, provide a full continuum of prevention, early intervention, and treatment services at over 30 school-linked sites in Alameda County.

During the 2016-2017 school year, CHSC partnered with 10 different graduate programs of social work and clinical psychology, to build an OKOF internship cohort of 18 students. OKOF clinical interns receive high quality field education and are an integral part of the important work happening with school-linked and school based behavioral health.

Intern experiences can include:
  • Direct behavioral health service provision to individuals, families and groups
  • Mental health consultation with school based staff
  • Collaboration with school site staff and community partners
  • Integration with school based health centers/ health clinics
  • Involvement with school site climate and culture work
 
Placement Period: Internships are for the length of the school year: Early September to Mid-June.
** Required 3-day orientation in early September
 
Program/Placement Hours: School placements are between 16-32 hours per week during school hours. Monday-Friday, typically between the hours of 8am - 4pm. REACH placement includes some weekday evening hours.
** Mandatory training/group supervision on Wednesday’s 2p-4pm (no exceptions)
 
Preferred Discipline / Experience:
  • Enrollment in a master’s degree program in clinical/counseling psychology or social work; or, MFT-I/ASW registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS)
  • At least one (1) academic year or 12 months of continuous experience working with school-aged children and their families
  • At least four (4) years of work experience, including volunteer experience
  • Bi-lingual, bi-cultural candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
 
First or Second Year Students: Second-year preferred
 
Supervision & Support: Clinical interns receive intensive support and training during their internship including, but not limited to:
  • Weekly individual supervision with a well-trained internship supervisor
  • Weekly group supervision, including PPSC supervision as appropriate
  • Signing for BBS hours accrual (as appropriate)
  • Regular in house clinical trainings and opportunities for external clinical trainings
  • End-of-year job fair event with county-partner agencies who are hiring
 
Send Resume to: In order to be considered for the Center for Healthy Schools and Communities internship program, please submit a resume and cover letter (please attach both to the email) to CHSCinternship@acgov.org
 
Application Due Date: Applications are due by March 1st (for the following Fall –Spring Internship). Interviews take place end of February, early March.
 
Stipends Available: Monetary stipend up to $3000/year via CHSC (unless receiving stipend from another entity (i.e. BHCS, MHSA University-based, etc.)