** We are not currently accepting students for this internship option ***

ADULT OUTPATIENT PSYCHIATRY- HUMAN SERVICES INTERNSHIP

The Adult Outpatient Psychiatry (AOP) Program offers Human Services interns the opportunity to provide direct services to adults (21-70 years old) diagnosed with a mental disorder. The disorders range from mood disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, etc. As a Human Services Intern, some of the services provided to clients are case management including linkage to government and/or community agencies, and group services. The goal is to remove any barriers that interfere with their ability to recover from their illness. There will be opportunities for field work accompanied with a Case Manager. The intern will work in a multidisciplinary team, including Social Workers, Psychiatrists, Mental Health Nurses, Psychologists, and Mental Health Paraprofessionals.

POPULATION WE SERVE

We primarily serve adults who live in the South Bay, Service Area 8 which includes Torrance, Carson, Harbor City, Hawthorne, Lawndale, Lennox, Gardena, Wilmington, Lomita, San Pedro, Palos Verdes, and beach cities. Many clients are low income.  Patients served by our clinic reflect the ethnically diverse population of Los Angeles County.

• Our clients are 21 years and older.
• They are referred through multiple sources such as hospitals, primary care physicians, DPSS,  DCFS,   self-referred, local hospitals, and probation.
• The clients are seen for multiple problems including: depression, trauma exposure, bipolar, psychotic disorders, anxiety, and other diagnoses.

WE ARE A SECOND AND THIRD SEMESTER HUMAN SERVICES INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT ONLY

We ask that the intern complete both internships at our agency which will be two consecutive semesters i.e. Spring/Summer; Summer/Fall; Fall/Spring. The internship program days are Tuesdays and Thursdays. The hours are typically 8am-3pm (depends on the hours you need to complete by the end of the semester).

TRAINING OFFERED

As an intern you will learn

• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
• IBHIS (electronic charting)
• Clinical Case Management
• DMH Documentation
• Triage Assessments
• Intake process/shadow a clinician conducting a psychiatric evaluation for a client
• Various Mental Health Topics at In-service Trainings/Grand Rounds

You will participate in:

• Individual weekly supervision
• Co-facilitate a skills group

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IN AN INTERN

• A student who is interested in working with adults in a community mental health clinic
• A student who is interested in pursuing a career in DMH as a medical case worker and/or apply to an MSW program and then work for DMH as a psychiatric social worker
• A student who is interested in gaining case management competence
• A student who is an independent learner but knows when to seek assistance from a supervisor
• A student who is available Tuesdays and Thursdays for two consecutive semesters
• A student who is willing to work within an interdisciplinary team