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Practicum / Internship Program
The SPARK Center at Boston Medical Center is a therapeutic program that serves children and youth from infancy to late adolescence. It offers comprehensive medical, educational, social and mental health services to children and families who are infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, have emotional and behavioral challenges, and/or are involved with the Department of Social Services due to significant family problems, including child abuse and neglect, history of trauma, domestic violence, and adult substance use and abuse.
The SPARK Center is a well-known training site for many local area colleges and universities. The Center offers year-long internship and practicum training to graduate students in the fields of clinical and counseling psychology, early childhood education, expressive art therapy, mental health, public health and social work. The training program is designed to allow graduate students to work in a multi-disciplinary setting with ethnically-diverse and underserved groups.
Mental health trainees at The SPARK Center provide a range of behavioral health services, including the following:
- Intake assessments, behavioral/emotional evaluations, cognitive testing and neuropsychological assessments
- Individual, family, and group therapy
- Milieu therapy
- Home-based counseling services
- Crisis interventions
- Case management and consultation
Interns and practicum students receive weekly supervision from licensed mental health professionals. Trainees also participate in weekly multi-disciplinary case review meetings. In addition, monthly didactic seminars are provided on relevant mental health-related topics (e.g., Basics of HIV/AIDS, Impact of Domestic Violence and Trauma on Children, Interventions with Refugees and Victims of Trauma, Psychiatric and Psychopharmacological Interventions with Children and Adolescents, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Children). In addition, there are many opportunities for interns and practicum students to participate in grant writing and research activities as well as engage in HIV prevention and education programs at the Center.
Candidates who are interested in applying to the training program must meet the following criteria:
- Be at least in the second year of their training at the start of the internship/practicum.
- Have previous child-related experiences (e.g., as clinicians, counselors, teachers, etc.).
- Have a background in the field of mental health, social work, counseling, or clinical psychology.
Potential candidates should also demonstrate past experience and strong interest in working with children and adolescents with significant histories of trauma, disruptive attachment, and behavioral and emotional problems. Candidates must also be comfortable working within a multi-disciplinary, medical and therapeutic milieu. Trainees must be available to be at the SPARK Center at least two evenings/week (excluding Fridays) in order to provide behavioral health services to children and youth who are enrolled in the after-school program.
Prior to the start of the practicum/internship training year, all trainees must undergo a background check (e.g., CORI). In addition, trainees must submit copies of their immunization records, recent TB test results or screening, and a letter from a Primary Care Physician or a recent physical examination indicating that they are in good health. Proof of liability/malpractice insurance coverage from the graduate school program must be provided prior to the start of the internship/practicum training.
Application Procedures
Application materials are typically reviewed, and interviews are conducted, during the months of January through April for placements in the fall. Prospective applicants should submit a résumé, a letter of intent, and two letters of recommendation to:
Gemima St. Louis, Ph.D.
Director of Clinical Training & Research
The SPARK Center/Boston Medical Center
255 River Street
Mattapan, MA 02126
Application materials may be mailed to Dr. St. Louis at the address listed above, faxed to 617. 534.2057, or sent via e-mail to Gemima.Stlouis@bmc.org.
Contact Information
For more information about the practicum/internship program, please contact Dr. Gemima St. Louis at 617.534.2050, ext. 26.
For more information, contact:
Barbara Farrell, Program Coordinator
The SPARK Center
255 River Street
Mattapan, MA 02126
Phone 617.534.2050, option 8
Fax 617. 534.2057
Email: SPARK@bmc.org
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