Practicum/Internships
Child Guidance Center has been committed to the betterment and growth of the local community for over 69 years. One of the ways Child Guidance Center demonstrates the commitment is by offering practicum and Internships in some of the behavioral health programs it operates. To give program directors the opportunity to learn about potential interns, the agency has developed a Practicum/Internship application process. Interested students are encouraged to read all instructions and program Practicum and Internship requirements before applying.
Child Guidance Center does not have a rolling acceptance due to the high volume of applicants. Each program can only take so many students throughout a year, and that is dependent on various fluctuating factors. However, the agency is committed to accepting as many interns as feasible at any given time; Child Guidance Center values these relationships and has hired many employees that were former student learners.
While interested students can complete applications at any time, applicants for the upcoming semester will stop being reviewed one month prior to the start of each semester (Spring, Summer and Fall). All applicants can expect to receive either a phone call or email expressing interest in setting up a time for a phone screening or an emailed letter indicating why their application is not moving forward in the process. Once the phone screening has been conducted, a face to face interview will be scheduled if the program director thinks the applicant and program could be a good fit.
Instructions:
- Applications must be completed on our Careers page, including submission of all requested supplemental material.
- Programs of interest must be selected. More than one program can be selected and two one semester experiences could be combined for a two semester requirement.
- School requirements and expectations for Internship/Practicum information must be submitted.
- Meet application deadline to be considered for desired start date.
Below are the programs that accept students, along with a brief description of what the student would look forward to:
Program Descriptions
Outpatient
An office based treatment program that provides services to children and adolescents, ages 0-18 with a variety of mental health diagnosis, utilizing the most recent ICD and DSM diagnostic manual, in order to decrease the symptoms of the behavioral disorders and to increase their ability to function in the school, home and/or community. Outpatient therapists coordinate with the medical program for psychiatric services for the children and adolescents when appropriate. Individual therapy services may also be provided to a child/adolescent adult caregiver who are eligible and through doing so, could benefit the child client.
Full Service Schools
A community based treatment program that provides services to school aged youth who are referred to the Full Service School Program for having non-academic barriers to student success. The program is designed for six months or less and includes individual, family and group services. These services are offered in designated schools, the program office or in the student’s home. Therapists work closely with school personnel along with other collaborating partners in effort to support the students’ academic success. If appropriate, students may also be referred for targeted case management and psychiatric services.
Community Action Team
A crisis level program that provides services to youth ages 11-22, who are at risk of being displaced from their home due to any number of the following factors: legal issues resulting in placement in a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program, mental health issues resulting in placement in a residential program and/or the removal by the Department of Children and Families due to concerns for the safety of the child. This program is a six to nine month team approach that consists of a therapist, service coordinator (targeted case manager/mentor), nurse and psychiatric ARNP/psychiatrist. The team uses a strength based perspective to assist not just the youth but the family as a whole.
Targeted Case Management
A community based program that provides needed services to at risk youth ages 3-21 in the Jacksonville, Duval County area. Services are rendered in the client’s home, school or other community locations. The case managers serve as resource brokers who assess and identify the needs of the client, link clients to needed services, monitor the service delivery and advocate for any unmet needs of the client. The purpose of the case management service is to assist clients in gaining access to needed medical, social, educational and other identified services in order to stabilize the client in their homes or the least restrictive environment possible for them.
Student Learning Experience
Outpatient
The Outpatient program gladly accepts Master’s level students who are interested in gaining hands on experience with youth and their families. Students will have the opportunity to obtain a rounded experience working in a mental health office setting. The student will have exposure to a variety of mental health diagnoses, individual and family therapy sessions, treatment planning, the documentation process, team building activities and other training opportunities. When available, students will also have the opportunity to help with special projects to enhance the clients, team and agency. This program has a 2 semester minimum, which can include a summer session.
Full Service Schools
The Full Service Schools program gladly accepts Master’s level students who are interested in gaining hands on experience with youth and their families. Students will have the opportunity to obtain a rounded experience working in a mental health community setting. The student will have exposure to a variety of mental health diagnoses, individual and family therapy sessions, therapeutic and social service groups, treatment planning, the documentation process, team building activities and other training opportunities. When available, students will also have the opportunity to help with special projects to enhance the clients, team, agency and the Full Service Schools collaborating partners. This program has a practicum and 2 semester minimum, which can include a summer session.
The program also accepts Bachelor’s level students who are interested in learning more about a collaborative approach to helping youth and their families. The student will have exposure to a variety of mental health services and assist therapists in the treatment of the students. Students will also have the opportunity to help with special projects to enhance the clients, team, agency and the Full Service Schools collaborating partners. This program accepts Bachelor level students for a Fall semester Internship only.
Community Action Team
The CAT program gladly accepts Master’s level students who are interested in gaining hands on experience with youth and their families. Master’s level students will be able to work alongside the service coordinator and therapist to better understand the therapeutic process when engaging clients/families during individual or family sessions to include learning modalities and theories used to determine and guide treatment. This position also incorporates the chance to learn short term and long term crisis stabilization skills, a variety of child serving systems and gaining the ability to utilize strengths based perspective with clients and families that often have generational trauma, current trauma, substance abuse and academic issues that threaten their ability to remain in their current living environment. The student will also be exposed to a variety of mental health diagnoses, the documentation process, team building activities and other training opportunities. When available, students will also have the opportunity to help with special projects to enhance the clients, team and agency. This program accepts Master’s level students for a 2 semester minimum, including summer session.
The CAT program also accepts Bachelor’s level students who are interested in learning more about a wraparound approach to helping youth and their families. Bachelor’s level students will be able to participate alongside a service coordinator in the mentoring and targeted case management components of this program. This combination position will allow a student to not only observe many different client and family scenarios and interventions used but through the mentoring service, get hands on experience with clients and families through mentoring activities. This internship will allow the student to work side by side with a service coordinator in the school, home and various community settings. The student will also be exposed to a variety of mental health diagnoses, the documentation process, team building activities and other training opportunities. When available, students will also have the opportunity to help with special projects to enhance the clients, team and agency. This program accepts Bachelor level students for 1 semester, 2 semester and summer session.
Targeted Case Management
The Targeted Case Management program gladly accepts Bachelor’s level students who are interested in gaining hands on experience with youth and their families. Students will be given the opportunity to shadow targeted case managers in the home, school and community environments, including hospitals and crisis mental health stabilizing facilities. The student will also be exposed to a variety of mental health diagnoses, the documentation process, team building activities and other training opportunities. When available, students will also have the opportunity to help with special projects to enhance the clients, team and agency. This program accepts internships for 1 semester and summer sessions only.