Training & Supervisory Staff
All interns receive at least four hours of supervision each week throughout the year (a minimum of two hours of individual, in-person, face-to-face supervision and a minimum of two hours of group supervision). Individual supervisors are doctoral-level licensed psychologists who maintain overall responsibility for all work conducted by the intern. They also maintain overall responsibility for supervision, including oversight and integration of supervision provided by other professionals. Interns may receive additional supervision by other school district psychologists based on their individual needs.
Interns receive two hours of group supervision each week that is led by one of the members of the B-PIC Training Committee. All Training Committee members are appropriately credentialed school psychologists, who may or may not also be licensed psychologists. In addition, interns attend monthly Didactic Seminars that are provided by members of the Training Committee with different areas of clinical and research expertise.
Facilities and Support
The School Psychology Program hosts all of the didactic seminars on campus in the Berkeley Way West building, which was built in 2017 and has state of the art classroom equipment and technology (e.g., built in wall monitors for displaying information during presentations, tables with built in projection technology and required cables, outlets for charging devices, etc.). When interns are on campus for training activities, they have access to the Program’s department space with Internet access, computers and printers that can be used at no cost, and access to on-line library resources (for literature searches), etc. Trainings occur in classrooms that have built in technology as well as all necessary cables and connections for projecting presentations to large, wall-mounted monitors. Each classroom has multiple charging and docking stations for electronic devices, and doors that can be closed to ensure confidential interactions. Interns also have access to common areas such as a large communal kitchen space where they can store and prepare food (4 refrigerators, 4 microwaves, 2 sinks), restrooms, and water bottle refilling stations.
The SFUSD Special Education offices are in a former school building that includes several offices, cubicles, and portables. There are several special education staff who work out of this building, and there is some shared office space with photocopying machines for printing or scanning. There is a large multipurpose room with a kitchen for training and a small conference room for intern group supervision and staff consultation meetings. Interns also have their own workspace at assigned school sites that allow for confidential interactions. SFUSD maintains a collection of over 30 assessment tools and test kits that are up to date and appropriate for conducting assessments with students of all ages. They also maintain a lending library that contains many reference books and counseling programs/curricula.
The OUSD Psychological Services office is located in a portable on the main Special Education Department campus. This building has six computer workstations and offers space for working on reports, scoring assessments, and printing. There is also a large auditorium for large group professional development. Other spaces in specific school buildings in the district are made available to interns, depending on the school site they are assigned to. Interns have their own workspace at assigned school sites that allow for confidential interactions. OUSD maintains a test kit collection that includes over 30 assessment tools and test kits that are up to date and appropriate for conducting assessments with students of all ages. They also maintain a lending library that contains many books and counseling materials. Other books and counseling resources are provided by the supervising school psychologist at the different school sites as well, and these are loaned out to interns depending on placement.
The PUSD Special Education offices include 3 private rooms for testing, as well as a reception area. Each school site provides different space allocations for school psychologists and interns; however, each offers an office space appropriate for confidential interactions as well as a desk, phone line, and secure storage for confidential records. Each school has staff rooms, kitchens, and shared office space with photocopying machines for printing or scanning. Each school has a large auditorium that can be used for site-professional development or group activities with students. There are also Wellness Centers at the high schools and middle school. One of the high school centers has a reception area, individual therapy rooms/offices, 1 group therapy room, a kitchen area, and a nurse’s office. The other high school center and the middle school center have single rooms with desks and chairs. PUSD maintains a collection of approximately 20 assessment tools and test kits that are up to date and appropriate for conducting assessments with students of all ages. Different resources for counseling are available at different school sites; however, each school site has at least one socio-emotional curriculum available. Additional resources are available across the district and may be provided by the supervising school psychologist at the different school sites as well, depending on placement.
Each district provides interns with clerical support through their respective Special Education departments, an email account, and technology support through their respective IT departments.