Internship in Clinical Child and Family Social Work
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The internship in Clinical Child and Family Social Work in the Division of Child Psychiatry at the Institute for Juvenile Research (IJR) offers exceptional training in child and family mental health, with an emphasis on family systems. Students have opportunities to do family, individual, and multiple family group interventions with inner-city children, adolescents, and their families in an interdisciplinary setting. Collateral work with courts, child welfare agencies, and schools is encouraged. Interns receive weekly individual supervision, weekly group supervision, and are required to videotape sessions and participate in live supervision. Topical seminars are offered throughout the year with concentrated training during the first three months of the internship. The integration of clinical research with practice is emphasized.

IJR receives referrals from agencies throughout the metro Chicago area as well as self-referrals. Most families receiving services are low-income and/or racial minorities. The majority of the work is in the outpatient clinic with opportunities to work in specialty clinics such as anxiety or mood disorders or to participate in clinical research. Interns are expected to work with 7-10 families at any given time providing assessment, therapy, case management, consultation with collaterals, and advocacy.

Approximately 4-6 students are placed each year at IJR from July through the beginning of May with stipends for the months prior to the school year (July, August, September). Students generally are in their second year of a Master's degree program at any one of the Social Work schools in the Chicago area. Doctoral students, first year students, and bachelor's level students are accepted on a case-by-case basis. Some evening hours are required.