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Masters Level Student Internship Training Program

Park Center, Inc.
909 East State Boulevard
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805
Ph: (260) 481-2700, ext. 2188
TDD: (260) 481-2730
FAX: (260) 481-2885
E-mail: vmoore@parkcenter.org

  • Paul Wilson, MSSW, MHA
    President and Chief Executive Officer
  • Virginia Moore, MSEd., LMHC, LSW
    Professional Development Coordinator

 

TRAINING OVERVIEW

Park Center is committed to providing quality training to students in social work, counseling, nursing, human services and other mental health related fields. Student training is considered a mutual benefit to the student, the academic institution, and Park Center. Supervising students allows Park Center staff the opportunity to assist in the training of future professionals and, in return, providing well-trained students who make an invaluable contribution to the community and to their profession. Placement preference is given to academic institutions with well structured student training programs.

Placement of Masters level interns will be up to the discretion of the clinical program supervisor, and will take into consideration the student's academic and field placement requirements, their current academic learning, as well as site and supervisor availability.

Park Center's Student Training Program is designed to address the needs of students seeking to complete their final placement of their degree. Placements are individually tailored to meet the learning and career goals of the student, as well as the objectives established by Park Center and the student's academic institution. Appropriate duties shall be assigned by the student's supervisor in conjunction with the student's academic requirements.

 

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Master level students are expected to demonstrate good writing and communication skills, as well as appropriate professional behavior and attire. In most cases, supervisors expect a minimum commitment of 8 - 10 hours a week for at least one semester. Interns are also expected to have a general working knowledge of abnormal psychology and the types of disabilities seen in a community mental health setting.

Masters level interns are expected to have completed coursework in:

  • Counseling theories and the model for understanding how people are motivated to change.
  • Use of the DSM-IV-TR and how to formulate diagnostic impressions.
  • A practicum where the intern has had prior face-to-face interaction with clients.
  • How to conduct a client interview and prepare a case conceptualization for clinical staffing.
  • Ethical / professional standards related to the student's field of study and how to recognize and handle ethical dilemmas
  • The types of conditions treated in a community mental health setting.
  • Population-specific education, e.g., child developmental psychology, adolescent psychology, substance abuse disorders, geriatric treatment, etc.

Students shall be assigned structured tasks consistent with the the needs of a beginning level clinician during their internship. The primary objective of the field placement experience is to expand the student's clinical and / or administrative knowledge and skills through supervision, training and experience.

 

CONFIDENTIALITY

All students accepted for placement at Park Center must abide by Park Center's practices and procedures. All students will be required to complete an on-line "HIPAA, Confidentiality and Client Rights" course which will educate students on Park Center's standards concerning HIPAA compliance, state confidentiality regulations, and client rights.

Park Center does not permit the utilization of client identifiable health information for class assignments. Therefore, students may not take any written, audio-visual, or computer related client information off Park Center's premises. In addition, faculty advisors are not allowed to observe students with Park Center clients. When observation of the student with the client is a requirement of the internship process, we recommend the student's Park Center supervisor be used to perform that function on behalf of the faculty advisor. Therefore, faculty advisors need to clearly define / articulate the skill areas they want the Park Center supervisor to observe on their behalf.

 

MALPRACTICE / LIABILITY INSURANCE

Park Center's malpractice / liability insurance policy covers students during their field placement at Park Center. In addition, Park Center believes that academic institutions placing students, and / or the student, must also share the professional risk. Park Center requires that all academic institutions placing students at Park Center to submit a copy of the Certificate of Liability Insurance prior to the student's start date. If the academic institution does not provide the student with malpractice / liability insurance coverage, then the student must purchase the appropriate liability coverage and submit a copy to Park Center.

 

PLACEMENT BENEFITS

Student benefits include:

  1. Coverage under Park Center's liability / malpractice insurance policy.
  2. Use of Park Center's facilities (e.g. library, staff lounge, etc.).
  3. Private office space (when appropriate and available).
  4. Access to equipment (e.g. copier, audio-visual, computer, etc.).
  5. Support services (e.g. general secretarial & transcription services).
  6. Participation in staff activities (e.g. in-house training events, Professional Training Series workshops, staff picnics, etc.).
  7. Access to Park Center's Intranet.

 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS & SCREENING PROCEDURES

Application Requirements:

  1. A completed Student Intern Placement Application
  2. An official transcript of current academic record.
  3. A curriculum vita / resume.
  4. Two (2) professional letters of recommendation
  5. Proof of Liability Insurance coverage (if the academic institution does not provide it, the student is required to obtain liability insurance coverage.)
  6. A letter of institutional sponsorship from the internship/practicum advisor which includes a statement regarding:
    • Why the faculty advisor believes the student is ready for field placement
    • The institution's acceptance of responsibility for the student's placement.
    • Academic expectations of field placement experience.
    • Educational agreement between academic institution, student & Park Center.

Submitting Completed Application Materials To Park Center:

 

It is recommended that student applicants submit their application as a complete packet rather than piecemeal to reduce the risk of something getting lost. The application packet should be submitted to the Professional Development Coordinator eight (8) weeks prior to the expected placement start date for consideration. The Professional Development Coordinator (PDC) shall review the application and make inquiries / suggestions for a possible placement site based on student preference and program availability. The PDC shall also schedule an initial meeting with the applicant to discuss how the placement process works, and, if time allows, provide a tour of the Park Center campus.

 

After the initial meeting with the PDC, a placement interview shall be arranged between the prospective applicant and potential clinical supervisor to discuss possible placement. The placement interview provides both the supervisor and student the opportunity to ask questions in order to ensure a good placement fit between what the placement can provide and the student's placement goals. The supervisor shall also discuss the placement procedures and responsibilities with the student and address any questions they may have concerning the field placement experience. Internship applicants shall be notified regarding the status of their application by the clinical supervisor or the Professional Development Coordinator.

 

for additional information on park center's internship program, contact:

 

Virginia Moore, MSEd, LMHC, LSW
Professional Development Coordinator
Park Center, Inc.
909 E. State Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
(260) 482-9125, ext. 2188
FAX (260) 481-2885
Email: vmoore@parkcenter.org

 

PLACEMENT PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES

  1. Supervisors shall notify Professional Development Coordinator (PDC) of all student candidates for internship placement, as a background check shall be initiated by the PDC as a preliminary requirement prior to acceptance for placement.
      The student shall provide the Placement Coordinator with their:
    1. full student name
    2. mailing address
    3. date of birth
    4. social security number
  2. Supervisors shall review the student application and schedule a placement interview with the applicant to decide if the student is appropriate for placement in a Park Center program.
  3. The PDC and the student’s supervisor shall maintain an Intern Placement File (student record) on all students accepted for placement which shall include a copy of the:
    1. Application
    2. Signed agreements, e.g., Educational Contract, Confidentiality Statement, Corporate Compliance Agreement, and Code of Ethics Agreement
    3. Current academic transcript
    4. Placement schedule and student training plan
    5. Mid and final evaluations
    6. Supervision logs
    7. Any other information or correspondence related to the student’s internship
  4. The Supervisor shall review Placement Procedures and Responsibilities with the student and address any related questions the student may have.
  5. The student’s supervisor shall establish a mutually agreeable start date and shall assist the student in obtaining a student ID badge from Human Resources. If a student needs electronic access to fulfill their placement responsibilities, the student’s supervisor shall contact the Professional Development Coordinator for an electronic ID number, before the student goes to Human Resources for an ID badge.
  6. Supervisors shall assist students to review the On-line Policies & Procedures and to complete the New Employee Training curriculum (NET). They shall also help students become oriented to Park Center , and the program they will be working in, concerning how things are done at Park Center .
  7. Students shall comply with Park Center Policy and Procedures on safety, confidentiality, notification of absence / illness, supervision, professional conduct, etc.
  8. The student’s supervisor shall have the student review and sign the Confidentiality, Corporate Compliance and Code of Ethics statements on the first day of placement. The signed original forms are to be sent to the PDC.
  9. During the first week of placement, the Supervisor and Professional Development Coordinator (PDC) shall sign the Educational Agreement / Contract provided by the student’s academic institution, or use Park Center ’s form if one is not provided. A copy of the signed contract shall be forwarded to the PDC.
  10. The student’s supervisor shall assist the student in creating a Placement Training Plan that identifies 3 or 4 internship goals for the field lacement experience. The Placement Training Plan shall be used in determining the success of the student’s placement and help guide the mid / final evaluation process.
  11. Student interns shall maintain a record or log of their placement hours that they have completed at Park Center .
  12. The student’s supervisor shall provide weekly supervision with the student and record their supervision on Student Supervision Documentation Forms. Supervision shall include direct observation of the student with client(s) on at least two (2) occasions.
  13. The student’s supervisor shall complete a mid and final evaluation of the student’s learning and performance during their internship. A copy shall be forwarded to the PDC.
  14. The student’s supervisor shall complete and return any correspondence required by the academic institution relative to the student’s internship.
  15. All medical record entries are to be reviewed and approved by the student’s supervisor as meeting Park Center’s standards, as evidenced by the supervisor’s signature, and when required, an HSPP signature shall also be obtained on the medical record entry.
  16. Students shall attend the program’s staff meetings.
  17. The Professional Development Coordinator (PDC) shall be notified of any problems between Park Center, the student and / or academic institution. Park Center ’s policy and procedure for corrective action and / or termination shall be applicable to student interns.

    * Serious violations of Park Center policies and procedures may result in immediate termination. A formal meeting shall be arranged by the PDC with the student, student’s supervisor and faculty advisor, when an internship needs to be terminated.

    * Less serious violations, where student performance is not in conformance with expected standards, shall, first, require a corrective action plan. The student and the student’s supervisor shall receive a copy of the corrective action, as well as the PDC. If the student is unable to satisfy the requirements of the corrective action plan within the specified time frame, the internship may be terminated.

  18. Supervisors shall provide students with a Supervision Evaluation Form (along with a self-addressed return envelope), which students are asked to complete and submit within 2 weeks following the last day of internship at Park Center.
  19. The Professional Development Coordinator shall receive / maintain a copy of all supervision documentation and application forms for the student's internship file. Student internship files shall be maintained for a period of at least five years.

 

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES DURING PLACEMENT

  1. Students are expected to demonstrate professional conduct at all times, including their behavior, conversation, and appearance.
  2. Students are to abide by the Center’s Code of Ethics, the ethical standards of their profession, and the policies and procedures of Park Center.
  3. Students need to be flexible when working out a placement schedule and when scheduling supervision time with supervisors. Clinical supervisors are often very busy individuals who will do their best to work out a mutually agreeable schedule.

    *Note on Scheduling Supervision: It may be best to schedule supervision at least six (6) weeks out to reduce the frustration of scheduling conflicts that can come up. It is also good practice to schedule the mid and final evaluation dates at the beginning of placement as a reminder of when they need to be done and to allow enough time aside for the supervisor to prepare the evaluation.

  4. Students shall be expected to maintain attendance according to their placement schedule and follow the Center’s policies on attendance. Any changes in the placement schedule need to be approved by the student’s supervisor. If a student is ill, they need to take responsibility for seeing that their appointments are canceled / covered and to notify their supervisor of their absence. If a student is away for more than two weeks, it may result in termination of placement.
  5. Students are expected to disclose to the clients they work with: their student intern status and current credentials, the approximate time they will be working at Park Center (duration of placement), and who their clinical supervisor is. Clients have the right to know this information when making treatment decisions and they have the right to refuse treatment by a student intern, if they so choose.
  6. Students need to take responsibility to regularly schedule time to staff their cases, either with their supervisor or during the department clinical staffing time. This includes review of diagnostic impressions, case conceptualizations, treatment planning and interventions, and progress updates. It is not acceptable for students to do any of this work without direct supervision of the supervisor. Students are expected to attend clinical staff meetings of the program they work in on a regular basis.
  7. Students need to allow time for closure with clients they are working with. Clients can get close to students over time and forget they will be leaving, so it is important for the student to take time during their last two or three weeks to say good-bye to those they are working with, including staff. Students also need to plan / decide what responsible action needs to be taken with their client caseload, e.g., transfer / referral of clients to another clinician or group, termination / discharge of clients who have completed their treatment, completion of remaining documentation requirements, etc.

 

SUPERVISION PROCESS

Supervision during internship is a process whereby a seasoned professional has responsibility for the oversight, training, and evaluation of a student in the profession seeking to acquire knowledge and skills from a field placement experience.

 

OVERSIGHT involves the monitoring of a student's placement experience for:

  1. Placement / environmental adjustment.
  2. Ability to apply academic learning to the placement experience.
  3. Ability to satisfy internal / external documentation requirements.
  4. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with clients.
  5. Compliance with Park Center's policies and procedures.

 

TRAINING includes available learning opportunities the student receives to further their professional development, such as:

  1. Orientation to Park Center’s service delivery system, i.e., intake, transfer, referral, emergency care, and discharge processes.
  2. Opportunities to participate in training on the electronic medical record and other computerized software, state functional assessments, progress notes, billing practices, clinical training, online training, PTS workshops, etc.
  3. Opportunities to learn how to gather and document clinical information, e.g., how to create a client-centered treatment plan, how to document client contact so that it meets billing guidelines, how to conduct a client interview, how to formulate a diagnostic impression, etc.
  4. Opportunities to experience and learn about the dynamics of the client / clinician relationship.
  5. Opportunities to learn from seasoned professionals during clinical staff meetings, department and service center training events, supervision sessions, etc.
  6. Opportunities to learn networking / case management, e.g., linking clients to internal and external resources, supports, information, etc.

 

EVALUATION is the ongoing assessment and feedback of the student's performance which is used to further their professional development. This includes:

  1. Weekly supervision / consultation sessions with the student’s supervisor and / or with other seasoned professionals designated by the student’s supervisor to assist in supervision. This includes opportunities for direct observation of the student with clients.
  2. Other clinical feedback, i.e., during clinical staffing meetings, from other seasoned professionals, from the licensed psychologists (HSPPs) who sign off on treatment plans and assessments authorizing the medical necessity of treatment, efficiency reports, MRO and HAP audit reports, etc.
  3. Mid / final placement evaluations which provide the student with an evaluation of their placement performance and goal achievement.

 

PARK CENTER MISSION & HISTORY

Park Center is the largest Mental Health Center in Northeast Indiana , established 56 years ago. With an annual budget of more than 22 million dollars and over 450 employees, Park Center served 6700 clients last year through 40 client service programs. Services are provided through three clinical service centers: Managed Care Services, Adult Community Services, and Child and Adult Services. In addition, Medical Services, which is staffed by five psychiatrists and three clinical nurse specialists, provides psychiatric and medical services to these clinical service centers. Support for the clinical service centers is provided by Administrative and Corporate Services staff.

 

PARK CENTER MISSION AND VALUES:

The mission and values statements that follow were adopted by the Park Center Board of Directors after a strategic planning process that involved consumers, family members, staff, management, and community leaders.

Park Center's Mission : Meeting the behavioral health needs of consumers is Park Center 's singular focus. Through responsive programming and continuous improvement, we strive to exceed expectations.

Supporting Values:

  • Commitment to Excellence: We are committed to excellence in every part of our organization and in our relationships to the communities and the clients we serve.
  • Most In Need As Priority: Park Center places those consumers who are most in need as our highest priority.
  • Customer Satisfaction: We are committed to customer satisfaction by being flexible, responsive, friendly, and by placing the customer first.
  • Mutual Respect: We respect staff in a way that promotes a sense of ownership, motivation, growth, trust, and shared responsibility for creating our own future.
  • Financial Strength: Park Center is best able to fulfill its mission through a position of financial strength. Strong business practices will promote a healthy bottom line.

 

HISTORY OF PARK CENTER :

Park Center, Inc. (formerly the Mental Health Center at Fort Wayne ) has a long history of providing mental health services and collaborating with other organizations to improve the system of care in the community. Significant events include:

1947: Volunteer community group formed the first Board of Directors for the Fort Wayne Child Guidance Clinic.

1950: Staff were hired and services began at the first Fort Wayne Child Guidance Clinic.

1954: The Child Guidance Clinic was reorganized under standards established by the American Association of Psychiatric Clinics for Children. Robert L. Greenlee, M.D., Child Psychiatrist, was hired as Executive Director.

1959: Adult Psychiatric clinic was formed separately from the Child Guidance Clinic under the direction of a volunteer Board of Directors.

1962: Services began at the Adult Psychiatric Clinic with the mission to serve seriously mentally ill adults.

1967: Child Guidance Clinic and Adult Psychiatric Clinic were merged into a single entity, The Mental Health Center at Fort Wayne , as the first step towards becoming a comprehensive mental health center under the 1963 Federal Mental Health Centers Act.

1975: The Mental Health Center was designated a comprehensive mental health center by the State of Indiana and services were expanded significantly to include five basic services required by federal legislation. Allen, Wells, and Adams counties were designated as the primary service area for the Center.

1976: The present building complex at 909 East State Boulevard in Fort Wayne was completed and occupied by the Mental Health Center .

1977: Funding was obtained through an eight-year declining Federal Operations Grant which allowed the Center to significantly expand services.

1982: A new Chief Executive Officer, James L. McKee, Ph.D., was hired to lead the Center through its next developmental phases. Dr. Robert Greenlee, previous Chief Executive Officer, became the Medical Director.

1983: The corporate name was changed to Park Center, Inc., consistent with the goal of reaching all at-risk populations, including those who were able to pay. The previous name was perceived by many as a barrier to requesting services.

1985: Daybreak, Inc. was acquired and incorporated into the Child and Adolescent Division of Park Center, Inc.

1986: Park Center acquired the Three Rivers Youth Shelter, formerly operated by Switchboard, Inc. The shelter was renamed New Directions and became part of the Child and Adolescent Division.

1987: Park Center ’s new office in Decatur was completed and occupied. Park Center ’s Day Therapy Building was dedicated and renamed the Greenlee Building in honor of Dr. Greenlee, who retired from Park Center after 32 years of service. Three-year accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) was awarded.

1989: Park Center ’s new office in Bluffton was completed and occupied. Two new adult coed group homes, Harmony and Haven House, were opened, making a total of four adult group homes. Harmony House was staffed as a crisis stabilization setting to be used as an alternative to hospitalization.

1990: A third child and adolescent group home, Noel House, was opened and named after Richard W. Noel, ACSW, who retired from Park Center in 1990 after 35 years of service. The Center received a second three-year accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

1991: Services were reorganized into three clinical Service Centers: Managed Care Services, Adult Community Services, and Child and Adult Services. A central intake process was begun to improve client access to services. A major purpose of the reorganization was to minimize the impact of downsizing on client care.

1993: The Mobile Intervention Team was initiated to prove on-site emergency services to consumers in the community. A Professional Advisory Group was formed to provide direction to the service. The group was made up of community representatives including hospitals, the Alliance for Mentally Ill, the Mental Health Association, law enforcement, and others. The initiative was part of the Center’s successful effort to reduce hospital use.

Continuous Treatment Teams were initiated in Adult Community Services to better serve seriously mentally ill (SMI) adults. These teams were designed to improve continuity of care for clients receiving several different services.

Total Quality Management was initiated throughout the Center. The purpose was to support continuous quality improvement.

The Center received a third three-year accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

1994: Inpatient Service was closed and Park Center entered into an agreement with Lindenview Regional Behavioral Services (Parkview Behavioral Health) for inpatient care to Park Center Clients.

1995: The Crisis Center was opened in the building previously used for Inpatient Services. The Crisis Center added 23 hour services, respite care for seriously mentally ill adults, and short-term housing for homeless mentally ill persons. The Mobile Intervention Team also became part of the Crisis Center to better integrate emergency services.

1996: Paul Wilson, ACSW, was named to the position of President and CEO after the departure of Dr. McKee in 1995. Park Center successfully completed and was awarded a fourth three-year accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

Woodside Apartments, the first of six federally subsidized apartment buildings sponsored by Park Center , opened on the south side of Fort Wayne to very favorable reviews by consumers.

1997: Waynedale Apartments, the second federally subsidized apartment building, opened to 24 consumers in October.

Family Education Services began.

1998: A new structure for Daybreak was constructed at 909 East State Boulevard .

The Family Education Center began operation as a joint effort between Park Center and the Fort Wayne Community Schools.

Park Center worked to develop, with the Fort Wayne Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the Carriage House Clubhouse. The Clubhouse was incorporated separately and opened its doors for members in early 1998. This Clubhouse provides psychosocial rehabilitation for the seriously mentally ill.

Park Center became a member of the Associated Service Providers of Indiana (ASPIN), and accredited statewide behavioral health network.

1999: Park Center acquired a contract to manage the psychiatric services of Parkview Hospital . Paul Wilson, CEO of Park Center, was appointed as Executive Director of Parkview Behavioral Health and became a member of Parkview’s senior management team.

A major integrated management information system was developed and implemented to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the Center’s operations.

Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services awarded Park Center a grant for the development of Supported Employment Services.

2000: Seddlemeyer Apartments opened, providing 18 consumers with their own long-term homes.

Daybreak, Park Center ’s shelter for abused and neglected children, opened a respite program to house infants and their teenage mothers.

A grant was awarded by the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHA) for intensive community-based services for individuals coming from the State Operated Facilities (SOF), and led to the redesign of Haven House to serve these individuals.

The Family Education Series for the significant others of SMI clients was initiated.

The grant for Supported Employment (SE) was awarded for the second year to Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services. The Commission of Accredited Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) awarded the SE program three-year accreditation for the Employment and Community Services.

Park Center was awarded three-year ac creditation by the Joint Commission of Accredited Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The Affiliated Service Providers of Indiana (ASPIN), of which Park Center is a member, was awarded network accreditation by JCAHO.

2001: Continued efforts to de-institutionalize patients from the State Operated Facilities (SOF) were made with the establishment of the Community Reintegration Program.

An Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team was established to provide additional intensive outreach for SMI clients in the community.

The Indiana Mental Health Funds Recovery Program was implemented by Medicaid, and is to provide revenue for administrative outreach.

Park Center was instrumental in establishing a partnership that provides training for Fort Wayne ’s City Police Department in the “Memphis Model,” forming the Crisis Intervention Team (CTT).

Day Treatment at Byron Health Center was established.

Collaboration to provide treatment services to those on Work-Release began.

2002: Family Education Center (FEC) expanded their programming in a new building, at 3225 North Wells Street . The services expanded to include adolescents, Head Start children, elementary children on-site at school, and day treatment to children and adolescents.

Summer Day Treatment programs for children were developed in both Decatur and Fort Wayne .

Leslie House developed a collaborative effort with Phoenix Associates for services to sexually acting out boys.

A collaborative effort with Fort Wayne Women’s Bureau was initiated to address the clinical needs of their residential program for addicted women with children

Gambling Addiction Treatment Program was developed as an additional outpatient service.

2003: The Commission of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) conducted a site visit to provide accreditation of the Center and a three-year accreditation was awarded.

Transitional Care Services (TCS) opened on Carew Street , providing additional space to double the capacity of the former Crisis Center to 30.

The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team was certified by the State of Indiana and moved to the same facility as TCS, so that a coordinated continuum of services is provided.

2004: New Freedom, a day treatment program, was established at the Wells Street facility for those with co-occurring mental illness and chemical abuse or addiction.

The Family Education Program moved to the State Boulevard campus, and grew significantly, service more children and adolescents, and coordinating transportation with several schools.

Noel House shifted populations due to increased demand for sexual offender services.

Administrative services led the charge to comply with federal laws regarding protected health information through the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

As a result of grants awarded by HUD, Richardville I and Richardville II Community Housing apartments were opened, adding an additional 28 units to the community housing continuum, bringing a total of 85 units in this program

A partnership with Whitington was stablished to provide treatment services for their residential programs.

Daybreak Children’s Shelter was closed and assumed by SCAN with major program modifications.

Three Wishes Early Childhood Therapeutic Day Treatment was established as a program of the Family Education Center . It is a licensed therapeutic program serving preschool children with significant behavioral and psychiatric disorders.

2005: An Adolescent Day Treatment program was established to meet the needs of youth as a step-down from hospitalization or hospitalization prevention.

Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) have been implemented in the following areas: Illness Management and Recovery (IMR), Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), Supported Employment (Eagle Employment Services) and Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment (IDDT).

Lee House, Park Center ’s residential group home for adolescent females, was closed.

New Hope was developed in conjunction with the New Freedom Dual Diagnosis Day Treatment program that serves the treatment needs of consumers with less severe psychiatric and addiction issues than those who were currently served by the New Freedom program.

Ground was broken in Bluffton, IN as a result of a sixth HUD grant being awarded for a 14 unit community housing apartment building. Completion anticipated by winter of 2006.

2006 to present: Ouabache Village Apartments, community housing for SMI with 14 individual units, officially opened in February of 2006 in Bluffton.

The Chemical Dependency Assertive Community Treatment Team (CD-ACT) was certified from the State of Indiana .

Park Center purchased the former Lindenview building on Carew Street from Parkview Health systems in March. This structure currently houses Transitional Care Services (30 bed sub-acute unit), and the Assertive Community Treatment Team. The remodel was complete in July, and other CD / Addictions Services moved to that site from other Park Center locations.

Park Center signed a contract with Genoa Pharmacy to establish an on-site Pharmacy to serve consumers. The pharmacy offers consumers increased convenience and is an opportunity for medical staff to spend less time tracking medications and more time focusing on patient care.

Center was awarded another three-year accreditation by The Commission of Accredited Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

Through a collaborative grant, primary care services were made available at Park Center for consumer use with physician/support services provided by Neighborhood Health Clinic on day per week.

Park Center opened it's third youth residential facility, the Redwoods, serving adolescent males having sexually maladaptive behaviors.

Park Center was awarded it's seventh HUD housing grant for a community housing apartment that will be built adjacent to an existing Park Center community apartment structure, Waynedale. This building will provide for 10 individual apartment units. Anticipated occupancy is fall of 2008.

 

PARK CENTER SERVICES:

Park Center is dedicated to providing high quality mental health services to provide individualized and appropriate care.

The Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addictions (DMHA) requires Community Mental Health Centers and Managed Care Providers to have a Continuum of Care which is defined in Indiana Administrative Code (440 IAC 9) to include:

  • Individualized treatment planning,
  • 24 hour a day crisis intervention,
  • Case management,
  • Outpatient services (including intensive outpatient services, substance abuse services, counseling and treatment)
  • Acute stabilization (including detox),
  • Residential services
  • Day treatment for adults,
  • Family support services,
  • Medication evaluation and monitoring, and
  • Services to prevent unnecessary and inappropriate treatment and hospitalization and the deprivation of a person’s liberty (including commitment review, gatekeeping, UM).

The following describes the continuum of care provided by Park Center . Three exceptions from the list above are not specific to any program(s) and have been outlined in Section 1 (individualized treatment planning, 24 hour a day crisis intervention, and family support services).

The continuum of clinical services is organized primarily by three Clinical Service Centers: Managed Care Services, Adult Community Services, and Child and Adolescent Services. Park Center received a three-year accreditation from CARF in 2003and in 2006, and had previously been accredited by the Joint Commission of Accredited Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The specific programs for which CARF accreditation was awarded are:

  • Assertive Community Treatment (ACT),
  • Case Management,
  • Community-Based Rehabilitation,
  • Community Employment Services,
  • Community House,
  • Crisis Stabilization,
  • Day Treatment,
  • Intensive Family-Based Services,
  • Outpatient Treatment, and
  • Residential Treatment.

The PSP integrates the CARF program designations with the Park Center Service Centers and program titles. Some CARF programs are provided in more than one Service Center, under different Park Center program titles (i.e., Day Treatment is provided in Adult Community Services’ Outpatient Stabilization program, as well as in Child and Adolescent Services’ Family Education Center). Programs are offered in a variety of locations in order to be accessible to diverse populations. The individual programs are detailed in the following descriptions.

placement note: The programs listed in bold with no italics, below, are the programs in which Masters level students are most often placed based on available supervisors and internship requirements.

 

MANAGED CARE SERVICES:

  • Medical Services: DMHA requires pharmacological services as part of the continuum of care for Community Mental Health enters. Medical Services is staffed by licensed nurses, clinical nurse specialists and psychiatrists. Park Center provides comprehensive medication services; including assessments, medication reviews, pharmacy services, and injections, as well as health education. Nursing Services are organized to provide quality nursing care to all clients served by assisting in the identification of medical issues and consultation on appropriate medical care. The Nursing Coordinator is responsible for obtaining appropriate dietary and pharmacy consultation and services, as well as assuring infection control processes are implemented.
  • Addictions Services: DMHA requires outpatient services, including intensive outpatient services, and residential services, as part of the continuum of care for Community Mental Health Centers. Addiction Services’ mission is to provide a high quality outpatient, day treatment and residential treatment services to adults experiencing gambling, alcohol, and / or other drug addiction problems. Services include individualized and structured treatment focusing on self responsibility and recovery for the addicted individual. Specialized services are also available for persons experiencing both chemical abuse / dependency and mental illness. Harmony House provides residential services for ten co-occurring clients. In addition to Harmony House, Addiction Services provides co-occurring clients the opportunity to reside in a satellite apartment and continue to receive necessary education, medication management, and case management.
  • Structured Addictions Outpatient Program strives to assist the individual through the stages of change and gain and maintain abstinence from all non-prescribed mood altering substances. This program is staffed with highly skilled professionals with the training necessary to assist the individual with successfully completing their program. Structured Addictions Outpatient adopts the principles of the Twelve-Step Model and the theoretical perspective of Motivational Enhancement. With the utilization of treatment methods, which include a thorough diagnostic evaluation, recovery group, relapse prevention group, individual counseling, drug and alcohol tests to measure abstinence, case management and psychiatric services, the individual is guided through the recovery process.
  • Gambling Addiction is also treated in this outpatient addictions program and began in October 2002. Based upon a nationally recognized treatment model created by Trimeridian, this program is designed specifically for the treatment of pathological gambling. While pathological gamblers may also have co-occurring substance abuse or dependence and / or mental illness, this program is directed at the issues facing the pathological gambler. Dedicated to the comprehensive, individualized assessment and treatment of this complex disorder, this program utilizes the most effective techniques and current information to assess and treat pathological gamblers and their families in a holistic manner. This program also remains involved in a community awareness campaign. Training of staff, and the medical and addictions treatment community has also taken place.
  • New Freedom is a day treatment program for the co-occurring severely mentally ill and addicted client. This program is designed to treat individuals through intensive individual, group, and family therapy, medication management, wraparound case management services, and daily structured programming. The primary treatment objectives are for the individual receiving treatment to gain and maintain psychiatric stability and obtain and maintain abstinence from all non-prescribed mood altering substances. Individuals receiving services in this program are provided with a supportive and individualized recovery program from mental illness and alcohol/drug use. New Freedom promotes the adoption of a healthier lifestyle in both body and mind. This program strives to provide opportunities to learn and practice effective skills for coping and managing symptoms and cravings by providing a multifaceted collaborative treatment approach. The New Freedom program follows a client centered strength-based approach designed to draw upon clients’ personal strengths and assist them in actualizing their goals.
  • New Hope , developed in conjunction with the New Freedom Dual Diagnosis Day Treatment program, addresses the needs of consumers with less severe psychiatric and addiction concerns than those who were currently served by the New Freedom program.
  • Community Based Rehabilitation for addicted women with children is provided through a contract with the Fort Wayne Women’s Bureau. This service takes place at the Transitions program.

DMHA also requires detoxification services as part of the continuum of care for Community Mental Health Centers. Detox services are  provided at Parkview Behavioral Health if inpatient support is needed. Genesis has also been contracted to provide a Safe House, which is designed to meet the immediate needs of the addicted individual. Safe House is utilized for a healthy recovery environment prior to or following relapse. While at the Safe House, the individual is connected with community resources and therapeutic services through the Structured Addiction Outpatient Treatment Program.

 

ADULT COMMUNITY SERVICES:

The primary goal of Adult Community Services is to stabilize adult clients experiencing serious mental illness and to assist each in achieving the fullest and most productive life possible.

  • Inpatient Services: DMHA requires inpatient services as part of the continuum of care for Community Mental Health Centers. Park Center contracts with Parkview Behavioral Health for inpatient services. Park Center has an average daily census of 15 clients in Parkview Beacon, most of whom are seriously mentally ill adults. The focus is on stabilization and short lengths of stay. Clients are actively linked with Park Center ’s services to enable a successful and quick return to the community.
  • Court Liaison: The Court Liaison service assists clients and the court in dealing with a variety of psychiatric and legal issues such as involuntary hospitalization and guardianship.
  • Hospital Liaison: Hospital Liaison staff are responsible for the case management of clients’ flow through the state and local hospital system. DMHA requires as part of the continuum of care, services to prevent unnecessary and inappropriate treatment and hospitalization and the deprivation of a person’s liberty. The Hospital Liaison works closely with the Court Liaison, as well as the continuum of care in order to assure the most appropriate treatment for clients.
  • Transitional Care Services: The Transitional Care Services (TCS) is a Crisis Stabilization program. TCS is a 24 hour, 30 bed, sub-acute, transitional, residential unit designed to assist Seriously Mentally Ill (SMI), and/or Substance Abusing (SA) clients in remaining in the least restrictive environment during episodes pf psychiatric decompensation. This program is designed to reduce hospitalizations and prevent further psychiatric decompensation. It also provides respite placement for family caregivers, temporary shelter for mentally ill homeless and placement for clients discharged from State Operated Facilities or local hospitals. Emergency services are also coordinated at TCS. DMHA requires 24 hour crisis intervention as part of the continuum of care for Community Mental Health Centers.
  • Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team: Located on the same site as TCS, the ACT Team coordinates closely with emergency services and crisis stabilization services to provide intensive community-based services for the most severely impaired adults. The team includes psychiatric and nursing staff dedicated to that team, case managers, vocational and addiction specialists. DMHA has encouraged expanding these services, following well-researched evidence-based Practices, and matching rigorous treatment protocols.
  • Residential Treatment: DMHA requires residential treatment as part of the continuum of care for Community Mental Health Centers. Three group homes are available for adults with SMI diagnoses: Haven House, Quinn House, and Unity House. These group homes provide structure and counseling to persons in need of residential services because of emotional or psychiatric problems. Haven House is a coed facility primarily for former patients of a State Operated Facility (SOF), and much of the program takes place at that location. Quinn House (for women) and Unity House (for men) assist residents in participating in programs in the Park Center continuum and in the community.
  • Community Housing: Seddlemeyer, Waynedale, Woodside, Richardville l & ll, and Quabache Apartments: DMHA requires a range of residential treatment as part of the continuum of care for Community Mental Health Centers. In coordination with a federally subsidized apartment living program (Housing and Urban Development or HUD 811), the Seddlemeyer, Waynedale, Woodside, Richardville I Richardville II, and Quabache (located in Bluffton) apartments provide independent and financially assisted living, with close supervision and on-site case management, to support the resident’s quality of life in the least restrictive environment possible. There are a total of 99 HUD 811 apartments.
  • Case Management: DMHA requires case management as part of the continuum of care for Community Mental Health Centers. The Continuous Treatment Team (CTT) and the Homeless Team assure continuity of care for seriously and persistently mentally ill adults. Case management services are designed to support independent living and to enhance the clients’ quality of life. Services include monitoring treatment, contact with community resources, counseling, and helping clients cope with the demands of day-to- day living. The Homeless Team Liaisons provide psychosocial assessment and referral and support services to homeless persons who have serious mental health problems.
  • Day Treatment: DMHA requires day treatment as part of the continuum of care for Community Mental Health Centers; Park Center ’s program for adults with SMI diagnoses is the Outpatient Stabilization Program (OPS). This program offers intensive treatment to clients with acute or chronic emotional problems. For clients with acute emotional problems, an intensive treatment program provides group therapy and psychoeducational programs Monday through Saturday. Individual and family counseling services are also available. This program also takes place at Byron Health Center, and Harborside Nursing Home for the residents there. Additional locations to expand OPS services to geriatrics is being pursued.
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Is an outpatient service that is provided under the direction of the OPS Lead Staff. DBT is a specific cognitive-behavioral treatment methodology for individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. DBT teaches emotional and interpersonal management skills in individual and group therapies. There are specific protocols for crisis intervention as well. This evidence-based Therapy has been expanded to the adolescent population, through Child Services.
  • Eagle Employment Services: Community Employment Services are available from Eagle Employment Services (EES), a supported employment program operating under a Purchase of Service Agreement with the Indiana Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Individualized assessment, goal development, job seeking, on-the-job coaching, and follow-along services are provided to customers who choose EES.
  • Compeer: This is a program to match community volunteers in one-to-one friendships with adults who are suffering from mental illness. Volunteers are required to participate in a five-hour training program and spend a minimum of one hour per week with their assigned adult.
  • Community-Based Rehabilitation: The Carriage House Clubhouse provide rehabilitation services to optimize their personal, social, and vocational competency in order to live successfully in the community. The settings of the programs are informal, and a high degree of participation is encouraged, in order to reduce barriers between staff and members who participate in the programs. Transitional Employment is also available through the Carriage House.

 

CHILD AND ADULT SERVICES:

The Child and Adult Services Center provides a wide array of services to adults and severely emotionally disturbed (SED) children 1 – 18 years of age who required outpatient mental health service. Helping children and adolescents through the stresses of growing up often includes counseling for parents and other family members.

  • Residential: DMHA requires residential treatment as part of the continuum of care for Community Mental Health Centers, and Park Center offers three options for youth who have sexually maladaptive behaviors:
    • Leslie House for adolescent males 12-18 years old; and
    • Noel House for boys 7-12 years of age.
    • The Redwoods for adolescent males - staff secure unit.
  • Family Education Center : FEC is a Day Treatment program for children from preschool age through high school. This program collaborates with the local Head Start for the preschoolers and with Fort Wayne Community School ’s special education department for the grade school through high school program. The program provides students and their families with education, therapy, social skills training, and parent support. A component of the Family Education Center,  Three Wishes Early Childhood Day Treatment program serves younger children with behavioral/psychiatric disorders in need of a pre-school therapeutic setting. This program operates as a component of the Family Education Center, and the site for these services is at the Children’s Cottage, a preschool operated by Catholic Charities.
  • Intensive Family-Based Services: Home-based Services and Placement Diversion are two intensive programs directed toward restoration of the family.
  • Home-based Services provides alternatives to placement of a child or adolescent in an institutional setting. Intensive case management services (for example, home visits, family counseling) are used to support highly troubled families.
  • Placement Diversion Program: Park Center contracts with the Allen County Office of Family and Children to divert children and adolescents from hospital and intensive residential settings. The program offers a full array of services including home based services, outpatient services, emergency intervention and emergency assessments, group homes, and brief respite care.
  • Outpatient: DMHA requires outpatient services are part of the continuum of care for Community Mental Health Centers. Included are the following: Call Center; Individual, Group, and Family Therapy; Adolescent Addictions; Psychology Internship; Psychological Testing; and School Intervention Services. A full array of services is provided in two additional counties: the Bluffton office services Wells County , and the Decatur office services Adams County. 
  • Individual, Group, and Family Therapy: A full array for outpatient therapy is available for all ages. The services are provided by qualified staff, many who are licensed in their profession. The goal of these services is to support the individual and/or their families to promote maximum satisfaction and functioning. The services focus on the strengths of family unity and individual functioning, and are provided in the least restrictive level of quality therapeutic care appropriate to fit their individual needs.
  • Adolescent Addictions: Adolescent treatment for chemical dependency focuses on the physical, emotional, family, school and social problems many adolescents face. The service is provided in a primarily group treatment modality. Adolescents are given a chance to look at issues of motivation, build skills to resist substance use, replace substance-using activities with constructive and rewarding behaviors, and improve problem solving.
  • Adolescent Day Treatment: Intensive day treatment program for adolescents coping with emotional regulation, interpersonal problems, family stress and instability. These structured programs are designed as a step-down from hospitalization or as hospitalization prevention. Youth are instructed in Dialectical Behavioral (DBT) skills, by trained DBT staff, in order to learn emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, stress tolerance, and crises planning.
  • Psychology Internship: The internship program offers a one year supervised internship for up to four doctoral students in counseling or clinical psychology. The internship is accredited by the American Psychological Association.
  • Psychological Testing: The Psychological Testing Service provides a comprehensive assessment of intellectual and personality functioning for clients as an adjunct to treatment or to assist in making a differential diagnostic and treatment plan. Assessment includes personality, intelligence, developmental, neuropsychological, and vocational testing.
  • Bluffton and Decatur Offices: These offices are fully staffed with professionals who provide adult and child outpatient counseling, case management, addiction services, and emergency interventions. School services focus on working with troubled children and consulting with teachers in the school setting to assist in the education process.

 

STUDENT INTERN PLACEMENT APPLICATION

 

Fax to: (260) 481-2717
Attention: Virginia Moore



Mail to: Virginia Moore
Park Center, Inc.
909 E. State Blvd.
Ft. Wayne, IN 46805