INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS
Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH) is proud to have been invited to again participate in The Mentored Internship Program (MIP) grant for Year Two. A component of the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Behavioral Health Workforce Development (BHWD) efforts, the “MIP’s overarching goal is to enhance the professional development of diverse talent to help meet California’s urgent need for BH workforce in the near-term, ...expand California’s future BH workforce, ...and develop ongoing partnerships ...between BH organizations and local educational institutions.”
The 2022-2023 Academic Year was focused on improving the Internship Program structure to establish standardized clinical experiences and strengthen a mentorship supervision model through the MIP grant process. VCBH worked closely with Advocates for Human Potential, Inc (AHP), the grant Administrative Entity on behalf of DHCS, and our endorsing educational partners to create structures which will support future capacity.
Year Two of the grant, Academic Year 2023-2024, is focused on expansion and sustainability. VCBH will work closely with AHP to share a rich curriculum, enhancing foundational concepts supporting trauma informed, diversity and equity focused mentorship of our current and future workforce.
VCBH sincerely appreciates the endorsement of our local educational partners and looks forward to ongoing collaborative partnerships with:
Ventura County Community College District: Oxnard College; California Lutheran University; California State University, Northridge; California State University, Channel Islands; California State University, San Bernadino and Antioch University, Santa Barbara.
2023-2024 OPPORTUNITIES
The focus and priority will remain on providing internship opportunities for students who attend local educational institutions and who are interested in pursuing careers in the field of public behavioral health. Educational experiences are open only to students enrolled in required coursework at universities with which there is an updated and current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). VCBH is appreciative of the following partnerships:
Ventura County Community College District: Oxnard College; California Lutheran University; California State University, Northridge; California State University, Channel Islands; California State University, San Bernardino; California State University, Dominguez Hills; Antioch University; University of Southern California; The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Given current capacity, additional educational partnership opportunities are not available at this time. Should additional opportunities become available following Spring interviews, this website will be updated at that time. Questions regarding possible future opportunities and MOU status may be addressed to: VCBH.Internships@ventura.org
2024-2025 OPPORTUNITIES
Educational Partnership Recruitment:
Through the month of December 2023, VCBH is accepting requests for new educational partnerships from educational institutions located within the State of California.
Requests and questions regarding the initiation of a MOU or the status of a requested MOU may be addressed to: VCBH.Internships@ventura.org
Should additional opportunities become available following Spring interviews, this website will be updated at that time.
PSYCHOLOGY PRE-DOCTORAL INTERNSHIP
Currently, Ventura County Behavioral Health does not offer clinical training for Pre-Doctoral Interns. Post-Doctoral opportunities are provided within the department in the form of employment.
Employment opportunities may be accessed via the Ventura County Human Resources website at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/ventura. The job classification is: Staff Psychologist.
DOCTORAL PRACTICUM
Ventura County Behavioral Health provides doctoral-level practicum opportunities in an outpatient public mental health setting for PhD/PsyD students enrolled in a graduate PhD/PsyD program with which VCBH has an active MOU.
Advanced students with previous mental health experience and/or previous practicum hours are given priority in the recruitment process given the Level of Care of services provided at VCBH.
A two-semester or three-trimester commitment is required, commencing in the Fall, with a minimum of 16 hours/week.
Round 1: Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year will be available beginning January 2024. Interviews will be scheduled in February and March with placement offers made by April 1, 2024. Note: Additional opportunities may be available following Round 1 placements.
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER CLINICAL TRAINING
Currently, there are no openings for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner training positions. For any questions about possible future opportunities, you can contact VCBH.Internships@ventura.org.
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK INTERNSHIP
Ventura County Behavioral Health provides internship opportunities in a variety of outpatient mental health clinics and program located throughout the County of Ventura for Master of Social Work (MSW) students enrolled in a graduate MSW program with which VCBH has an active MOU. Students receive experience and training in public mental health services.
Internships begin in the Fall semester and require a two-semester commitment (minimum: 16 hours/week).
Applications will be posted by February 2024, with a deadline of April 15, 2024. Interviews will be offered in April 2024, with placement notification by May 1, 2024.
Associate Clinic Social Worker (ACSW) opportunities are provided within the department in the form of employment. Employment opportunities may be accessed via the Ventura County Human Resources website at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/ventura. The job classification is: Behavioral Health Clinician I/II.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY OR PROFESSIONAL CLINICAL COUNSELING TRAINEESHIP
VCBH provides traineeship opportunities in outpatient public mental health for students enrolled in graduate Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) or Professional Clinical Counseling (PCC) programs with which VCBH has an active MOU. The department follows all state licensing regulations and educational requirements. Students receive experience and training in public mental health services.
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) or Professional Clinical Counseling Associate (APCC_ Associate opportunities are provided within the department in the form of employment. Employment opportunities may be accessed via the Ventura County Human Resources website at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/ventura. The job classification is: Behavioral Health Clinician I/II.
Traineeships begin in the Fall semester with a two-semester or three-trimester commitment requirement (minimum: 16 hours/week).
Applications will be posted by February 2024. Interviews will be offered in April 2024, with placement notification by May 1, 2024.
MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATE INTERNSHIP
The internship program, offered by VCBH, is dedicated to enhancing the learning experience for students currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program with which VCBH has an active MOU. Students receive experience and training in public mental health services, comprehensive clinical experiences, excellent supervision and supplemental seminars and workshops.
This internship opportunity is only available for students at the Junior or Senior level, majoring in Psychology, Sociology, or other behavioral health field and are enrolled in university required coursework.
Internships begin in the Fall semester with a two-semester commitment requirement (16 hours/week).
Applications will be posted in March 2024, followed by interviews will placement offers by May 2024.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKER PRACTICUM
The practicum program, offered by VCBH, is dedicated to providing comprehensive training opportunities for students enrolled in Addictive Disorders Studies programs. The practicum provides comprehensive clinical experiences, excellent supervision and supplemental seminars and workshops. In the first semester of the practicum experience, students are oriented to the County Behavioral Health System and observe services in the Substance Use Services programs to ensure exposure to the 13 Competency Domains for Addiction Counselors. In the second semester of their practicum, students are assigned to an out-patient mental health program as a Mental Health Associate Intern to strengthen case management and documentation skill.
A two-semester commitment is required, with a minimum of 300 hours (16 hours/week).
All students must have completed the minimum pre-requisite courses in an Addictive Disorders Studies or Substance Abuse Counselling program and be currently enrolled in a field experience course in a school with which VCBH has an active MOU.
For any questions regarding possible future opportunities you can contact VCBH.Internships@ventura.org.
Applications for the Fall 2024 will be posted by April 1, 2024, followed by interviews with placement offers by June 1, 2024.
