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Questions related to the program's accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation: Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association
Address: 750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 | Phone: (202) 336-5979 | Email: apaaccred@apa.org
General Information
CDS serves children and adolescents, ages 6-22, who, because of significant special education and mental health needs, require an alternative school program that is both educational and therapeutic. The Internship program at CDS offers experiences with individual, group, family therapy, risk assessment, crisis management with a diverse population of students with emotional and behavioral challenges. Interns at CDS also receive targeted training in and exposure to the areas of consultation, supervision, and psychoeducational assessment, including the administration and interpretation of psychological testing. CDS provides a therapeutic milieu with a full array of related services, CIC Interns have the opportunity to receive experience in consultation and multi-disciplinary team collaboration with professionals from the following disciplines: Substance Abuse Counselors (CADC), Art Therapy, Animal Assisted Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Psychiatric Services, School Health (Nursing) Services, Restorative Intervention Specialists, Vocational Counselors, and Licensed Special Education Teachers.
Population
CDS has 11 classrooms with 10 students in each classroom for up to approximately 110 students there at any given time. All classes are taught by a Licensed Special Education Teacher who is supported by a Program Assistant (1 to 5 staff to student ratio). CDS has 2 elementary classrooms, 3 middle school classrooms and 6 high school classrooms. Approximately 14% of clients are ages 6-10, 28% of clients are 11-13, and 58% of clients are ages 14-22. Although this breakdown changes slightly over the course of the year due to dynamic enrollment, approximately 75% of the population are enrolled in the Day School Program, and 25% are students enrolled in the Diagnostic Program.
Program Specifics:
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Monday - Friday 8am - 4pm
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June and July (Monday - Thursday schedule)
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Individual, Group, Family & Milieu Therapy
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Crisis Intervention & Risk Assessment
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2 hours of Individual Supervision weekly
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2.25-3 hours of Group Supervision weekly
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1.5 hours of Didactic Training per week (including topics of diversity, inclusion, ethics/legal, consultation, general Professional Development, evidence based practice, trauma informed practices, etc.)
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Staff Committee Involvement
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Monthly Family Therapy Seminar rotation
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Bi-weekly Family Therapy Supervision
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Bi-weekly Psychiatric Supervision
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Opportunity to provide informal supervision
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Interns conduct 2-3 assessments during the training year
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Work closely with the Diagnostic Program
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Optional Animal-Assisted Therapy with our staff therapy dogs
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Participation in multidisciplinary meetings including: Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs), Problem-Solving Team Meetings, etc. for the clients on your caseload
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Working as a valued member of a multidisciplinary team including: Educational Administrators, Special Education Teachers, Restorative Intervention Specialists, Psychiatrists, Art Therapists, Substance Abuse Counselors, Speech & Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and other established Professionals in the Field.
Contact Info:
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31410 Hwy 45
Libertyville, IL 60048
847-680-8349
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Site Director
kpollina@connectionsdayschool.net
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Assistant Site Director
SEDOL Diagnostic Coordinator and IAES Program Coordinator