"I would absolutely recommend this facility to other students. It really becomes somewhat like a home. You get to know everyone and grow closer and closer to members and staff. Also, you learn a lot about the mental health system and how people live with their various mental disorders."
Peoples Oakland
3433 Bates Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-683-7140 x 225A
https://www.peoplesoakland.org/
www.facebook.com/peoplesoakland
Contact Person: Students may email a brief note of interest to Jen Lallemand at jenniferr@peoplesoakland.org. Please include your program of study (psychology, social work, other), the semester you are applying for, the year you will be during that semester, how many credits you are taking, and if you consent to being added to an email distribution list for placement cohort communications.
Areas of Interest: Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Social Work
Description of Site: Peoples Oakland has been a cornerstone of holistic health and wellness within the Pittsburgh and surrounding communities for over 50- years. Based in an easily accessible location, Peoples Oakland provides comprehensive recovery and strengths-based psychiatric, social and re-entry rehabilitation services for Allegheny County adults with severe and persistent mental illness and co-occurring disorders. Within our array of services, this field placement is primarily based in our Social Rehabilitation center component. But, it may also extend to other services under the direct presence of an assigned Staff person. We practice compassionate examination of everyday life experiences. We encourage responsible action towards treatment goals. We maximize the benefits and outcomes of natural peer interactions. We provide guidance, support, and community resources to respond to individual needs. All of our work is rooted in our established core values: Hope, Integrity, Respect, Empathy, Humility. These guiding principles promote building a culture of encompassing acceptance and love, and they promote programs where everyone can feel like they genuinely belong and can succeed.
Duties of Students:
- Direct-care interactions with Members – conversations, games, walks, expressive arts, miscellaneous activities and events, targeted outreach calls to Members and treatment teams to reinforce social skills development
- Taking the initiative to prepare agendas and activities to support our monthly program calendar and daily schedule
- Taking the initiative to research and post local community resources, local low-cost events, and local psychiatric support services
- Taking the initiative to research local sources for donated program supplies and materials
- Taking the initiative to research local groups that our Member Panels can present their recovery testimony to
- Taking the initiative to research local guest speakers and performers in-tandem with our program calendar themes
- Developing and implementing creative and meaningful enrichment activities throughout the day
- Co-facilitation of individual and group supportive counseling sessions to build positive coping strategies
- Documentation and reporting of activities, progress, issues and incidents
- Monitoring Social Center – responding proactively to address and de-escalate issues or conflict and maintain safety and stability
- Attend outings and field trips to encourage community integration
- Assist with program needs – will include cleaning, cooking, organizing supplies, preparation for special events, other building upkeep as needed to maintain and improve program services delivery
- Work with Site Supervisor, Program Staff, Members, and other Student Interns to develop and strengthen team work approaches in the professional setting
Additional Site Requirements:
- Students must be passionate about and interested in mental health counseling, social work, or psychology.
- Students must be flexible and able to support program dynamics that can change
- Students must conduct themselves professionally and appropriately.
- Students must meet virtually or in-person with Site Supervisor to ensure a good match between the program and the Student’s educational and professional goals, and to be formally offered a site placement.
- Students must complete the following pre-requisite documentation: Resume and Cover Letter– prior to interview, School Liability Certificate – Academic Advisor will facilitate getting this and forward to program, PA Child Abuse and Criminal Clearance – current within the last year, or we will send you instructions to apply *there is a fee that you are responsible for, Photo ID, Contact Info, Non-Disclosure Form , Orientation Packet and HIPAA Training and Test – on placement date
Terms Offered:
- Fall: Mid-August – September – October - Mid-December
- Spring: Mid-January – February – March - Mid-April
- Summer: Mid-May – June – July - Mid-August
Shifts Offered:
Shifts will be assigned on a first-requested basis. Once shifts are assigned, it is not a guarantee that changes can be accommodated. Most Student Interns prefer to work one full day shift, and are afforded a 45 minute lunch break off-site as preferred. Students may also select split-shifts throughout the week to fulfill credit-hours. Depending on Site Supervisor availability and Member attendance ratios, we may accept a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 10 Undergraduate Interns. Because we are a small agency, we must prioritize current for-credit Student Interns and do not normally extend field placements past one semester. The Undergraduate Student Cohort will also be working cooperatively with Graduate Student Interns on-site.
We are unable to accept Student Volunteers. We require all Student Intern placements to present the University Liability Certificate, which can only be issued to for-credit Students.
Your Field Placement Shift Options Are:
(3 credits = 120 hours; 2 credits = 85 hours; 1 credit = 55 hours) *8 hours/week X 15 weeks = 120 hours
Monday - Friday, 8:30-12:30
Monday - Friday, Noon - 4:00
*12:00-12:30pm intended for training, cross-communications, debriefing, planning, and team-building
Special Circumstances: There will be days during the semester placement that we will be closed (holidays/weather/Staff In-service/other unexpected reason). You will be given opportunities to make-up the credit hours with either additional on-site shifts or off-site projects to further your education and meet program needs.