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Site Name: Violence Intervention Program Community Mental Health Center

Department: Psychology Training

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Department : Psychology Training

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 2334
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Violence Intervention Program Community Mental Health Center
Department: Psychology Training
Address: 1721 Griffin Ave.
Los Angeles, California 90031
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA MSA
Distance from Major City: East Los Angeles
Phone: 323-221-4134x252
Fax: 323-221-3231
Training Director Email: mmejia@vip-cmhc.org
Co-Training Director Email:
Web Address: http://www.violenceinterventionprogram.org
Brochure Website's Address: http://www.violenceinterventionprogram.org
Primary Agency Type: Community Mental Health Center
Additional Agency Types:
  • School District
  • State/County/Other Public Hospital
Member of APPIC since:
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Not Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Maribel Mejia Ph.D.
Chief Psychologist: Maribel Mejia Ph.D.
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 4
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Position Information
Start Date: 09/02/2025
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 3
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 35360
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): 14 Paid Holidays
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site The internship experience consists of providing crisis intervention at our hospital clinic, brief and long term psychotherapy through our school based program and/or outpatient clinic. Additionally, an intern can gain experience in running groups and psychological testing. The intern will have 4 weekly hours of supervision, 2 hours of didactic training, and 2 hours of group supervision.
Does this site have practicum psychology students on site? No
Is this program fully affiliated with one or more doctoral programs? No
Is this program partially affiliated with one or more doctoral programs? No
Internship Application Process
Accepting Applicants: Yes
Application Due Date: 12/13/2024 11:59 PM EST
Interview notification date: 12/20/2024
Tentative interview date: 01/06/25 to 01/24/25
Interview process description:

VIP holds individual interviews with each selected applicant. Upon review of submitted documents, selected candidates, are notified via email of an interview offer. Virtual interviews are preferred and on-site interviews are optional. There are 2-3 interviewers in the interview process.
How to obtain application info: Email the Program
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: CSPP, Antioch, Pepperdine University, Pace University, William James College, Chicago School of Professional Psychology, California Baptist University
Internship Applicant Requirements
US Citizenship Required: Yes
If NOT a U.S. Citizen, Authorization to Work or to Engage in Practical Training (CPT or OPT) in the US is Required: No
Canadian Citizenship Required: No
If NOT a Canadian Citizen, Authorization to Work in Canada or to Engage in Practical Training (CPT or OPT) in Canada is Required: No
Masters Degree Required: Yes, by application deadline
Comprehensive Exams Passed: Yes, by application deadline
Dissertation Proposal Approved: Yes, by ranking deadline
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable):
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable):
Minimum Number of Combined Intervention and Assessment Hours (if applicable):
Does your program require applicants to submit supplemental materials (i.e., an assessment report and/or a case/treatment summary): No
Minimum Number of Years of Grad Training Required (if applicable):
Accepted / Not-Accepted Program Types
Clinical Psychology Accepted
Counseling Psychology Accepted
School Psychology Not Accepted
APA-Accredited Accepted
CPA-Accredited Accepted
PCSAS-Accredited Not Accepted
Non-Accredited Not Accepted
Ph.D Degree Accepted
Psy.D. Degree Accepted
Ed.D. Degree Not Accepted
This institution, department, internship, or postdoctoral program requires trainees to sign a statement about personal behavior and/or religious beliefs as a condition of admission and/or retention in the program: No
How to obtain text of statement:
Other Requirements:
Program Description

Established over 35 years ago, the Violence Intervention Program (VIP) is a multidisciplinary family advocacy center that provides medical, forensic, mental health, advocacy and supportive services to victims of child abuse, neglect, sexual assault, domestic violence, elder abuse and dependent adult abuse.  VIP programs include: the VIP Community Mental Health Center, Inc.(VIP-CMHC); the Community-Based Assessment and Treatment Center (CATC); the Sexual Assault Center; a 24-Hour Domestic Violence and Crisis Response Team; the Pediatric Extended Care Center/Mental Health “eCARE” ; the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Clinic; the Adult Protection Team; and the Los Angeles County Elder Abuse Forensic Center.

VIP focuses on intervention, treatment and prevention, and functions as a public-private partnership that includes the LAC+USC Medical Center where the LAC+USC VIP HUB is located.  This HUB is the largest in the County of Los Angeles, and according to Los Angeles County 2008-2009 Civil Grand Jury, representing more than three times as many children as Los Angeles County’s next largest HUB.   The VIP HUB is the only HUB open 24/7 and supported by satellite services in East San Gabriel Valley.  The HUB currently provides medical and mental health assessments as a collaborative between DHS, DCFS and VIP-CMHC funded through a contract with DMH.

 

 

The VIP-CMHC was opened thirteen years ago as an independent nonprofit agency to provide comprehensive mental health and support services for child victims and their nonoffending family members.  It provides individual, group, and family therapy; developmental screening and referrals; psychological assessments and testing; case management and assistance with housing and basic needs; health and parenting education; academic advocacy; mentoring and tutoring; and therapeutic  arts and crafts activities.  All services are bilingual and multicultural.  VIP-CMHC is incorporated as a 501(c)3 exempt nonprofit corporation, and is governed by a seven member volunteer Board of Directors that provides fiscal oversight, resource development, and professional expertise.

 

The primary goal of the pre-doctoral internship is to provide comprehensive training leading to competency as a practicing psychologist. All of the didactic and experiential components of this program have been developed to allow interns to assume increasing responsibilities as they move towards greater autonomy over the internship course. Thus, the program fosters the development of professional competencies as well as professional identity as a psychologist. The program also fosters the development of multicultural competence.

The VIP serves an estimated 20,000 victims of violence each year.  Approximately 88% are Latino, 4% African American, 4% Caucasian, 2% Asian, and 2% other.  The VIP draws a majority of clients from the neighborhoods surrounding LAC+USC Medical Center, victims and service providers from all over the County rely on the VIP’s continuous and comprehensive intervention and treatment services. 

 

The internship provides supervised clinical and didactic experiences with a particular emphasis on fostering multicultural competence and a deep grounding in ethical principles. Each intern is expected to develop strong clinical skills with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and gain a secure sense of self as a competent and ethical psychology professional. Interns also gain experience in outreach and consultation.

The internship is based on the practitioner-scholar model. The program values experiential learning with formal supervision as well as informal opportunities to consult with staff as needed. The internship program also values research and critical thinking skills, and interns are encouraged to integrate recent research into their work and to learn about and employ empirically-based practices. The training program also values collaboration and consultation, and interns are invited and encouraged to foster collaborative relationships with all members of the staff.

 

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children: Yes
Adolescents: Yes
Adults: Yes
Family: Yes
Older Adults:
Inpatients:
Outpatients:
LGBTQ+: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking: Yes
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired:
Students: Yes
International Students:
Rural:
Urban:
Low income: Yes
People without housing:
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Individual Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Couples Therapy:
Family Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Group Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Community Intervention:
Consultation/Liaison: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Crisis Intervention: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Brief Psychotherapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Cognitive Rehabilitation:
Primary Care:
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research:
Supervision of Practicum students :
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology:
Women's Health:
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders:
Sexual Disorders:
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology:
Physical Disabilities:
Learning Disabilities:
Developmental Disabilities:
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Adult:
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness:
Anxiety Disorders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Trauma/PTSD: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sexual Abuse: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Substance Use Disorders:
Forensics/Corrections:
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology:
Pediatrics: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
School: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Counseling:
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality:
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy:
Program Development/Evaluation:
Supervision: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Research:
Administration:
Integrated health care - primary: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Integrated health care - specialty:
Other:

Additional information about training opportunities: Not all rotations or training experiences may be available as described in the APPIC Directory. Please consult the program's application materials or their website at: www.violenceinterventionprogram.org  for a complete description of the training opportunities available at this training site. IF the site has not updated their information by August 1, feel free to contact the Training Director for additional information.

Summary of the Characteristics of the Specified Internship Class
2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
Number of Completed Applications: 10 15 15 17 11 13
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 7 11 13 13 9 9
Total number of interns: 3 1 2 2 2 2
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 3 1 2 2 2 2
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 3 1 2 2 2 2
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 0 0 0 0 2 2
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 1 1 1 1 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 3 1 3 1 0 0
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023 2023-2024
Academic teaching: 0 0
Community mental health center: 2 2
Consortium: 0 0
University Counseling Center: 0 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 0 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 0 0
Psychiatric facility: 0 0
Correctional facility: 0 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0 0
School district/system: 0 0
Independent practice setting: 0 0
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0 0
Link to Program's Trainee Admissions, Support, and Outcome Data:
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