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Site Name: Federal Correctional Complex Tucson

Department: FCC Tucson Psychology Services

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Department : FCC Tucson Psychology Services

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 2536
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Federal Correctional Complex Tucson
Department: FCC Tucson Psychology Services
Address: 9300 S. Wilmot Rd.
Tucson, Arizona 85756
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Distance from Major City: 110 miles from Phoenix, AZ
Phone: 520-663-5000x6382
Fax:
Training Director Email: lunruh-parker@bop.gov
Co-Training Director Email: kwerner@bop.gov
Web Address: https://www.bop.gov/jobs/positions/index.jsp?p=psychology_internships
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.bop.gov/jobs/docs/tcx_internship_brochure.pdf
Primary Agency Type: Prison or Other Correctional Facility
Additional Agency Types:
  • Prison or Other Correctional Facility
Member of APPIC since:
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited on Contingency
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Lisa Unruh-Parker
Chief Psychologist: James Hayden
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 7
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Position Information
Start Date: 08/11/2025
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 4
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 63079
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Comp Time , Dissertation Release Time, Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): Psychology Interns will also accrue four hours of annual leave and four hours of sick leave bi-weekly, totaling 13 days of each during the internship year. Psychology Interns also receive 11 paid federal holidays and can choose from a variety of health insurance plans. As temporary BOP employees, retirement benefits are not authorized. Interns who require maternity or paternity leave will be expected to first use all accrued hours of annual and sick leave. Additional time off will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Warden. In the event of maternity or paternity leave, the Internship Program Coordinator will work closely with the intern to ensure all requirements for internship and clinical training hours are completed in a timely manner.
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site The work schedule is 7am -3pm, Monday through Friday. The typical workday varies greatly depending on the rotation. Activities on the Challenge, Drug Use Treatment, and Sex Offender Management Program rotations include participation in assessment, individual, group, and milieu therapies, interdisciplinary consultation, and program administration activities. On the severe mental illness rotation, interns are involved in assessment, crisis intervention/suicide risk assessment, individual and group treatment, milieu therapies, and multidisciplinary treatment teams. The general population/restrictive housing interns are involved in diagnostic assessments, crisis intervention/suicide risk assessment, individual and group therapy, and psychological testing. FCC Tucson has a diverse population of incarcerated adults, including individuals from other countries, a large transgender population, and individuals from all areas the country. Mental health diagnoses range from adjustment disorders to severe depression to the range of psychotic disorders. We also work with individuals struggling with self-directed violence and frequent suicidal ideation.
Does this site have practicum psychology students on site? Yes
Doctoral Psychology Practicum StudentsYes
Masters Psychology Practicum StudentsNo
Do Psychology Interns/Postdocs Have the Opportunity to Supervise Practicum Students?Yes
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: 11/01/2024 11:59 PM EST
Interview notification date: 12/15/2024
Tentative interview date: 01/16/2024
Interview process description:

In Person interviews are preferred to provide the applicant an opportunity to experience the correctional environment. Virtual interviews are available, if of benefit to the applicant. Please contact Dr. Unruh with any questions or concerns regarding interviews. 

Each application is reviewed individually by the Internship Program Coordinator and rotation supervisors. Invitations to complete a secondary application through USA Jobs (Pathways Program) are typically sent to applicants by the end of November. The Pathways Program is completely separate from the APPIC process and procedures. This application is to verify applicant’s eligibility for temporary federal employment and is a requirement for placement with our internship program.

Read the announcement on USAJOBS completely, especially “Qualifications Required” and “Required Documents.” Apply online and submit ALL required supporting documentation. During the USAJOBS application process, applicants must respond to a series of assessment questions. Your responses determine category placement (i.e. Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, Qualified). Additionally, Veterans Preference is applicable during this application process. After closure of the USAJOBS vacancy announcement, applicants in the Best Qualified category will be notified of their status by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by December 16th, and results are also forwarded to the internship sites.

Applicants can contact the Bureau's Consolidated Staffing Unit (CSU) located in Grand Prairie, Texas, for questions regarding their documentation and inquire if ALL required documents were received prior to the application timeframe closing.

Once an applicant has successfully completed this process, they will be contacted to schedule an interview. Efforts will be made to contact applicants regarding an interview typically by December 16th. Interviews take place in January. Prior to your fist interview, applicants must satisfactorily pass an on-site security clearance procedure that includes a computerized Core Values Assessment (CVA), a pre-employment interview, and an integrity interview which addresses issues of personal conduct and a panel interview in which you will be asked to respond to a number of scenarios that could arise in a correctional facility. This must occur in person at a BOP facility and the results will be shared with all BOP sites to which you applied. If you do not successfully complete any portion of this security clearance you will no longer be considered.

Following clearance from Human Resources, in person applicants will be provided a tour of FCC Tucson and the opportunity to meet with rotation supervisors and other psychology staff. For virtual applicants, a time will be available to speak with rotation supervisors and/or current interns, if interested. This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant prior to Uniform Notification Day.

Offers of internship positions resulting from the computer match are strictly contingent upon satisfactory completion of the background investigation process, which includes a physical examination, a urinalysis drug screen including cannabis, and a field investigation to verify that the information provided in interviews and on required forms is accurate. Failure to complete this process or a finding that an applicant is outside the guidelines for employment in a sensitive position would preclude participation in the program. Once hired, interns must comply with the Bureau's Program Statement on Standards of Employee Conduct.

Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Unruh, Internship Program Coordinator, at lunruh-parker@bop.gov or 520-663-5000 x 6382 with any questions.
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: Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Adler University, 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: No
Comprehensive Exams Passed: Yes, by start of internship
Dissertation Proposal Approved: Yes, by application deadline
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 300
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 50
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): Yes
Minimum Number of Years of Grad Training Required (if applicable): 3
Accepted / Not-Accepted Program Types
Clinical Psychology Accepted
Counseling Psychology Accepted
School Psychology Not Accepted
APA-Accredited Accepted
CPA-Accredited
PCSAS-Accredited
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: Yes
How to obtain text of statement: As federal employees, any intern accepted into the FCC Tucson Internship Program is required to take the Oath for Federal Employees. In addition, interns are also held to the Standards of Employee Conduct issued by the Department of Justice. For any questions or concerns regarding these requirements, please contact the Internship Program Coordinator, Dr. Lisa Unruh, at 520-663-5000 x 6382 or lunruh-parker@bop.gov.
Other Requirements: Invitations to complete a secondary application through USA Jobs (Pathways Program) are typically sent to applicants by the end of November. The Pathways Program is completely separate from the APPIC process and procedures. This application is to verify applicant’s eligibility for temporary federal employment and is a requirement for placement with our internship program. Read the announcement on USAJOBS completely, especially “Qualifications Required” and “Required Documents.” Apply online and submit ALL required supporting documentation. During the USAJOBS application process, applicants must respond to a series of assessment questions. Your responses determine category placement (i.e. Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, Qualified). Additionally, Veterans Preference is applicable during this application process. After closure of the USAJOBS vacancy announcement, applicants in the Best Qualified category will be notified of their status by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by December 16th, and results are also forwarded to the internship sites. Applicants can contact the Bureau's Consolidated Staffing Unit (CSU) located in Grand Prairie, Texas, for questions regarding their documentation and inquire if ALL required documents were received prior to the application timeframe closing. Once an applicant has successfully completed this process, they will be contacted to schedule an interview. Efforts will be made to contact applicants regarding an interview typically by December 16th. Interviews take place in January. Prior to your fist interview, applicants must satisfactorily pass an on-site security clearance procedure that includes a computerized Core Values Assessment (CVA), a pre-employment interview, and an integrity interview which addresses issues of personal conduct and a panel interview in which you will be asked to respond to a number of scenarios that could arise in a correctional facility. This must occur in person at a BOP facility and the results will be shared with all BOP sites to which you applied. If you do not successfully complete any portion of this security clearance you will no longer be considered. Offers of internship positions resulting from the computer match are strictly contingent upon satisfactory completion of the background investigation process, which includes a physical examination, a urinalysis drug screen including cannabis, and a field investigation to verify that the information provided in interviews and on required forms is accurate. Failure to complete this process or a finding that an applicant is outside the guidelines for employment in a sensitive position would preclude participation in the program.
Program Description

FCC Tucson interns provide services at the USP, FCI, and SPC at various points in the training year.  This assures exposure to a continuum of psychology services ranging from outpatient services through residential treatment programs, and offers the intern familiarity and experience for future work with multiple security levels and a wide-range of presenting problems within a generalist training context.

Our training program provides interns three, four-month rotations in an Intensive Residential Treatment Programs (Challenge), an Intensive Treatment Program (SOMP), substance use treatment (DAP/MAT), correctional psychology (General Population/Restrictive Housing) and working with individuals with Severe Mental Illness. To further broaden the training experience, we request input from the intern, as there is some flexibility in tailoring training experiences to meet each intern’s individual training needs and desires.  It is expected that interns will spend at least half of their 40 hour work week, or 20 hours, in face-to-face direct service delivery.

General Population/Restrictive Housing

Throughout the year, the intern is provided the opportunity to complete intake screenings and diagnostic assessments, complete comprehensive evaluations, facilitate and co-facilitate group psychotherapy, individual and brief psychotherapy, assess needs of and provide services to inmates in the Restrictive Housing Unit, and develop crisis intervention and suicide risk assessment skills. Given the range of referrals for assessment and type of groups available, efforts are made to match clinical interest and training goals.

Serious Mental Illness Rotation

The Advanced Care Level Treatment Program is designed to support individuals with significant medical and psychiatric issues who have been designated to USP Tucson. Significant levels of treatment interventions, often on a daily basis from psychology staff, may be required. 

Working with Advanced Care Level Psychologists, individual and group treatment is provided to a caseload of participants with diagnoses such as Schizophrenia, Delusional Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar I Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder, and various personality disorders.  Interns are also afforded the opportunity to develop their own group curricula, and have creative authority over group topics to facilitate treatment buy-in, skill building, and social engagement.

Drug Use Treatment/Medication Assisted Treatment

DAP and MAT programs provide education and treatment for individuals struggling with substance use. Interns will work closely with the Drug Abuse Program Coordinator and the Drug Abuse Program Treatment Specialists to assess and treat individuals with substance use concerns at all three facilities. Interns facilitate and co-facilitate process groups and psychoeducational groups with the Drug Abuse Program Coordinators and treatment specialists.  The groups focus on learning about patterns that lead to substance use, triggers for substance use, and coping skills that can be utilized for healthy social lives/interactions. 

Intensive Treatment Rotations 

Challenge

The Challenge Program is designed to address the unique challenges of high security adults in custody with substance abuse and mental health issues. Under the direction of a psychologist, this residential program involves using an integrative model that includes an emphasis on a therapeutic community, strong cognitive-behavioral and relapse prevention components, as well as the connection of substance use to faulty criminal patterns of thought and action. The program is an evidence-based treatment program designed to promote adaptive life skills to prepare participants for transition to lower security prison settings, as well as to promote successful reentry into society at the conclusion of their terms of incarceration.

Challenge provides introduction to working within a modified residential therapeutic community while co-facilitating process and facilitating manualized psycho-educational groups and learning typical administrative duties of a residential treatment program coordinator.

Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP)

The Sex Offender Management Program is a multi-component program comprised of cognitive behavioral treatment programming (either residential or non-residential), risk assessments, and specialized correctional management services. USP Tucson is the only high security SOMP institution within the BOP and offers the moderate intensity non-residential sex offender treatment program (SOTP-NR) for low to moderate risk sexual offenders.

SOTP-NR provides training in assessing, treating, and managing individuals convicted of sexual offenses by completing thorough psychosexual evaluations and risk assessments, co-facilitating process groups and facilitating psycho-educational groups, while learning administrative duties typical of a treatment coordinator.

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children:
Adolescents:
Adults: Yes
Family:
Older Adults: Yes
Inpatients:
Outpatients: Yes
LGBTQ+: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking: Yes
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired: Yes
Students: Yes
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
People without housing: Yes
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:
Group Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Community Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Consultation/Liaison: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Crisis Intervention: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Brief Psychotherapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Cognitive Rehabilitation:
Primary Care: Experience (21% to 30%)
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision of Practicum students : Experience (21% to 30%)
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Experience (21% to 30%)
Women's Health: Exposure (1% to 20%)
HIV/AIDS: Experience (21% to 30%)
Eating Disorders: Experience (21% to 30%)
Sexual Disorders: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology:
Physical Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Learning Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Developmental Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Adult: Experience (21% to 30%)
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
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: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Forensics/Corrections: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sexual Offenders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Geropsychology: Experience (21% to 30%)
Pediatrics:
School: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Counseling: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Vocational/Career Development: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Multicultural Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Program Development/Evaluation: Experience (21% to 30%)
Supervision: Experience (21% to 30%)
Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Administration: Experience (21% to 30%)
Integrated health care - primary: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
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: https://www.bop.gov/jobs/positions/index.jsp?p=psychology_internships  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: 0 12 16 15
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 6 10 7
Total number of interns: 1 2 2
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 0 1 1
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 0 0 0
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 1 2 2
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 1 2 2
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 1 3 10
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 1 11 12
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023 2023-2024
Academic teaching: 0 0
Community mental health center: 0 0
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: 1 2
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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