Student Therapy Practicum
Sex Offender Treatment Program
Open to Graduate Students
Location: Minnesota Correctional Facility - Rush City
The Minnesota Correctional Facility-Rush City opened in February 2000. The close-custody, level-four facility currently houses 976 offenders (1/09), most in double-bunked cells. Offender activities are conducted on a strict schedule. These activities include institution support and prison industry jobs, education assignments, religious programming, and recreation and visiting times. MINNCOR Industries at the facility focuses on providing production space and offender labor to the business community through subcontract services. Educational programming focuses on basic education, parenting, English as a second language, vocational, and transitional programming.
Internship Description: The internship experience will provide exposure to a complete range of group facilitation and management techniques, assessment and diagnosis, sex offender treatment, psychoeducational programming, report writing, transition services and planning. Under staff supervision, interns will assist in conducting psychological and psychosexual assessments, co-facilitate therapy groups and psychoeducational programming, participate in staff meetings, case consultations, one-to-one counseling sessions, and observe and report on residents' behavior. Interns are responsible for report writing and maintaining appropriate documentation.
Supervision: Interns will be assigned to a Licensed Psychologist, Senior Therapist or Program Supervisor.
Requirements: Interns must be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university in a program which offers course credit for practica or internships. Selected applicants must submit to and clear a security background check prior to start of internship and follow department policies and procedures.
Length of Internship: Academic school year (fall to spring). Students are expected to be on site a minimum of 16 hours per week and a minimum total of 600 hours. Program hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. Selected students arrange days and hours within the program hours with their primary clinical supervisor.
Application Priority Deadline Dates:
For academic year beginning in September and for all summer term sessions, the application process will open January 1st and end March 15th. Applications RECEIVED by February 15 will be given first consideration. All other applications will be considered after the March 15th deadline. Interviews will be scheduled after February 15th. Selection decisions will be completed by April 15th.
For intern/practica beginning in Winter/Spring term, the application process will open October 1st and end November 1st. Interviews will be scheduled in November. Selection decisions will be completed by December 1st.
Please submit DOC Intern/Practica application, your resume, and a cover letter describing why an internship/practicum experience with the DOC is related to your professional goals. Mail or email these documents to the DOC Intern Coordinator. Do not send application material to the institutions.
Note: This practicum is unpaid.
If you are selected, there is a mandatory DOC Intern/Practica Student Orientation that must be completed prior to starting your internship/practicum.
Applications will be accepted after these dates until positions are filled.
How to Apply:
Behavioral Health Internship and Practicum Application (smartsheet.com)
Please direct questions to Internships.DOC@state.mn.us
