Corrections_Today_November_December_2019

Office of Correctional Health

A current psychology resident, Dr. Allison Foerschner, recognized the benefits of the psychology residency program’s training methods, saying, “One of the most valuable aspects of the psychology residency training program is its broad, systems- focused perspective. The training provides us with a more informed perspective with which to better understand the responsibilities of the various professionals within the complex correctional system, and to collaborate more successfully across disciplines.” Other psychology residents spoke of the positive experience they had with the program and affirmed their intentions to continue working in correctional mental health care. In fact, over 80% of the psychology residents take their first professional position within a correctional set- ting and 70% find a position within the FDC. Fortunately, the require- ments set by the APA regarding a psychology residency’s structure match nicely with the requirements for licensure in the state of Florida. As such, the program allows them to spend the training year complet- ing these requirements towards state licensure, which include accruing 2,000 hours of supervised experi- ence, working to pass the national exam known as the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and preparing for the juris- prudence exam for Florida or a state for which they seek licensure. Since the program began in 2012, every

attribute the success of the psychology internship and residency programs to teamwork. Coming together was the beginning, and working together was the success. From the support of the department’s leadership team and the institutional leadership teams to the unit teams, the success of the residency program is based on teams working together. As Secretary Inch said, “We have success based on our many teams that form our incredible agency… a team of teams.” The Florida Department of Cor- rections is the third largest state prison system in the country and a respected national leader in correc- tions. The American Psychological Association is the largest association of psychologists in the world. For more information about how to start a psychology doctoral internship or post-doctoral residency program in a correctional setting and/or prepare for APA accredita- tion, please contact Dr. Aufderheide at dean.aufderheide@fdc.myflorida. com or Dr. Culbreath at thomas. culbreath@fdc.myflorida.com. Dr. Dean Aufderheide is the chief of Mental Health Services for the Florida Department of Corrections and president for the Psychology Doctoral Internship and Residency programs. Dr. Thomas Culbreath, a graduate of the internship class of 2008, is the training director for the Psychology Doctoral Internship and Post-Doctoral Residency programs and spearheaded the preparation for accreditation of the residency program.

As Secretary Inch said, “We have success based on our many teams that form our incredible agency… a team of teams.”

FDC Secretary Mark Inch Florida Department of Corrections

graduate of the psychology residency program has successfully passed the EPPP and is currently licensed as a psychologist. “Achieving this level of distinction in a correctional setting is unprecedented and acknowledges the commitment made by the FDC and its administration to strive for excellence and a position of national leadership in the provision of men- tal health care to those in our state facilities,” said Thomas Reimers, director of Health Services. Dr. Aufderheide and Dr. Culbreath

80 — November/December 2019 Corrections Today