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General Program Goals and Objectives

Research

Goals and objectives: Fellows will be prepared for a career as a scientist practitioner that involves research within their specific field of study. 

Each fellow is expected to take part in research that is significant, empirically sound and ethically appropriate. The degree of involvement and the specific projects will be set between the fellow and their primary mentor at the beginning of the fellowship. Specific goals and expectations for research will be set for each fellowship and reviewed every three to six months. These goals may include but are not limited to:

  • Demonstrating knowledge and understanding of participatory action in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
  • Contributing to a research team/project in a specified way
  • Taking initiative in leading an aspect of research or project
  • Research productivity including submission of abstracts or presentations to scientific meetings and/or papers to scientific journals

Psychology postdoctoral fellows will meet with their mentor and research team on a regular basis. In addition to the didactics listed below, fellows also have the opportunity to attend various research focused workshops through the Department of Pediatrics Core Fellow Curriculum. 

Research will be evaluated on the basis of significance, scientific merit, innovation and human subjects’ issues. In addition, many of the focus areas have specific journal clubs pertinent to their subject area; all fellows are invited to attend these journal clubs. Evaluation for research will take place by determining the degree to which the fellow is accomplishing goals.

Clinical Work

Goals and objectives: At the conclusion of training, we expect fellows will meet the following goals and objectives:

  • Fellow will be able to provide clinical care that is based in theory and empirical knowledge.
  • Fellow will be able to provide clinical care that may include advanced skills in assessment, intervention and/or consultation. Fellows will discuss their clinical training goals with their primary supervisors for each rotation and set goals appropriately to address their individual needs. 
  • Fellow will be able to provide clinical care in a manner, which is sensitive to individual differences of all persons, is non-discriminatory, and which respects and protects human and civil rights.
  • Fellow will be able to provide clinical care only within the context of a professional relationship and according to American Psychological Association Ethical Codes and standards. 
  • Fellow will provide professional consultation in a manner, which respects and protects the individual differences of humans.
  • Fellow will show a primary obligation and take reasonable precautions to respect the confidentiality rights of those with whom they work or consult.
  • Fellow will know procedures for addressing any personal signs of impairment in self, colleagues, and faculty.
  • Fellow prepares clinical documentation accurately and promptly.

Clinical work is a component of every fellowship, comprising at least half of the fellows’ training. This allows most fellows to accrue the required number of hours for licensure in IA over the course of one or two years.

Clinical work may include consultation, assessment and/or intervention and is determined by the specific requirements of the fellowship offering. Clinical work may also occur within the context of a clinical research project. 

Relationships

Goals and objectives: Fellows will be able to interact professionally and responsibly with colleagues from other disciplines, within the field of mental health, schools, and/or the broader specialties within the Hospital. 

  • Fellow interacts professionally and appropriately with supervisors, peer and other hospital staff at all times. Fellow is able to address and manage difference and conflict constructively.
  • Fellow will work effectively as part of interdisciplinary teams or in consultation with other hospital and medical specialty staff and faculty.

All of our fellowships involve working within a “team” setting during their fellowship. This may include an interdisciplinary team within the Hospital or a medical specialty, with a team in the schools or community setting, or within a research team that includes individuals from several different professional disciplines.

Fellows are expected to be respectful of the knowledge base of those from other disciplines or areas of focus, and to provide consultation to those from other disciplines or areas of focus. Fellows may also have the opportunity to shadow individuals from other disciplines to learn about their area of expertise.

Professionalism

Goals and objectives: Fellows will develop a professional identify as well as set of professional values and ethics that will allow them to have a successful career in the field of psychology by meeting the following goals and objectives:

  • Fellow demonstrates good knowledge of ethical principles and consistently applies them appropriately, seeking consultation as needed. The Fellow upholds state laws pertaining for the practice of psychology e.g. informed consent, reporting requirements, confidentiality.
  • Fellow seeks consultation or supervision as needed and uses it productively.
  • Fellow demonstrates conscientiousness and commitment to agency policies and procedures, completes data and record keeping tasks, uses proper channels of communication, participates in and relates well to administrative decisions and goals. She or he meets deadlines for work completion. The Fellow demonstrates the necessary self-direction to practice independently and competently as a professional psychologist.
  • Fellow demonstrates positive coping strategies to manage personal and professional stressors to maintain professional functioning so quality client care and successful professional functioning continues uninterrupted. The fellow copes with professional challenges such as new responsibilities or client crises.
  • The Fellow shows awareness of interaction of own and other’s individual and cultural diversity and context and uses this to inform clinical work.

Teaching

Goal and objectives: Fellows will develop teaching and mentoring skills to prepare them for a career that involves enhancing and monitoring the professional functioning of others within the field of psychology and related disciplines.

  • Fellows are expected to participate in the various didactic opportunities at UISFCH by providing lectures to other students, faculty and potentially colleagues in other disciplines of training. Fellows will also have the opportunity to lead journal clubs, professional development seminars, or group case discussions. 
  • Fellows will also be involved in “tiered supervision” of psychology interns, graduate level externs, and research assistants. The fellows may also have the opportunity to provide mentoring to the students.
  • Supervisors will evaluate fellows’ teaching by determining whether they have accomplished the specific teaching activities set as objectives.