Internship Orientation Information
Welcome to the Addictions Studies internship. This experience will provide you with a wonderful opportunity to put all of the things you have learned into action! In fact, many Addictions Studies alumni call the internship a highlight of their preparation for professional practice.
You will be able to make the most of this opportunity if you begin taking appropriate steps to prepare for it well before the time that your internship begins. The information that you will need is laid out in this orientation document. Study it carefully and be sure to contact the Clinical Coordinator, David O’Donnell, or your advisor if you have questions.
Preparing for the Internship
Planning for the internship placement is a collaborative effort between the student and the Addictions Studies Clinical Coordinator. You should begin your discussions with the Clinical Coordinator at least six weeks before the end of the trimester preceding the internship. You will definitely need that much time to choose the site that best meets your professional needs, to meet with your potential site supervisor, and to complete the necessary paperwork.
You will find that GSU offers a number of alternative placements. The Clinical Coordinator can give you a list of programs that are licensed by the Illinois Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and that have affiliation agreements with our program. If you have identified another site, you can seek approval from the Clinical Coordinator. If you plan on becoming a certified addiction counselor, however, your internship must give you supervised clinical experience and must take place at a facility that is licensed to provide substance abuse treatment in Illinois. If, like many Addictions Studies students, you are already certified, you may choose among clinical, prevention, or administrative options. The Clinical Coordinator will be able to work with you as you make these important decisions.
Apply for Candidacy
Students are eligible to register for the Internship course (ADDS 880) when they have completed their core coursework. When you have completed the prerequisites and required core courses outlined in your study plan, you may apply for candidacy. Only after your candidacy has been approved will you be eligible to register for the remaining required courses: ADDS 880 (Internship), ADDS 865 (Internship Seminar, which is taken at the same time as the internship), and ADDS 869 (Comprehensive Examination).
Complete the application for candidacy and turn it in to the Addictions Studies office. Once your advisor has approved your candidacy, the Clinical Coordinator can grant you the permission you will need to register for your internship.
Arrange for Liability Insurance
Each student must have his or her own liability insurance in place before beginning to work with clients. You may arrange for coverage with the insurance company of your choice. One option is the American Counseling Association Insurance Trust. Information and applications for this liability insurance are available on-line at www.hpso.com. The annual premium for students is $20 for $1,000,000 coverage.
The Internship Course
ADDS 880: INTERNSHIP
ADDS 880 is a three (3) credit hour course. In order to receive credit for the course, you must spend 300 clock hours doing fieldwork under supervision. You will have a university instructor for the course (normally the clinical coordinator). You will also have a field supervisor on-site at the agency. Your field supervisor will play an important role in evaluating your work, but the course instructor will give you your final grade. The course syllabus provides detailed information concerning the course requirements.
In order to complete the required clock hours in one trimester, you would have to schedule approximately twenty hours a week for internship. If you are unable to schedule a full twenty hours per week, you should discuss the schedule with the Clinical Coordinator in advance so that you can work out a two-trimester option.
ADDS 865: INTERNSHIP SEMINAR
Addictions Studies 865 is a one-credit course that is taken concurrently with the Internship. As a rule, the course is scheduled to meet for two hours every other week (alternating with internship meetings). Check the official course schedule to find out the days and times that the course will meet. The course syllabus provides detailed information concerning the course requirements.
Waiver Eligibility
ADDS 880 and ADDS 865 are core courses that are required for the MHS in Addictions Studies. If you have extensive experience and competence in the field, this requirement might be waived. If your internship is waived, you will have to take additional electives in place of the internship hours. You may apply for a waiver if you have at least five years of paid clinical/counseling experience in a licensed substance abuse treatment facility and you have been certified by IAODAPCA for at least two hours. You must submit written verification, including employer verification and copies of certification documents.
Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher for all graduate courses attempted; Earn a grade of "B" or better in six of the following eight courses: ADDS610, ADDS720, ADDS815, ADDS821, ADDS825, ADDS835, ADDS845, and ADDS855.
