Adult Track and Forensic Sub-Track

The four positions in the Adult Track focus on work with adults. Two general Adult Track interns meet their core requirements in the adult services of University Behavioral HealthCare (UBHC) in Newark. Two forensic sub-track interns meet their core requierements in University Correctional HealthCare (UCHC), a subsidiary of UBHC. UCHC operates all mental health services in the state prison system, and settings for the adult track internship (or Adult electives) within UCHC include Northern State Prison (for men) in Newark, Edna Mahon Correctional Facility for Women in Clinton, and the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center (for sex offenders) in Avenel. Because of the locations of these facilities, interns who take core or elective experiences in these settings must have access to their own cars. Adult track interns are expected to have some experience with the geriatric population in the course of the program. All Adult interns may participate in elective rotations in adult programs (in UBHC or UCHC) or child programs at UBHC, or at University Hospital.

Within the Adult Track, there is a heavy emphasis on working with seriously and persistently mentally ill adults. Interns learn about the multiple psychological, medical, and social needs of this population, and work with clients across the continuum of care.

All Adult Track interns will participate in didactics, most of which will be held jointly with the Child Track interns, and occasionally with Psychiatry fellows and residents.

Two of the Adult Track positions are identified as a “Forensic Sub-Track”. These positions are reserved for interns with particular interest in working with clients within the correctional system, and offers opportunities to work with the full range of behavioral difficulties in both male and female populations. This intern will also develop a first-hand appreciation for the interface of psychology and forensic issues as these impinge on these clients and the staff in this setting. The “forensic sub-track” intern(s) will complete the full-year outpatient experience, the half-year partial hospital experience including acute crisis/stabilization, the half-year intake experience, and some of the testing requirements at UCHC, for a total of about 2.5 – 3 days per week. Elective rotations can be taken at UBHC in Newark or within UCHC.

While the “Forensic Sub-Track” interns will be required to complete the bulk of the core experience within UCHC, other interns may take some core and some elective experiences at UCHC as well.