Universal Psychology Postdoctoral Directory Entry

Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
San Diego, California

Elements of quality clinically focused postdoctoral training

This training experience is a planned and programmed sequence of training that aims to ensure preparation for advanced practice rather than one that is focused on providing supervised hours for licensure. Yes

This training experience ensures that training takes precedence over service delivery regarding the nature, content, volume, and quality of the postdoc’s activities. Yes

This training experience ensures that postdocs receive at least two hours of individual supervision per week for the duration oof the experience. Yes

This training experience is administered by a doctoral-level licensed psychologist who directs and organizes the training experience and its resources, is responsible for the selection of postdocs, and monitors and evaluates the goals and activities of the experience. Yes

This training experience has two or more doctoral-level licensed psychologists who have sufficient time to provide quality supervision and training.   Yes

This training experience includes regularly scheduled structured educational activities that help postdocs its defined goals. These activities may include didactics, seminars, case conferences, and/or research activities. Yes

This training experience has written Due Process and Grievance procedures. Yes

This training experience has the stable and necessary financial (e.g., stipend) and physical resources (e.g., computers, physical space) needed for effective training. Yes

Richard J. Donovan (RJD) Correctional Facility's postdoctoral fellowship program is a formal APPIC postdoctoral member, but is not APA accredited. That said, the appropriate training and supervision required for licensure in the state of California is provided. The postdoctoral fellows at RJD will provide clinical services to a population of incarcerated individuals with serious mental illnesses. Postdoctoral fellows work with an interdisciplinary team of professionals to treat residents from a whole person perspective. Postdoctoral fellows will provide individual therapy, group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, assessment, treatment planning, behavioral planning, safety planning and suicide prevention efforts, assessment for higher/lower level of care, functional evaluations, and pre-release planning to the residents on their assigned caseload at RJD. Postdoctoral fellows receive 4 hours of clinical supervision while accruing supervised professional experience, and engage in a wide variety of didactic trainings, many of which are approved for continuing education credits by the APA. Postdoctoral fellows have access to an abundance of resources as well as a state laptop with capabilities for virtual supervision and learning. RJD houses male and transgender offenders, ranging from medium to maximum security. RJD has approximately 3500 residents, of which approximately 65% are included in the mental health program. RJD is a high-risk medical facility, a transgender hub, houses inmates with developmental disabilities, hearing/vision impairments. and more. The residents are RJD are extremely diverse in terms of clinical presentation and culture, and allow for complex patient caseloads for the postdoctoral fellow to gain a wealth of knowledge and experience from. Postdoctoral Fellows are RJD are CA state employees and are essential workers.

https://cchcs.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/60/RJDCF-Clinical-Psychology-Postdoctoral-Fellowship-Program-Handbook-2024-2025.pdf

Additional Information

Agency Type: Correctional Institution
APPIC Membership: Yes
APA Accredited: No
Emphasis or focus area: Serious Mental Illness
Other Emphasis: Correctional/Forensic Psychology
Research Time: No research time
Training Director: Dr. Seneca Sharp
Contact Email: seneca.sharp@cdcr.ca.gov
Contact Phone: 619-661-6500 ext 5240
Duration in Months: 12
Hours Per Week: 40
# of Licensed Supervisors: 19
Number of Positions: 0
Applications recieved last year: 12
Accepts Int'l Students
Stipend: $109,284
Will follow APPIC Selection Standards
Created Date: Wednesday, April 26 2023
Unfilled Positions: 0
Fringe Benefits: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Professional Development leave, Paid Time Off. Postdocs may choose to accumulate 11 hours of annual leave every month or 7 hours of vacation and 8 hours of sick leave totaling 15 hours every month. Additionally, postdocs are allotted 16 hours of professional development as well as 40 hours of continuing education leave. In addition, postdocs receive $500 for conference tuition and/or registration fees, cost of course-related books, transportation or mileage expenses, toll and parking fees, lodging and subsistence expenses, and all other related expenses for training/continuing education. This includes courses needed for pre-licensure in the state of CA. Postdocs are also given time off on 11 state holidays: New Year’s Day, MLK Jr Day, President’s Day, Cesar Chavez Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Postdocs may be reimbursed up to $100 for recognized professional association fees. Postdocs are also eligible for up to 24 hours (3 working days) for bereavement leave, and paid time off for mandatory jury duty. Postdocs also have access to current training materials for the EPPP and CPLEE. For a full list of benefits, please email the training director.
Additional Comments: Please contact the Training Director for questions related to the fellowship program, or for a copy of the RJD Clinical Psychology Fellowship program handbook: seneca.sharp@cdcr.ca.gov
Application Instructions: To apply for this position, please submit your application using the APPA CAS system. Application requirements include: Cover Letter, Resume/CV, 2 professional references, 2 writing samples, and certification that you have completed (or are in the process of completing) an APPIC/APA internship. If your internship is not APPIC/APA, you are required to submit a statement from the internship training director that your internship program met APPIC standards. If you have any questions, please email the the training director: seneca.sharp@cdcr.ca.gov.

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