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Practicum Education Program
Background
The Pupil Services and Student Support Programs Practicum Education Program values its working relationship with university student internship programs in Social Work and School Counseling Programs. Practicum Education has long been recognized as an important part of our units that brings significant long-term benefits to our profession as Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) and Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) experts. These benefits include new perspectives, ideas, enthusiasm, and the most up-to-date practices. The university partnerships have led to over 740 successful internship experiences since 2012.Purpose
Our Practicum Instructors and Preceptors offer a variety of unique “hands on” learning experiences in a diverse urban setting to their interns. In addition, Practicum Instructors and Preceptors have an opportunity to share their expertise and sharpen their professional skills. Although internships are unpaid positions, the experience gained by the student will be invaluable in future career pursuits. The Practicum Education Program is one of mutual benefit; the intern expects to learn new tasks and acquire new capabilities, and the PSA Counselor expects to provide an additional resource to their placement.
All Pupil Services and Attendance Counselors are required to follow the same protocols so that Pupil Services and Student Support Programs can provide a positive and professional atmosphere for the interns, school staff and the families served. All counselors participating in the Practicum Education Program must obtain approval from their respective program administrator and work-site administrator.A Day in the Life of a PSA Counselor (Pop-out Video)
Program Services
- Intern: The PSA/SSP Intern will gain practical work experience in the areas of counseling, case management, and collaborative work with both school and community support systems. The intern position supports LAUSD student experiencing difficulties in achieving their academic potential due to social/emotional, home and community barriers.
With the support and guidance of the practicum instructor, the intern will utilize a three-tiered model (prevention, early intervention, and intensive intervention) to improve individual and system-wide student attendance, engagement, achievement, and graduation. The intern is expected to participate in practicum placement either 4 hours, 16 hours, or 20 hours per week from September-May depending on their respective university program requirements. As a student intern, they must also adhere to all District policies and procedures. - Practicum Instructor: Practicum Instructors are primarily responsible for the training and supervision of assigned intern(s). They facilitate the placement experience, assess student competencies, evaluate the intern's professional development, work directly with our university partners, and dedicate one-hour weekly supervision and planning.
- Preceptor: Under the direction of an intern's Practicum Instructor, Preceptors take responsibility for a piece of the student's learning, often teaching a specific area of expertise or skill. Preceptors do not work directly with our university partners but may precept for fellow PSA, SSP, or School Mental Health (SMH) colleagues. Additionally, Preceptors can take interns who are working solely on their CWA hours.
- Central Team Support: The Practicum Education Program Leads collaborate with different universities and departments within LAUSD to ensure accountability and compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), applicable laws, policies, procedures, data collection, and training/professional development related to interns.
University Partners
Pupil Services and Student Support Programs is accepting interns from the following University Partners (Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) have been established):
University
Program(s)
California Lutheran University (CLU)
Counseling, PPSC, CWA
California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH)
(1) Social Work (MSW)
(2) Counseling, PPSC, CWA
California State University, Fullerton (CSUF)
Social Work (MSW)
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)
Social Work (MSW), PPSC, CWA, Post MSW- PPSC, CWA
California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA)
(1) Social Work (MSW)
(2) Counseling - School Based Family Counseling Program (MFT) PPSC, CWA
California State University, Northridge (CSUN)
(1) Social Work (MSW)
(2) Counseling, PPSC, CWA
Concordia University Irvine
Counseling, PPSC
Loyola Marymount University (LMU)
Counseling, PPSC, CWA
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Social Welfare (MSW), PPSC, CWA
University of Southern California (USC)
Social Work (MSW), PPSC, CWA
If you are a University with a program in School Counseling and/or Social Work and interested in partnering with LAUSD PSA/SSP Practicum Education Program, please contact the Practicum Education Coordinators:
Pupil Services
Student Support Programs
Admin: Rebecca Mena, PSA Specialist
Email: ram9788@lausd.net
Admin: Erin Campbell, Administrative Coordinator
Email: emc5498@lausd.net
Lead: Sylvia Zuniga Zepeda, PSA Counselor
Email: szz9696@lausd.net
Lead: Karen Gonzalez, District Support Counselor
Email: karen.j.gonzalez@lausd.net
- Intern: The PSA/SSP Intern will gain practical work experience in the areas of counseling, case management, and collaborative work with both school and community support systems. The intern position supports LAUSD student experiencing difficulties in achieving their academic potential due to social/emotional, home and community barriers.
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Contact
Student Support Programs Director:
Denise Miranda, Ed. D.
denise.miranda@lausd.netPupil Services & Attendance Director:
Elsy Rosado
Email: eyr3367@lausd.netAddress:
333 S. Beaudry Ave. 29th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
P: (213) 241-3840Follow Us:
