EP Program
Psychology/
Counseling
EP
Certification for Providers
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THE EP CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
The EP program includes students from all
the area Masters of Social Work (MSW)
programs,
including Bryn Mawr College, University of Pennsylvania, Temple
University, West Chester
University, and Widener University. BHS service provider agencies who host
MSW students
will almost certainly draw their students from one of these programs.
The EP program provides students who participate with a small stipend in return
for
their
attending a number of educational and training events designed to increase the kinds of
competencies that providers have said are useful in working with
typical BHS consumers.
Topics covered include psychoactive medications, suicide assessment, and the DSM-IV.
Being able to offer participation in the EP program adds to the
attractiveness
of field placements at an agency for students. In addition,
every year a
number
of EP students have gone on to take jobs at their
field placement agencies.
Being able to recruit students who have worked
at and are familiar with the
host agency offers obvious advantages to an employer.
BENEFITS OF EP CERTIFICATION FOR PROVIDER AGENCIES
By becoming “EP Certified,” an agency can offer EP participation to
any MSW
student who is considering doing a field placement.
EP Certified provider agencies demonstrate to students, schools of
social work,
and relevant city agencies that they are making a special effort to be an
outstanding
field placement site for students, and a good choice for post-graduate
employment.
Ten major BHS agencies to date have
participated
in the EP program, and Connections
hopes eventually to involve every provider in the BHS
who hosts social work students.
F Please scroll down
or click here to see
a complete list of benefits.
F
Please click here to see
a typical agreement ("letter of
agreement,"
"memorandum of understanding," etc. can also be used, depending on
provider
preference). EP Certification agreements are not legally binding
documents;
they are used to clarify in advance the role of the school and provider
involved,
and that of Connections.
Please feel free to contact Dr. Max Molinaro (see contact information below,
or click on "Contact Connections" at left to use email) with any questions you
may have.
Dr. Max Molinaro
Office: 215-546-0300 Ext. 6044
Pager: 215-312-1237
Fax: 215-599-5174
Email:
mmolinaro@pmhcc.org
Benefits And Requirements For Providers
Participating In The Enhanced Placement Program
Benefits to provider agencies who participate in the
Enhanced
Placement program include the following:
- Any MSW student doing a
field placement at an “EP Certified” agency
is automatically eligible to participate in the Enhanced Placement program,
regardless of which school the student comes from. The fact that the
agency is EP Certified demonstrates that it is considered by Connections
and appropriate city agencies to be a desirable placement site for students;
- Provider agency staff
will be eligible to attend, at no charge, special
Connections-sponsored educational and training presentations during
the school year, some of which will offer continuing education credits
for staff with professional degrees;
- Any provider staff who
supervise students will be offered special free
Connections-sponsored educational and training opportunities concerning
clinical supervision topics;
- Philadelphia Connections
will arrange for a free presentation for provider
staff covering Consumer and Family Issues in the Behavioral Health System;
- Philadelphia Connections
will consider funding proposals from providers
for special educational and training presentations or training materials for
provider staff, as long as the provider is willing to let other EP participants to
attend when appropriate and feasible.
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To become an “EP Certified” agency, a provider agrees to:
- Designate an agency
contact person (and backup) for Connections;
- Allow provider staff who
are doing field supervision to have time off to
attend the special field supervisor presentations sponsored by Connections
(up to four during the school year), assuming their time can be scheduled to
do so. If there is a problem losing staff billable, Connections will pay
your agency for the field supervisor’s time involved in attending
the presentations;
- Host one Family/Consumer
presentation as mentioned above,
some time during the school year;
- Have an appropriate
staff member certify that, as an agency, you adhere
to the appropriate Community Behavioral Health (CBH) regulations
regarding graduate students.
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This page was updated on: September 25, 2004.