School-Based Integrated Primary Care

University of Miami School Health Initiative Miami-Dade Public School Primary Care Clinics, including North Miami High School, North Miami Middle School, North Miami Beach High School, John F. Kennedy Middle School, and Booker T High School. This position requires transportation to and from schools in North Miami and/or Overtown.

Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The School Health Initiative (SHI) is a project designed to provide comprehensive healthcare services to children in some of Miami’s severely under-resourced communities. SHI now operates in nine schools, providing care to over 12,000 children per year, regardless of their ability to pay. At our clinics, we offer free primary health care to students on site and facilitate access to specialists at the University of Miami, including psychological interventions. During this rotation, fellows will see a combination of consultation-liaison cases and outpatient therapy cases. Various active research studies are ongoing including analyses of a large COVID-19 vaccine confidence intervention, a youth action participatory project is ongoing, and large school health sceening datasets are available for analyses. Opportunities for group work will be available. Trainees will work closely with the clinic social workers and medical team. Common presenting problems include anxiety, ADHD, depression, trauma, and lack of adherence to medical regimen.

Large database with school health screening data may be available for development of post hoc research projects. Opportunities to co-write manuscripts and grant proposals are available.

Students will work closely with social workers, nurses, and medical providers. Direct involvement with school administrators, teachers, and counselors is likely.

Treatment

Initial psychological intakes, consultations, and outpatient weekly therapy mostly using MI, CBT, DBT, ACT, and Trauma Focused CBT.

Consultations

There will be opportunity for consultation with medical providers/social workers/school administrators and counselors. However, the frequency of the consultations depends largely on the site and providers. Most of the time will be spent in outpatient therapy.

Prevention

There are opportunities for groups focused on health/mental promotion at the school sites. Teacher and medical staff training on child development, basic interventions, and referrals are required. 

Weekly individual and group supervision

Opportunities may exist for supervising interns and practicum students.