Title of Effective Practice: - California Postsecondary Education ...

Direct Connection to Policy Area 1 of The Illinois Commitment
Professional Classroom/Practicum Education Preparing Students for Emplyment in the Field of
Health/Mental Health
Adler School of Professional Psychology
What issue or need is addressed by the effective practice?
Through student clinical training/practicum at the Dreikurs Psychological Services Center, as well as other
external practicum sites, mental health services can be provided to those indivuduals and communities which
would otherwise have little or no access to such services, or would not be able to afford such services.
Description of the effective practice:
Students provide mental health services to clients at the Dreikurs Psychological Service Center on the Adler
School campus, as well as service as clinicians at external sites, usually serving underprivleged/
underrepresented communities. The practicum experience creates better qualified, more well rounded, and more
professional students who then may seek more diverse positions of employment after graduation.
How does this practice achieve sustainability?
By creating more students who are better adept to serve underprivleged/underrepresented populations, more
opportunity is created for those communities to seek mental health services from clinicians who are experienced
and sympathetic to their cultural scenarios. This increases the likelihood that such communities will seek and be
bettered by these newly available mental health services, and be better able to positively contribute as members
of society.
What are the results/measurable outcomes?
This program increases the number of graduates employed as clinicians or other mental health
workers/advocates for underprivileged communities, as well as the way clients and communities are affected.
Contact Information
Name: Jo Beth Cup
Email: jcup@adler.edu
Phone: (312) 201-5900
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