- Joined
- May 14, 2011
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This Summer, I will be interning (unpaid, for-credit) at a short-term (average stay is 20- 30 days) residential treatment program known as a non-secure detention center that offers mental health evaluations and treatment for youth who have been arrested for petty crimes and/or involved in the Person In Need of Supervision (PINS) program that are judged to need it before determining further placement (such a long term residential treatment facility) or community services (such as a case worker, special education services, psychiatric care and so forth). The vast, vast majority of youth in the program suffer from mental health issues and/or problems related to previous trauma. As my role as an intern, I will be helping to organize/run activities, spend time with youth, maintain safety and assist in the case work process. It will be a very active, engaged and responsibility-holding role.
I choose this internship because it is something I am deeply passionate about and want to do. While I was interviewing and touring the facility (which also includes a long-term residential, acute residential, youth shelter, outpatient/day mental health treatment and educational services and others), I truly feel I connected with the teens and other employees. Their philosophy of care -- one in which youth are treated as deserving persons who have just been hurt, instead of delinquents that need correcting -- aligns with my own views. Bottom line: this is something I am doing because my whole heart is in it, not because I want something to put on my resume or AMCAS, and I would hope that shows to anybody who hears me talk about it.
That said, I am curious if this experience would be labeled as a clinical or non-clinical experience, as it seems to be one of those situations that presents a gray area. I would particularly appreciate input from LizzyM and others involved in medical school admissions, though I am open to input from all with relevant experience.
I choose this internship because it is something I am deeply passionate about and want to do. While I was interviewing and touring the facility (which also includes a long-term residential, acute residential, youth shelter, outpatient/day mental health treatment and educational services and others), I truly feel I connected with the teens and other employees. Their philosophy of care -- one in which youth are treated as deserving persons who have just been hurt, instead of delinquents that need correcting -- aligns with my own views. Bottom line: this is something I am doing because my whole heart is in it, not because I want something to put on my resume or AMCAS, and I would hope that shows to anybody who hears me talk about it.
That said, I am curious if this experience would be labeled as a clinical or non-clinical experience, as it seems to be one of those situations that presents a gray area. I would particularly appreciate input from LizzyM and others involved in medical school admissions, though I am open to input from all with relevant experience.
