Making DCSD a Destination for Mental Health Training

School psychologists play an important role in providing Pre-K through 12th grade students mental health services including evaluations, counseling, academic and behavioral intervention, safety assessments and support, and crisis response. They are trained in psychology, child development, and education. The growing mental health crisis, paired with an increased need for school psychologists, has resulted in a shortage. 

Many doctoral school psychology programs only admit a handful of students each year. Additionally, according to the Colorado Department of Education, in 2023 there were 1,635 people who held a school psychology license with 616 of these people not working in school psychology roles, resulting in 37.7% of the potential workforce working in other professions. 

One of the most promising strategies to recruit and retain school psychologists working in schools is a “grow your own program.” 

In August, DCSD’s team of mental health professionals earned a rare accreditation after a long and thorough process. The accreditation is retroactive for the 2024-25 school year.

DCSD is part of the Colorado School Psychology Internship Consortium. This is a collaborative effort of the DCSD, Aurora Public Schools, and the University of Colorado Denver to pool and share resources for the purpose of creating a high-quality doctoral internship opportunity that meets the unique clinical and workforce needs of the Denver metropolitan area. The aim is to prepare and retain doctoral school psychologists to provide responsive behavioral and mental health care to children, adolescents, and families in school settings. 

DCSD doctoral interns become a licensed psychologist in addition to getting their school psychology credential, and American Psychology Association accredited internships provide high-quality training in clinical practice and specialties. Programs are required to go through a rigorous process to become accredited. DCSD's program, as part of the consortium, has received full accreditation for the next 10 years. This important distinction attracts top doctoral students from across the country, as most graduate programs require an accredited internship. DCSD's program grows sought-after professionals who often are hired on after they complete their internship. This accreditation enables graduates to have a streamlined path to licensure, a supportive introduction to the district, and highly trained supervisors furthering their development into the profession.

A doctoral graduate student attends a four- to six-year program dependent upon whether they already have earned their masters degree. To obtain an internship they go through a stringent match process, similar to the process for placement of medical residents. There are approximately 782 psychology internships in the country with only 17 school district internship programs; and 24 internship programs in Colorado with only 2 school district programs. The only one in the Denver Metro area is in DCSD. 

This episode is highlighted by the leader of the district’s mental health team and originator of the newly accredited program, as well as a doctoral intern and his experienced mentor.  

Guests this week: 

• Dr. Stephanie Crawford-Goetz, DCSD Director of Mental Health
• Dr. Ryan Trowbridge, School Psychologist at Cresthill Middle School
• Joel Flores, School Psychologist Intern

Resources

DCSD Mental Health Support and School Providers