Forensic Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Handbook

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR THE MEDICAL SCIENCES (UAMS)/ARKANSAS STATE HOSPITAL AND

THE DIVISION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

SERVICES

FORENSIC

PSYCHOLOGY

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

HANDBOOK

2017 – 2018

Mark M. Peacock, Ph.D.

Director, Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology

Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

MISSION AND VALUES

The Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology at UAMS/Arkansas State Hospital is designed to train clinical psychologists in the specialized area of forensic psychology. The goal of the program is to provide the highest quality didactics and training experiences by offering a year-long combination of seminars (e.g., landmark cases) and forensic evaluations under the supervision of qualified, licensed forensic practitioners. Upon completion of the program, forensic fellows will be prepared to work in forensic settings and to engage in the independent practice of forensic psychology, subject to the statutory limitations of their jurisdiction. It is our desire for our trainees to become leaders in the practice of forensic psychology.

The primary emphases of the program are as follows:

(a) recognition of the ethical and practical differences between clinical and forensic

practice

(b) consumption of and adherence to research impacting forensic practice

(c) awareness of current controversies in the field

(d) facility with the selection and use of specialized forensic test instruments

(e) knowledge and application of relevant landmark mental health case law, including the

standards for admissibility of expert testimony in federal and state courts

(f) preparation of fellows to provide expert testimony in federal and state courts

The postdoctoral fellowship program is dedicated to training its fellows in accordance with the highest standards of practice. At minimum, trainees and supervisors commit themselves to complying with the ethical standards articulated by the relevant professional groups, including the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists, and the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing.

The Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology at UAMS/ASH offers a unique opportunity for psychology fellows to train alongside psychiatric fellows in the UAMS Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Training Program. The UAMS Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship has been in existence since 2007, and psychology fellows will attend numerous lectures and didactic seminars taught and attended by psychiatry fellows and faculty. In this regard, the Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology represents only one of three joint forensic psychiatry-psychology postdoctoral training programs in the United States.

THE HOSPITAL

Sponsoring Institution

Our Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology is offered through the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and funded by the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Behavioral Health Services. Fellows will work full-time at the Arkansas State Hospital. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ College of Medicine is one of six academic units of UAMS, the state’s principal biomedical research center. The college’s faculty members are on staff not only at the UAMS Medical Center but at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Arkansas State Hospital, the McClellan Veterans Administration Hospital, the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute, and the Area Health Education Centers around the state.

Arkansas State Hospital

The Arkansas State Hospital (ASH) is a psychiatric inpatient facility located in the heart of Little Rock, Arkansas. ASH is licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, and is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC). ASH operates a total of 222 patient beds in three service areas: General Adult, Forensic, and Adolescent. The Arkansas State Hospital has been providing quality psychiatric care to the citizens of Arkansas since 1873.

Forensic Service

The Forensic Service is comprised of four 24-bed adult units whose mission is to assess and treat individuals with mental illness who have allegedly committed a crime, and to consult with the Court of record and Law Enforcement. All persons treated on Forensic services are court-ordered for either an evaluation or treatment. Fellows will also be expected to perform outpatient forensic evaluations for persons court-referred but not yet admitted. In 2013 approximately 1,800 adult forensic evaluations were ordered in the state of Arkansas.

General Adult Service

The General Adult Service is comprised of three 30-bed units for persons 18 years of age or older. All admission to these units must first be screened by one of the 15 community mental health centers (CMHC’s) to assure appropriateness of admission, continuity of care, and treatment within the least restrictive setting. Each CMHC offers an array of services from brief intervention therapies to long-term community support services. The CMHC’s offer 24-hour emergency care and persons in need of more restrictive care may be treated in a local hospital or crisis unit, where possible. It is the philosophy of the Division of Behavioral Health Services that responsibility, authority, and accountability for client services should be at the local level.

Adolescent Service

The Adolescent Service is comprised of two units: an 18-bed coeducational program for adolescents 13- to 17-years of age who are in need of acute or residential care; and an 18-bed program for adolescent male sexual offenders 13-17 years of age. Patients may be referred by their guardians, local CMHC’s, other divisions of the Department of Human Services, private treatment providers, or the juvenile courts.

In addition to the fellowship, ASH is committed to the education of mental health providers and serves as a training site for nursing, medical, social work, and psychology students and trainees. Many members of our clinical staff serve on the faculties of UAMS and other local universities. ASH has an APA-approved pre-doctoral clinical psychology internship, and is the primary clinical site for the UAMS Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program

THE LOCATION

ASH is located in the heart of Little Rock, Arkansas, the capitol of the state and its most heavily populated city. Home to roughly 200,000 residents, Little Rock is positioned in the center of the State of Arkansas; and located on the south bank of the Arkansas River. Fourche Creek and Rock Creek run through the city, and flow into the river. The western part of the city is located in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. Northwest of the city limits are Pinnacle Mountain and Lake Maumelle.

Little Rock, Arkansas, is a vibrant and relatively youthful city. As of 2010, the median age of persons living within the city limits was 34-years; and roughly one-third of people living in Little Rock are between the ages of 25 to 44. The Brookings Institution ranked Little Rock as the seventh best metropolitan economy in the U.S. in 2009; with the second best overall growth from 2008 to 2009 behind Des Moines, Iowa.

Little Rock boasts a number of attractions, including the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library, Little Rock Central High School, Riverfront Park and the River Market District, and the Robinson Center Music Hall. Each year the city hosts a marathon, and each summer the recently constructed Dickey-Stephens Park plays host to the Travelers Baseball Club, the AA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The beloved Arkansas Razorbacks football team also plays one game each fall in Little Rock at the classic War Memorial Stadium, which is within walking distance of ASH.

The popular and historic Hot Springs National Park and Hot Springs, Arkansas, with its famous bath houses and Oaklawn Racing Park is within a two hour drive from Little Rock. Little Rock is also less than three hours’ drive from the world-renowned Murfreesboro, Arkansas, “Crater of Diamonds” State Park; historic Eureka Springs; and scenic Petit Jean Mountain and Cedar Falls National Recreation Trail.

Furthermore, the Little Rock National Airport offers convenient access to seventeen national/international gateways. It takes less than three hours to drive to Memphis, Tennessee; roughly five hours’ to drive to Dallas; and roughly six hours’ to drive to St. Louis.

STIPEND AND BENEFITS

The fellowship is committed to hiring three full-time Forensic Psychology Fellows. Fellows will be employees of the University of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences, but are paid through the sponsoring agency of the Arkansas DBHS and ASH. The stipend for the twelve month appointment from 2017-2018 is $42,000.00. A complete description of benefits can be found at and by clicking on the House Staff or AHEC resident benefits link. The fellowship begins on September 1, 2017.

FELLOW SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

Arkansas State Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, ethnicity, national origin, disability, age, or sexual orientation.

Prospective fellows are recruited nationally amongst individuals who hold a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and who have completed a pre-doctoral internship in clinical psychology. Candidates from APA-accredited institutions and APA-accredited internships are strongly preferred; however, other candidates will be considered as required under state civil service regulations. Prior to beginning the fellowship year, the doctorate must be completed. This helps to ensure that incoming fellows possess core clinical abilities (e.g., test administration and interpretation) that serve as the necessary foundation for developing the expertise in conducting psycho-legal evaluations and writing thorough yet audience-specific assessment reports that integrate the data from various sources.

Fellows are expected to be professional psychologists. In other words, the fellowship expects some degree of independence and autonomous decision-making. Forensic psychology in general, and this fellowship in particular, make strong demands on a professional’s maturity.

After submitting the required documents, the Director will review and confirm that all required materials have been received prior to the deadline date. The second level of review is a comprehensive review of all submitted application materials by the Director and members of the Fellowship Committee. A decision is then reached whether to interview the candidate. In-person interviews are required; and are conducted by the Director and at least one other Fellowship Committee member. Final rankings are determined through the consensus of the Director and the Fellowship Committee Members.

Selection Procedure

Program applicants must submit:

-A current CV

-At least three letters of reference, with one of them being from the graduate Director of Clinical Training stating the date of the prospective applicant’s completion (or anticipated date) and standing in the program (sent directly by the authors)

-An original copy of the applicant’s graduate school transcripts (must be sent by graduate school)

-A personal statement regarding the applicant’s interest in the field of forensic psychology

-Two writing samples – preferably previous forensic evaluations such as competency to stand trial or sexual offender risk assessment. If applicants do not have previous forensic experience, then a report of a thorough clinical assessment (i.e., that includes testing) would also be useful.

The deadline for applications for the 2017-2018 academic year isDecember29, 2016. Materials should be sent to the main office of the Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology, c/o Dr. Mark M. Peacock, 305 S. Palm, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205 or via email at .

CORE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FELLOWSHIP

Given the wide range of topics associated with the practice of forensic psychology, the fellowship program at Arkansas State Hospital emphasizes certain core competencies that serve as the necessary base from which expanded forensic practice can develop. While the program cannot promise to provide experiences in every possible area of forensic psychology, the fellowship is devoted to providing as many diverse practice opportunities as possible. Consistent with the Education and Training Guidelines for Forensic Psychology (Forensic Specialty Council, 2013), the fellowship provides training opportunities and didactics aimed at developing competent forensic psychological practitioners. The following reflect the core competencies that all fellows should demonstrate by the conclusion of the fellowship year:

Core Competencies

By the end of the fellowship year, we expect our fellows to have mastered the following core competencies:

Clinical Psychology Practice: Fellows will build upon their prior training to round out their competence in all the areas of general clinical psychology assumed to be required for licensure in most states.

Cultural Competence in Forensic Evaluations and Diagnosis: Fellows will become aware of and sensitive to the many diverse cultural influences impacting an individual’s psychological functioning. This includes becoming familiar with selection and use of appropriate psychological tests with individuals from diverse backgrounds and the integration of cultural considerations into forensic opinions.

Ethical Principles: Fellows will be able to articulate and apply the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct and the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists. They will be able to meaningfully identify and reason through the major areas of potential ethical conflicts in forensic practice.

Forensic Evaluations: Fellows will be able to plan and perform forensic evaluations addressed to the specific referral questions. Fellows will demonstrate the skills of conducting a forensically-relevant clinical interview, use and interpret structured assessment instruments, seek and obtain relevant data, integrate and formulate interpretations consistent with data, and write clear and concise reports that are appropriately focused on the referral issue.

Communication and Consultation: Fellows will be able to communicate clearly to a variety of audiences with different levels of understanding and sophistication. Fellows will not only demonstrate this via written product; but also through providing clear, articulate expert testimony. Fellows will be ready to provide expert testimony in both depositions and in court with clarity and professionalism.

Fundamentals of Law: Fellows are not expected to be legal experts, but they must understand the structure of the legal system and the fundamentals of legal research. Fellows must also be able to find and interpret case and statutory law. Consequently, fellows will become familiar with the landmark cases in mental health law. The development of case law regarding the admissibility of expert testimony in federal and state jurisdictions must be mastered.

Toward the goal of achieving the core competencies listed above, the fellowship program offers a series of core experiences including didactic seminars, supervised practice, and teaching.

Seminars

Advanced Forensic Seminar: This seminar meets weekly throughout the year. There are two required texts, Psychological Evaluations for the Court: A Handbook for Mental Health Professionals and Lawyers, 3rd ed., by Melton et al., and Handbook of Psychology, Volume 11, Forensic Psychology by Goldstein. Cultural considerations and information pertinent to forensic evaluations and diagnosis will be discussed with each topic in an effort to enhance cultural sensitivity and improve the accuracy of evaluation opinions. Supplemental readings will also be provided throughout the year to enhance fellow’s understanding of issues in forensic psychology.

Landmark Case Seminar (with Psychiatry Fellows and Faculty): This intensive seminar meets once per week throughout the year and covers more than 100 of the major landmark cases in mental health law. Fellows can expect to learn how to search for relevant case law, and interpret case law via written legal briefs of each landmark case.

Case Conference Seminar (with Psychiatry Fellows and Faculty): This seminar meets once per month throughout the year and provides an opportunity for fellows to present their own cases and also be exposed to other cases through invited faculty guests. In general, the case conference seminar will overlap in content with the Advanced Forensic Seminar, so that topics covered in the Advanced Seminar will be highlighted by case examples.

Supervised Practice: Arkansas State Hospital Cases

The following types of cases are managed by ASH and are mandatory for all fellows:

Competence to Stand Trial (CST) & Mental State at the time of the Offense (MSO):Until 2012, Arkansas law requires that forensic psychologists address issues related to CST and MSO within the same report. Per revised Arkansas statute; however, courts are required to separate orders for evaluations on a defendant’s CST and MSO. The long-term hope was that such a bifurcation would streamline the rapidity with which CST referrals could be completed and to decrease the number of MSO evaluations—given the rarity with which such a defense is affirmatively raised. While many state courts have begun conforming evaluation orders to the new statutory requirements, there remain instances in which fellows will be asked to conduct evaluations simultaneously addressing both legal constructs and to submit their reports directly to state circuit courts.