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Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowships

Child Welfare and Trauma Informed Care

The primary goal of the Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship in Child Welfare and Trauma-Informed Care is to provide in-depth training in the field of child welfare and child maltreatment. Fellows will gain knowledge and skills in the areas of assessment, treatment, and multidisciplinary collaboration around issues related to child abuse and neglect. Additionally, fellows will participate in the dissemination of evidence-based, trauma-informed interventions into the multiple systems commonly responsible for the care of youth in state custody. By the end of the training period, fellows will develop intermediate to advanced levels of competence in the areas of:

  • Psychological assessment
  • Evidence-based treatment for various forms of child abuse and neglect
  • Multidisciplinary Collaboration
  • Advocacy
  • Professional ethics in the area of child maltreatment
  • Developing a professional role in the field of child abuse and neglect

The UTHSC Center of Excellence (UT COE) is part of a statewide network of pediatric referral centers established to serve children in state custody and those at risk of entering state custody. The UT COE assists Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and community providers in West Tennessee by improving behavioral health services for these children through direct and consultative means. The UT COE is comprised of an interdisciplinary clinical staff, including psychiatry, psychology, developmental pediatrics, social work, and speech pathology.

The UT COE also collaborates with state agencies to identify, develop and disseminate trauma-informed best practices into child-serving systems. Treatment models disseminated include: Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT); Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC); Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT); and treatment of Children with Sexual Behavior Problems. UT COE also trains foster parents and child welfare workers in specific curriculums developed by the NCTSN. The UT COE is an Affiliate site of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN).

Responsibilities within this position include child evaluations surrounding trauma issues and developmental functioning, as well as assessment of a range of emotional and behavioral problems evidenced by children who have experienced abuse and neglect; consultation with caregivers, child welfare workers, teachers, and other service providers regarding effective interventions; supervision of psychology trainees; opportunities for program development and evaluation; participation in didactic learning experiences and scholarly presentations; opportunities for providing evidence-based treatment, such as TF-CBT,PCIT, and treatment for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems. The typical population served is diverse in ethnicity/race and geographic location (e.g., urban and rural).

For additional information, please see our  Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Brochure.

Applicants must have a doctorate (PhD, PsyD or EdD) in clinical, counseling, or school psychology. Completion of all professional doctoral degree requirements from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or an APA/CPA accredited program and predoctoral internship meeting APPIC standards is required before starting the fellowship. The postdoctoral fellowship meets Tennessee’s psychology licensure requirements. Applicants must be licensed or license-eligible as a Provisional or Temporary Psychologist in the State of Tennessee. It is required that the fellow sit for the EPPP and State of Tennessee Ethics and Jurisprudence Examination as soon as possible in the fellowship year and apply for one of the aforementioned licensures.

The following application materials may be submitted directly or uploaded via APPA CAS:

  • Letter of interest
  • Current CV
  • Work sample
  • Three letters of reference
  • Official graduate school transcript

Completion of a background check will be required before an offer of a position can be finalized.  Application deadline is January 16, 2023 or until position is filled by a qualified applicant. 

The University of Tennessee Postdoctoral Fellowships are part of the UT Professional Psychology Internship Consortium, which is an APPIC member program. The stipend is anticipated to be approximately $47,500, including health insurance.

Please contact by email or telephone if you have questions:

Liz Paiml, PhD
Telephone: 901.448.3420
Email: eadams28@uthsc.edu

Nov 2, 2022