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The Behavioral Health department of BPS has trained students from pre-practicum through internship for over 10 years.
Many of our currently certified staff began working with the nationally recognized BHS department in BPS as students themselves. In 2020, we were delighted to welcome our first class of pre-doctoral interns to a new training program that will meet criteria for both certification through the Massachusetts Department of Education in School Psychology and licensure as an independently practicing psychologist through the Registration of Psychologists for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as Health Service Providers. We are excited to continue to grow and offer wonderful training opportunities to our trainees. Interns engage in the special education evaluation process and gain exposure to all NASP and APA competency areas. In addition, training focuses on trauma-sensitive practices, teacher consultation, mental health supports, and systems-level support. With multiple local and national partnerships, trainees have access to participate in research, deliver professional presentations and to collaborate with leaders of the field in a variety of ways limited only by trainees' interests and investment.

Doctoral Interns and post-doctoral fellows gain experience with managing caseloads, engaging in behavior consultations, functional behavior assessment, developing behavior support plans, direct interventions, such as group or individual counseling, standardized assessments, reviewing data for eligibility determinations, consulting with school teams, and utilizing a system of tiered supports. Other common activities may include participating in school-based teams, such as Student Support Teams (SST), child study teams, data teams, CBHM/climate and culture teams, and providing professional development opportunities for teachers and other school personnel.

Interns are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to work with specialized staff and students with a wide variety of needs. Potential areas may include working in programs that support early childhood, multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), students on the Autism spectrum, and those with developmental disabilities. In addition, BPS also serves students with complex emotional impairments, learning disabilities, and students in post-secondary transition. Trauma-sensitive training and practice is embedded throughout all areas of our work in BPS. For school psychologists working within BPS, there is a strong emphasis on leadership experiences, participation in district research and implementation teams, and involvement with community mental health initiatives. The BPS School Psychology Internship Training Program (BPSSPIP) offers you the unique opportunity to complete your internship in an urban district that qualifies as a health service agency. This one year internship will provide you with a wide array of training experiences. Interns have the opportunity to further hone their professional and communication skills, clinical and consultation skills, and leadership and systemic change skills within an urban environment - all with ongoing support and guidance to help prepare them for a successful career as a leader within the profession of school psychology.