The purpose of the Johnson County Mental Health Center (JCMHC) Field Experience Program is to partner with area institutions of higher learning to provide their students with relevant training and work experience while enhancing JCMHC consumer services and increasing community awareness of JCMHC resources and services. We are committed to ensuring that students have exemplary experiences while continuing to provide JCMHC consumers with high quality services. Students are an important part of our team. These Field Experience Guidelines are designed to provide fair and equal treatment to all students placed at JCMHC. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in termination of the student’s placement.

Students interested in field experience with JCMHC must review these guidelines and submit the completed Field Experience Application to MNH-students@jocogov.org. If selected for field experience at JCMHC, you will receive an official notification email and Student Agreement to be signed by you and your JCMHC Field Instructor. Kansas and Missouri background checks will be completed on all potential students by office management staff. Questionable activity on a background check will be reviewed by our Human Resources Department, possibly resulting in denial of acceptance into the Student Field Experience Program at JCMHC.

Each student will be assigned a Field Instructor who is responsible for providing training, instructions, supervision, and evaluation of performance. All students who have clinical responsibility should receive a minimum of one hour of supervision per week, in accordance with most academic programs. Clinical supervision may be completed in a group setting. 

Students are asked to consult with their Field Instructors to arrange appropriate work schedules, making sure to advise the Instructor of any change in schedule during their time at JCMHC. Evaluations and feedback on the student’s work should be provided as needed and according to school requirements. Evaluations provide the opportunity to review the student’s work and ensure that the field experience and instruction are meeting academic needs.

Students are required to track hours for their time at JCMHC. It is very important to report accurate hours to ensure that school requirements for hours of experience are met.

Students are required to attend JCMHC trainings relevant to the field experience placement by enrolling in the earliest possible training sessions available. Most JCMHC trainings are available at no cost to the student. It is the Field Experience Instructor’s responsibility to provide on-the-job training and to relay all relevant JCMHC communications in a timely manner.

JCMHC students are an important part of our team and are asked to conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner at all times. Due to the confidential nature of our work, each student will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. JCMHC, state, and federal confidentiality rules and regulations concerning consumer information govern students and staff. All files, records, documents, notes, reports, memoranda, or other materials generated by students in connection with their work at JCMHC are the sole property of JCMHC. 

JCMHC is committed to providing outstanding experience, supervision, and training for students. If problems arise with the team placement, the Field Instructor and student should discuss the problems, determine possible solutions, and review goals and performance expectations. All problem areas and interventions should be clearly identified and documented as a part of this process.

Occasionally, a situation may arise which cannot be resolved. In such an event, it may be necessary to discontinue or alter the Field Experience or Instruction arrangement. Possible grounds for termination of Field Experience may include, but are not limited to, the following: gross misconduct or insubordination, abuse or mistreatment of consumers or coworkers, working while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, theft of property or misuse of JCMHC property or materials, failure to satisfactorily perform assigned duties, and failure to abide by policies or procedures. 

JCMHC does not provide health or liability coverage to students participating in Field Experience. As such, for clinical student placements, the School must provide written assurance or evidence of professional liability insurance coverage which is deemed acceptable by JCMHC in the amount of $1,000,000 per claim or occurrence and $3,000,000 annual aggregate. Proof of such coverage may not be required for non-clinical students, depending upon the placement.

Students must inform their Field Instructors of their impending departure at least two (2) weeks in advance. Members of the JCMHC Staff Development Team will conduct an an exit interview before students may exit the JCMHC Field Experience Program.