The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Earns Presidential Honor for Community Service

CHICAGO, March 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has once again been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Three campuses – Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. – were recognized for their efforts to achieve meaningful and measurable outcomes in communities through service. The Chicago School is a nonprofit university, and one of the leading institutions devoted to psychology, and related behavioral and health sciences.

The 2014 Presidential Honor Roll marks the seventh year that The Chicago School's Chicago Campus has been recognized and the second year for the Los Angeles Campus. The Washington, D.C. Campus applied for and was named to the list for the first time in 2014.

"Community and Service are two of The Chicago School's core values," said President Michele Nealon-Woods, Psy.D. "From their first semester, students are introduced to the centrality of service and giving back. Their programs give them the opportunity for hands-on practicum, internship, and service experiences designed to engage them in the initiatives and activities that can impact the well-being of local and global communities. Nearly 1.2 million service hours were performed in 2014. I applaud our students and faculty for their hard work and thank the Corporation for National Community Service for this distinguished honor."

The Chicago School has helped put students on a lifelong path of civic engagement for more than 35 years through its Engaged Professional Model of Education. The model is based on learning through community service and on preparing students to be engaged and active participants in their communities.

"Mental health professionals play an increasingly important role in assessing and helping to enhance quality of life in communities," said Patricia Arredondo, Ed.D., Chicago Campus President. "Nearly 15 percent of the Chicago Campus's federal work study allocation is dedicated to supporting students working in the communities."

The Chicago School also offers scholarships and fellowships for students to create and implement innovative strategies to positively influence the social, economic and organizational welfare of underserved and diverse communities. Faculty may also access grants that allow them to better integrate service-learning and community-building initiatives into their courses.

"The Los Angeles Campus is particularly proud of its work with the Los Angeles Mission," said Cynthia B. Worthen, Ed.D," Southern California Dean of Academic Affairs. "With support from the Office of Applied Professional Practice, students provide counseling services at the Los Angeles Mission alongside chaplains to develop assessment and treatment plans to help homeless men and women manage mental illness, recover from substance abuse, and increase their chances for permanent and positive life changes."

The Chicago School's Washington, D.C. Campus is affiliated with more than 90 local hospitals, community mental health centers, correctional facilities, private practices and other groups. These affiliations allow students to sharpen their skills and helps partners reduce the cost of care to the individuals they serve.

"Beyond their curricular community-based work, students on the Washington, D.C. Campus fulfill their passion for service through student organizations," said Heather Sheets, Psy.D. Washington, D.C. Campus Dean. "Each semester, groups like the Forensic Psychology Association and the Military Psychology Student Association host events, raise funds, and volunteer time to help improve the psychosocial functioning of individuals and families in our community."

The Chicago School also offers international training and service-learning opportunities in Rwanda, Hong Kong, Peru, and Brazil.  

For more information about The Chicago School, visit www.thechicagoschool.edu or follow @GradPsychology on Twitter.

The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll is an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The President's Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition an institution of higher education can receive for its community service work. CNCS is a federal agency that engages more than 5 million Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, and leads the President's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov/special-initiatives/honor-roll.

About The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Founded in 1979, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) is a nonprofit, private university devoted exclusively to psychology, and related behavioral and health sciences. The university serves nearly 4,500 students across campuses in Chicago; Southern California (Los Angeles and Irvine); and Washington, D.C., as well as through online programs. The Chicago School is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, (WSCUC), and its Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program in Chicago is accredited by the American Psychological Association. A member of the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology, TCSPP is recognized for its distinguished service and outstanding contributions to cultural diversity and advocacy. The community service initiatives on the Chicago Campus have also earned recognition on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for six consecutive years. The Los Angeles Campus gained its second recognition in 2014, and its Washington, D.C. Campus received its first award in 2014. With more than 20 graduate degree programs, thousands of hours of real-world training, and a wealth of international opportunities, TCSPP is the leader in professional psychology education. To learn more, visit www.thechicagoschool.edu.

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SOURCE The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

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