he dramatic change in survival of childhood cancer patients over

Few empirical studies have examined how doctoral psychology training programs introduce corrections as an area of study or a venue for practice, making it difficult to understand the link hetween academic programs and a psychology services workforce in corrections. A representative group of directors of American Psychological Association accredited doctoral programs in clinical and counseling psychology {N = 170) were surveyed for information on corrections coursework, faculty interest, and practicum opportunities. More than half the programs offered exposure to clinical practice in corrections; largely practicum and rarely specific coursework. Faculty considerations were the most frequently nominated factors that limited correctional training in doctoral programs. The discussion focuses on implications for policy and practice in the training of the corrections workforce and in developing corrections-competent faculty.

Clinical practice experiences involving the delivery of psychological services in correctional and forensic settings can improve quality of care for underserved populations. The systematic study of how and where these experiences are obtained is also an integral yet empirically unexplored aspect of developing a workforce uniquely qualified for clinical practice in corrections. This study examines the clinical services provided by psychological practicum students to offenders in corrections, the clinical expertise they gain from doing so, and selected aspects of the training programs that place them in correctional settings. Eighty-eight chief psychologists from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP; response rate ϭ 95%) provided information on psychology services delivered as part of practicum training. Twenty-six institutions were identified as hosting doctoral level psychology students. The most frequent clinical services provided were in individual therapy, group therapy, and assessment. More than a third of the institutions had students on site for 16 hours or more per week. Among the 26 institutions, urban and Mid-Atlantic correctional institutions were most likely to be guiding students to provide services and obtain experience. As students gain and refine their clinical practice skills in corrections, it is hoped that these skills will later be applied in criminal justice systems to the benefit of both offenders and the staff responsible for their custody and care.

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Pediatric oncology nurses face many challenges in treating the pain associated with childhood cancer. The type and severity of pain children with cancer experience varies from acute, short-term, procedure-related pain to the progressive chronic pain associated with terminal illness. In addition, the unfounded fears of using strong narcotic analgesics and the underutilization of psychological techniques to treat pain in children limit the effectiveness of pain management. Armed with objective data, pediatric oncology nurses can work with other members of the cancer treatment team to provide relief from the pain associated with the diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer.