A model training program for child mental health specialists.

The Child Mental Health Specialist Training Program was established in 1970 at Camarillo State Hospital to train personnel specifically for work with mentally disturbed and delinquent children in a variety of settings. In collaboration with local colleges, the two-year program offers training at the master's-, bachelor's-, and associate-degree levels. Its focus is on clinical experience, supplemented by academic courses taught by staff of the Camarillo Children's Treatment Center. The authors describe the growing need for qualified child-care workers, the concepts underlying the program's structure, and the operation of the program. They emphasize the importance of designing training programs to produce versatile and flexible workers with skills that are adaptable to changing treatment approaches.