The Center for Children and Families (CCF) at Florida International University announces Summer Treatment Program Research Assistant positions. The Summer Treatment Program (STP) provides services to children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Conduct Disorder, Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, learning problems, and related behavior problems. The program provides treatment tailored to children's individual behavioral and learning difficulties.
The dates of employment for the Research Assistant position are Tuesday, May 28, 2024, through Saturday, August 3, 2024. Hours of employment are 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Research Assistants are also required to work on Saturday, June 8 (program setup) and Saturday, August 3 (program wrap-up).
Research Assistants will be paid $15/hour, with overtime pay for any hours in excess of 40 per week (total approximate compensation for the summer of $7,800). Current students may also be able to arrange for academic course credit through their university departments.
During the program, children and counselors are assigned to groups that remain constant for the duration of the program. Each group consists of four or five counselors and 10 to 15 children of similar age. Counselors implement an extensive behavior modification treatment program during age-appropriate activities. In addition, children participate in academic classroom activities that are staffed by teachers and classroom aides. The program includes feedback and associated consequences for positive and negative behaviors, daily and weekly rewards for appropriate behavior, social praise and attention, appropriate commands, and age-appropriate removal from positive reinforcement.
Summer Research Assistants support the activities of the STP-E and work with data collected by the counselors and classroom staff during the program. Research Assistants will prepare data collection materials and rating scales, collect and verify parent and staff ratings and questionnaires, will verify counselor-recorded data from daily activities, videotape STP activities for supervision and training purposes, and perform duties related to medication assessments that participating children will undergo during the program such as collecting parental records of medication administration, assisting the program nurse, and preparing ratings of side-effects for data entry. Research Assistants will also conduct reliability observations of the point system implementation and observations of treatment fidelity. Finally, Research Assistants will assist with program activities such as setup and breakdown of recreational equipment and weekly reinforcer activities. Research Assistants will work under the supervision of experienced staff members and will receive regular feedback about their performance.
During the first two weeks of employment, Research Assistants will participate in training activities consisting of lectures, slide and video presentations, testing, and daily active role-plays during which staff members will act as counselors and children during activities such as games, drills, discussions, and time out. Research Assistants will also assist with program setup and preparation of research materials and rating forms.
The Center for Children and Families is directed by William E. Pelham, Jr., Ph.D., who is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Florida International University. The STP has been conducted since 1980 and was named as a Model Program for Service Delivery for Child and Family Mental Health by the Section on Clinical Child Psychology and Division of Child, Youth, and Family Services of the American Psychological Association. The STP has also been used in clinical trials conducted under the auspices of the National Institute of Mental Health and SAMHSA and has been named a program of the year by CHADD, the national parent advocacy group for children with ADHD.
Experience in the STP may be helpful to prepare students for further study or employment in the fields of education, mental health, physical education, pediatrics, psychiatry, recreational therapy, behavior analysis, social work, counseling, and related areas. Staff members have uniformly reported the experience to be the most demanding but also the most rewarding clinical experience of their careers.
Desired qualifications for Research Assistants include: undergraduate-level study in Psychology, Education, Behavior Analysis, Social Work, or related field; experience working with children or adolescents in settings such as summer camps, after-school programs, sports programs, daycare programs, and educational programs; and experience working on research projects and studies.
Participation in the STP requires staff to ensure the safety, well-being and treatment of children and adolescents with mental health, learning, attention and behavior problems. Staff must be able to visually scan the environment, effectively attend to and hear verbal exchanges between children, provide neutral, corrective feedback on children’s misbehavior (which can include aggression), and provide a consistent, warm, positive climate for children. Research Assistants must be able to meet the above requirements of the position.
Positions are competitive so interested individuals should apply as soon as possible.
All finalists must clear a Criminal Background Check initiated by the Division of Human Resources at FIU before an offer of employment will be made. All finalists must be digitally fingerprinted and cleared by the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
Temporary Disclosure
As a temporary employee, you will not be eligible to participate in all employee benefit programs (e.g., paid leave, retirement, or tuition reimbursement).
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), a temporary employee who works on average 30 hours or more per week may be eligible to enroll in health care benefits. As a temporary employee, you are also eligible to enroll in supplemental plans (e.g. dental, vision,) which requires full payment on your part.
Equal Opportunity
FIU is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Equal Opportunity, Equal Access, Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
For a detailed description of the program, and to apply for this position, please visit https://ccf.fiu.edu/summer-programs/summer-treatment-program/index.html