The population is 66 percent male with a diverse ethnic mixture. Treatment approaches are varied but include individual, family, group, pharmacotherapy, behavior therapy, and parent training techniques. Residents have three hours of individual supervision weekly. All second year child and adolescent psychiatry residents participate in a school consultation rotation that runs concurrently with the public school year. The schools selected represent a cross-section of the San Diego Public Schools including both inner city schools and those on the periphery of the inner city.
Emphasis is placed on systems consultation to the faculty, staff, and administration of the school.
In-class observations are a regular component of the consultation experience. Individual resident supervision occurs weekly throughout the school year. Second year residents receive experience in consultation to the Dependency Court and Juvenile Court. Residents perform court-ordered psychiatric assessments and provide court testimony under the direct supervision of a forensic child and adolescent psychiatrist. Residents also participate in a forensic seminar throughout the two years of training.