Introduction:
Kennedy Krieger Institute is a specialty pediatric and rehabilitation hospital with an international reputation for treating children with developmental disabilities. The internship provides training in assessment and treatment of children with developmental disabilities as well as typically-developing children. Please see the following video for highlights of the Kennedy Krieger mission and experience:
Clinics within Kennedy Krieger serve as training locations for the internship. These include the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress and the Center for Developmental Behavioral Health. Kennedy Krieger Institute is affiliated with the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. Interns have their clinical appointment with the title “Psychology Intern” through the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSOM). The intern’s clinical training is located at one primary site throughout the training year for four days per week, with a one-day per week rotation at another site to provide breadth of exposure and experience. Office space, computer access, and administrative/ scheduling support, are provided for the intern.
The core faculty of the doctoral internship is made up of six licensed psychologists. All of the training supervisors specialize in the assessment and treatment of children and families, each having particular expertise in specialty areas. The internship is funded as part of the operating budgets of the Kennedy Krieger departments. Interns receive a stipend of $35,000 for the training year in addition to paid medical and dental benefits for the intern, vacation and sick leave, a week of leave for conference attendance, and a $500 allowance for presenting at conferences.
Please note, there are two separate doctoral psychology internships at Kennedy Krieger Institute. If you are looking for Behavior Psychology/Neuropsychology, please visit their page.
Individual and Cultural Diversity:
The program recognizes the importance of cultural and individual differences and diversity in the training of psychologists. Our training programs follow Kennedy Krieger Institute’s policy, as an equal opportunity employer, of commitment to diversity at all levels. The internship training program welcomes and encourages qualified individuals to apply and enter on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance, and merit and embraces cultural and individual differences including but not limited to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, national origin, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, veteran status and socioeconomic status.
As a way of improving our efforts to eliminate systemic racism and to promote social justice and equity within the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress, we have formed the Coalition for Transformative Antiracism and Equity (CTAE) in addition to strategic planning and coordinated action at all levels. This work follows from previous long-term efforts by our former Cultural Awareness Committee.
All Kennedy Krieger doctoral interns receive their academic appointments through the Department of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The internship is accredited through the American Psychological Association (APA). The next site visit will be in 2024 or 2025. Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation - American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979
Email: APAAccred@APA.org
Traineeships at Kennedy Krieger Institute are contingent upon being vaccinated for COVID-19. Documentation will be required. Requests for a religious or medical exemption may be granted. Requests for such exemptions must be submitted through the appropriate channels.