Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowships
Child Welfare and Trauma Informed Care
The central aim of the Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship in Child Welfare and Trauma-Informed Care is to provide advanced specialty education and training in the assessment and treatment of traumatized children and families. Fellows will gain knowledge and skills in the areas of assessment, treatment, and multidisciplinary collaboration around issues related to child abuse and neglect. Additionally, fellows may have opportunities participate in the dissemination and/or training of evidence-based, trauma-informed interventions into the multiple systems commonly responsible for the care of youth in state custody. The Fellowship aims for fellows to practice and expand on previously held knowledge and skills, develop nuanced knowledge and skills, and experience personal and professional growth that contributes to the development of a competent, independent psychologist. By the end of the training period, fellows will develop intermediate to advanced levels of competence in the areas of:
- Psychological Assessment
- Knowledge of Evidence-Based Treatments
- Multidisciplinary Collaboration
- Advocacy
- Professional Ethics in the Area of Child Maltreatment
- Development as a Professional within the Field of Child Abuse and Neglect
The UTHSC Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody (COE) is part of a statewide network of pediatric referral centers established to serve children in state custody and those at risk of entering state custody. The UTHSC COE assists the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and community providers in West Tennessee by improving behavioral health services for these children through direct and consultative means. The UTHSC COE is comprised of an interdisciplinary clinical staff, including psychology, psychiatry, developmental pediatrics, social work, speech pathology, and education advocacy. Staff assist DCS and community providers in West Tennessee by improving health and behavioral services for children with DCS involvement through direct and consultative means.
The UTHSC COE also collaborates with state agencies to identify, develop, and disseminate trauma-informed best practices into child-serving systems. Treatment models disseminated include: Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT); Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC); Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT); and treatment of Children with Sexual Behavior Problems. UTHSC COE also trains foster parents and child welfare workers in specific curriculums developed by the NCTSN. The UTHSC COE is an Affiliate site of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN).
Responsibilities within this position include child psychological and multidisciplinary evaluations surrounding trauma issues and developmental functioning, as well as assessment of a range of emotional and behavioral problems evidenced by children who have experienced abuse and neglect; consultation with caregivers, child welfare workers, teachers, and other service providers regarding effective interventions; supervision of psychology trainees; participation in didactic learning experiences and scholarly presentations; opportunities for providing evidence-based treatment, such as TF-CBT, PCIT, and treatment for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems. The typical population served is variedÌýin ethnicity/race and geographic location (e.g., urban and rural).
For additional information, please see our ÌýPsychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Brochure.
The program accepts applicants graduating from clinical, counseling, and school psychology programs with a variety of internship experiences but gives preference to applicants from APA-accredited schools and internships. Applicants from non-APA accredited doctoral programs must have attended a regionally accredited institution. Potential fellows must complete all degree requirements, including a predoctoral internship, prior to beginning their fellowship.
Applicants must be licensed or license-eligible as a Provisional or Temporary Psychologist in the State of Tennessee. ÌýWe support fellows in preparing for and taking the EPPP during the fellowship year.
Applications may be submitted through the APPA CAS online system. Applications should include:
• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Interest
• Sample Assessment Report (must include a non-abbreviated cognitive measure)
• Three letters of recommendation
• A copy of the following sections of the APPIC Application for Psychology Internships (APPI):
    – Psychological Assessment Experience
    – Integrated Reports
    – Child Assessment Instruments
• A list of psychological measures and number of administrations over the internship
training year (completed and anticipated)
Completion of a background check will be required before an offer of a position can be finalized.Ìý Application deadline is December 17th, 2025 or until position is filled by a qualified applicant.Ìý
ÌýThe University of Tennessee Postdoctoral Fellowships are an APPIC member program, and are administered through the University of Tennessee Professional Psychology Internship Consortium. The stipend is anticipated to be $47,500, including health insurance.
Please contact by email or telephone if you have questions:
Liz Paiml, PhD
Telephone: 901.448.3420
Email: eadams28@uthsc.edu