Mission
The UAB Community Counseling Clinic (UAB CCC) seeks to (a) increase access to outpatient mental health counseling services in Alabama, (b) provide an innovative educational experience for graduate counseling students, and (c) operate a flexible research hub capable of accommodating various interests and funding opportunities.
Vision
To become an integral service provider of outpatient counseling services in Alabama and to become an exemplar in the counseling profession through innovations in research, practice, teaching, and clinical training.
Values
Our faculty and student providers seek to accomplish our mission, vision, and strategic goals by conducting ourselves with the highest level of professionalism. Our professional conduct is driven by the following core values:
Accountability: We have a duty to provide responsible and ethical services, to create an effective training site for graduate counseling students, and to conduct ethical and innovative research.
Affordability: We provide effective services at affordable prices to increase community access to outpatient counseling services.
Caring and Responsive Service: We strive to exceed the expectations of our clients and to create a supportive, responsive, and calming atmosphere where everyone is treated with empathy, respect, and dignity.
Collaboration: We seek to build collaborative partnerships with community providers and research entities.
Commitment to Professional Excellence: We offer evidenced-based counseling interventions informed by current research and continually strive toward continuous improvement.
Data Driven: We use data to guide decisions and improve the effectiveness of services.
Developmental Learning: We value the professional growth of counselors as they progress from novice to expert in knowledge, skills, and dispositions.
Integrity: We value honesty, diligence, trustworthiness, moral reasoning, and ethical conduct.
Multiculturalism: We value individual differences and provide a multicultural and sensitive environment free from discrimination.
Student-centered: We strive to prepare counselors who can support the development of clients from childhood through adulthood.
Standards-based: Our training standards are informed by guidelines outlined by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP).
Philosophy
Mental illness leads to impairments in thinking, behavior, and interpersonal functioning that can adversely affect our wellbeing, compromise our performance at work or school, and negatively impact our personal relationships. The goal of our clinic is to promote well-being through therapeutic interventions designed to enhance emotional and psychological health.
Strategic Plan
Goal 1: Quality Enhancement
Expand to Children under 12 (new faculty hired for AY 15-16)
Offer Educational Testing Services (goal removed after investigation)
Build a Clinical Assessment Inventory (expand to include child, couples, and family assessments)
Enhance MCF Treatment (faculty hired; curriculum proposal approved by ADCOM) Therapeutic Assessment (completed)
Goal 2: Optimized Learning Environment
Establish Electronic Health Record System (approvals acquired; cost sharing agreement in process)
Increase Faculty Participation (completed)
Monitor Learning Outcomes (initial process complete; revision in progress)
Goal 3: Clinical Research
Secure External Funding for Research and Training
Promote Outcome-based Clinical Research
In Progress
- Department-funded CALM pilot study; plans for NIH proposal
In Development
- Department pilot study proposed NIH R21/Early Career Proposal Pilot proposal with Midfield City Schoolsto be submitted for President's/ Dean's funding
Research Personnel
- New faculty hired for AY 15-16 with Clinic research expectations
Executive Summary: Funding, Impact, and Future Priorities
Funding Sources
- School of Education and Human Sciences: Director's Salary, Clinic space
- Department of Human Studies: Technology, Furniture, Assessment, Program
- Lab Fees: Maintenance
- Client Fees: Office supplies
- Impact to Date
- 579 unduplicated clients (average of 112 served per year)
- Collaborations: Psychiatric Nursing, Kinesiology, Parker High School, Health Education, Genetic Counseling, Midfield School District
- 120 Counseling Education Program students received training in the clinic
- 64 unduplicated referral sources
Future Priorities
- Increase referrals from UAB sources
- Increase collaborations with UAB colleagues
- Expand the range and impact of services