Adler Community health services
WHERE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TRAINING MEETS community impact
Adler Community Health Services (ACHS) is the University’s clinical training center, delivering trauma-informed behavioral health services in collaboration with local partners. Most services are provided at no cost by graduate students under faculty supervision — expanding access to care while preparing future clinicians for systems-level practice.
Why Adler Community health services
A clinical training center embedded in the community. Designed for impact. Driven by partnership. Here’s what makes ACHS different.
Embedded partnerships in real settings
ACHS doesn’t operate in isolation. Every service is delivered in close collaboration with mission-aligned organizations—integrated into schools, clinics, and community-based agencies. This ensures that services are tailored, coordinated, and relevant, while student clinicians build experience in real-world, interprofessional teams.
No- or low-cost, high-quality behavioral care
The majority of clients never pay for services through ACHS. This no- to low-cost model increases access to mental health and substance use support for individuals who may otherwise go without care — especially in under-resourced neighborhoods. Students learn how to reduce barriers, build trust, and support care continuity within complex systems.
Practice that prepares future leaders
Students engage in immersive, supervised practice throughout their training. From day one, they learn how to lead with confidence, navigate systems of care, and understand the broader impact of behavioral health on individuals, families, and communities. ACHS bridges learning and leadership through direct service.
By the numbers
ACHS works across cities, programs, and partners to improve behavioral health access.
Chicago training programs
The Chicago Behavioral Health Workforce Training Programs serve a diverse range of people throughout the Chicagoland region at the following agencies: After School Matters, BUILD Chicago, Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts), City Year Chicago, I Am Abel Foundation, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, St. Leonard’s Ministries, and Thresholds.
Click here for the Chicago-based APA-accredited Community Mental Health Internship Program information on the aggregate postdoctoral positions of the previous three intern year cohorts, internship program admission requirements, and internship program financial and benefit support.
Training Programs
- Community Mental Health Internship Program (Psy.D.).
- Assessment, Therapy, and Advanced Therapy Practicum (Psy.D.).
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC).
- Couple and Family Therapy Practicum (CFT).
APPIC Membership
The Adler Community Health Services Chicago Behavioral Health Workforce Training Programs have been a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) since 2004. Our APPIC member number is 1254.
Accreditation
The Community Mental Health Internship Program at Adler Community Health Services is accredited by the American Psychological Association. The Commission on Accreditation of the APA can be contacted at:
Commission on Accreditation
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First St. NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
(202) 336-5979
apaaccred@apa.org
Vancouver training programs
The Vancouver Behavioural Health Workforce Training Programs serve a diverse range of people throughout the Vancouver region at the following agencies: Coast Mental Health, Columbia College, Gordon Neighbourhood House, LaSalle College Vancouver, Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, RISE Community Health Centre, Squamish Nation, and Vancouver Community College.
Training Programs
- Doctoral Psychology Internship in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.).
- Assessment, Therapy, and Supplemental Practicum (Psy.D.).
- Counselling Psychology Practicum (MCP/MACP).
- Counselling Psychology Art Therapy Practicum (MCP-AT).
APPIC Membership
The Doctoral Psychology Internship in Clinical Psychology program is applying for APPIC membership in the 2025-2026 academic year.
Accreditation
The Doctoral Psychology Internship in Clinical Psychology is an unaccredited internship program. The program is actively in the process of preparing a self-study for accreditation consideration with the Canadian Psychological Association.
MEET THE ACHS team
ACHS faculty supervise student clinicians, lead training, and ensure services are delivered with care, quality, and integrity.
Kevin A. Osten-Garner
Executive Director + Chief Psychologist
Adler Community Health Services
ACHS in action
Adler Community Health Services awarded $1.35M federal grant for graduate psychology education, expanding mental health access
The grant supports doctoral psychology trainees for practice in high-need community-based primary care settings.
From training to career: In increasing access to care, community health settings play outsize role
At partner sites, Adler students under the direct supervision and oversight of licensed clinicians offer a full suite of trauma-informed services, whether in-person or virtual.
New to Academic Affairs
Adler University welcomed a number of new members to Academic Affairs this fall.
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