NKU Training and Development Center Links

NKU Training and Development Center

In keeping with NKU's core value of community engagement, the Training and Development Center (TDC) is a unique community-based service and training program that provides low cost mental health and social services to underserved residents of northern Kentucky.  The program is operated by the Department of Counseling, Social Work, and Leadership under the direction of David W. Wilkerson, LCSW, LISW-S, who has managed the program since its inception.  In collaboration with NKU faculty, community mental health, criminal justice, addiction services and other social service agencies, the TDC serves as a high quality training site for graduate and undergraduate students from the Department.  In addition to Social Work and Counseling students, students from Chase Law School and the NKU Criminal Justice program have also completed field work at the Center. 

The TDC currently partners with the Northern Kentucky Regional Mental Health Court and the Northern Kentucky Recovery Centers to provide diagnostic assessment and mental health treatment services to clients of these programs.  With funding from the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, the Kentucky Department of Corrections, the counties of Boone, Kenton and Campbell, the TDC provides evaluation and case management services for all persons referred to the Mental Health Court program and counseling to those cannot otherwise access these services. 

Counseling, Human Services, and Social Work students from NKU gain professional experience at the TDC providing assessment, counseling, and case management services to clients of the Center.   Students also learn administrative skills and how various local community service systems function to address the needs of persons with co-existing mental health, medical, criminal justice and substance abuse issues. 

TDC consistently earns high marks from its students for the quality of their field experience:

"The population served by the TDC is very diverse and provided me with the opportunity to work with people experiencing a wide range of mental disorders.  I feel very confident as I prepare to start a new job as a therapist in June..."

Students interested in field placement or internship experiences with the TDC may contact their faculty coordinator for more information or contact the TDC Director, David W. Wilkerson, at 859-760-5099.  Email -wilkersond1@nku.edu

Some Examples of the Impact of the Training and Development Center:

• Awarded over $842,000 in grant funding since 2008
• For three years running, NKU's TDC Court program has received the largest awards in the history of KY Community Corrections funding (FY 10- $133,000, FY 11- $176,000, FY 12 - $194,000)
• Trained 20 students from the Dept., plus Chase Law students
• Served over 300 clients
• TDC partners with Northern Kentucky Regional Mental Health Court, Brighton Center, and Transitions, Inc. broadening the range of clients and issues students can gain experience with
• Four full time staff
• Operated by the Department of Counseling, Social Work and Leadership
• Over 80% of TDC clients surveyed report improvement in their mental health symptoms at 6 months receiving services (per BASIS-24 survey)
• 72% report additional improvement in symptom distress at 12 months (per BASIS-24 survey)
• 81% of TDC clients report significant improvement in their quality of life (i.e., housing, finances, relationships, medical care) after just 6 months in the program (Ohio Mental Health Consumer Outcomes Survey)
• 61% report further improvement in quality of life at 12 months of service (OH Outcomes Survey)
• At the time of admission, 80% of MH Court clients have no mental health services. 64% are homeless; half have no source of income, 63% are in need of substance abuse treatment. Mental Health Court Outcomes: Saved the state over 12,000 jail days diverted
• 100% of MH Court clients are connected to mental health treatment services
• Recidivism (re-incarceration) rates are extremely low for MH Court clients at less than 16% over two years. Kentucky state recidivism rates are at an all time low of under 35%.