Behavioral Health Micro-credential

About

The demand for healthcare professionals to identify and support the nation’s growing behavioral/mental health challenges is more critical than ever, and healthcare professionals of all kinds are facing new and unique challenges in the primary care and community settings. Anyone working with patients today needs to have a strong background in identifying and responding to people with a range of behavioral issues. The behavioral health course will provide students with the ability to identify the most common behavioral health issues facing communities and focus on prevention and early interventions so that more serious problems are avoided. Students will learn how to activate critical community resources to provide support to those in need and aided by therapeutic communications techniques, students will learn about crisis prevention and intervention, and will gain a broader understanding of the ethnic and racial disparities that lead to behavioral and mental health illness.

Length of Study

2.5 Months (10 weeks)

Prerequisites

Have current employment in a health care setting with regular interaction with patients.

Learning Outcomes

Successful completion this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and intervene in crisis situations safely and effectively
• With empathy and an understanding of behavior change, engage and communicate with individuals about their behavioral health to recognize conditions and access care
• Identify and effectively connect with available community resources to make closed-loop referrals that support the patient care plan and their health needs and make recommendations to the multidisciplinary team
• Identify the impact of adverse experiences and trauma on yourself, others, and communities, and appreciate the influence of the health worker in prevention, treatment, and healing
• Distinguish between mental, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities in conjunction with comorbidity and substance abuse and have a working understanding of their relevance to health work
• Recognize and respect the impacts of social and historical disparities in mental and behavioral health when working with patients and clients
• Professionally navigate ethical, legal, and advocacy issues (e.g., confidentiality, mandatory reporting) that are unique to behavioral health and in collaborative practice
• Apply six basic screens/assessments in the health worker role
• Identify common mental and behavioral health diagnoses through their signs and symptoms and connect them to appropriate treatment options
• Describe the basic organization of behavioral healthcare systems and understand issues of access, quality, and cost
• Practice motivational interviewing and listening reflectively to more effectively work with both patients and colleagues on collaborative teams
• Practice self-care techniques to manage their own stress and emotions, recognize when these techniques may be appropriate for patients, and be able to teach them to patients
• Build confidence as a health worker to support individuals with behavioral and mental health obstacles
• Reflect on, gather, and organize the tools provided throughout this course in a format for ongoing use in the field

Online Type

Asynchronous

Credential Awarded

Certificate

Occupation

This is a professional development upskill course for workers in allied health care settings to gain fundamental knowledge of behavior and mental health.

Career Level

Entry-level

Student Cost

• In supporting our aim to grow the largest network of healthcare workers, Futuro Health provides generous financial support.
• Students can expect to pay minimal out-of-pocket costs associated with the application and enrollment process. A summary of student costs are as follows:
  
  • $100 non-refundable registration fee for the Behavioral Health Micro-credential; to ensure participant commitment and completion.
• $20 per month for optional SEIU-UHW Membership. Students have the option to join SEIU-UHW's Healthcare Justice Division to receive added benefits. This $20 monthly fee is waived for current SEIU-UHW members.

Fast Facts

Enrollment

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently employed in a health care setting with regular interaction with patients.
• Are you at least 18 years old?
• Are you able to provide proof of high school diploma/GED or equivalency?
• Are you willing to commit 6 or more hours per week of study time for your coursework?
• Do you have regular access to high-speed internet?
• Do you have regular access to a computer or laptop that is less than seven years old?
  
  • NOTE: iPads and Chromebooks will not work.
• Do you have proficiency in English fluency, reading, and comprehension?

Preferred Qualifications

• Family or friend referred by a member of SEIU-UHW who is in good standing.
• How would others describe your level of attention to detail on written documents?
• How much do you agree or disagree with this statement? I see myself as dependable/self-disciplined.
• How much do you agree or disagree with this statement? I see myself as disorganized/careless.

Additional Requirements

• You must reside in California to enroll and complete the program