Ontario College Graduate Certificate in Addictions and Mental Health

Addictions and Mental Health is a one-year program for graduate students who are committed to advancing their skills and knowledge. This program combines classroom instruction with a field placement for students to work with clients.The Addictions and Mental Health one-year program will be beneficial for seasoned practitioners who are committed to maintaining currency, andor who are seeking career advancement. Students who are newly graduated from post-secondary may also wish to enroll in this program to deepen their knowledge and skill base prior to entering the workforce. Opportunities to work in varying sectors such as child, adult, family and gerontology-based programs may broaden for students who complete this Graduate Certificate.This program is designed for graduate students who are interested in enhancing their knowledge and skills to advance their career or enter the workforce. You will learn the fundamental components of addictions and mental health issues, promotion and prevention, pharmacology, and social treatment approaches.As a student within the mental health and addictions program, you will feel confident using intervention techniques, educate individuals through knowledge exchange, work collaboratively in teams and build wholistic relationships. Prepare for a career as a mental health worker by gaining hands-on experience through a capstone and field placement within addictions and mental health. Students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills while working collaboratively with various professionals.The intent of this program will be to ready students to work in a variety of Human Services settings such as community programs, residential care, social service programs, early childhood and family centres, recreation and leisure services, gerontology programs, group homes as well as any other settings that support prevention, intervention and treatment of addictions andor mental illness.Learning OutcomesUse a bio-psycho-spiritual framework when providing addictions and mental health services;Provide holistic, client-centred, gender-based, culturally relevant assessments and interventions to individuals, groups and families within social and cultural contexts across the lifespan;Integrate skills and knowledge from a range of frameworks and contexts in addictions, mental health and concurrent disorders to provide non-biased services to women and those from diverse and varied populations;Educate individuals, families, groups and the community regarding issues and approaches through knowledge translation, knowledge exchange and the dissemination of relevant and current research and practice via formal and informal education;Access, utilize and advocate for culturally informed community supports and services for individuals, families and the community;Actively participate in and contribute to, relevant networks, groups and organizations promoting development, improvement and advancement in the fields of addictions and mental health;Work collaboratively within inter-professional teams providing ethical, effective, timely, and coordinated holistic services;Practice ethical and responsible behaviour in all aspects of work;Proactively build collaborative relationships with Indigenous stakeholders to ensure culturally appropriate services.Career InformationGraduates of the program can advance their employment as: an Addictions Crisis Worker, Withdrawal Management Counsellor, Addictions Counsellor, Substance Abuse Counsellor, Case Manager, Community Support Worker, Coordinator Psychogeriatric Case Manager, CounsellorGroup Facilitator, Mental Health Support Worker, Outreach Services Advisor, Rehabilitation Services Case Manager, Residential Care Worker, Youth Worker.

Students must have, Ontario College Diploma, Ontario College Advanced Diploma, Degree, or equivalent
OR
Acceptable combination of related work experience and post-secondary education as judged by the College
OR
Five years of work experience in the community services industry as judged by the College to be
equivalent.

English Language Requirements:

• TOEFL: 88 internet-based test
• IELTS Academic: Overall score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in any of the four bands
• CAEL: Overall score of 70 with no score less than 60 in any of the four bands
• PTE Academic: Minimum score of 59
• Cambridge English Test (FCE/CAE/CPE): with an overall score on the Cambridge English Scale of 176 with no language skill less than 169