Mental Health Track
Chemical Dependency Track
Mental Retardation Track
Prevention Specialist Certificate
Community Living Specialist Certificate
Advanced Chemical Dependency Certificate
Advanced Mental Health Certificate
Advanced Mental Retardation Certificate
Community/Habilitation Assistant Certificate

With social, economic, and moral issues constantly changing, society is faced with increasingly complex problems which require professional, caring helpers. This evolution has created a high demand for human service specialists. Human service specialists have a professionally and personally challenging role in providing services to both children and adults with a variety of problems and/or disabilities. Graduates work with persons with mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities, emotional/mental difficulties, substance abuse and chemical dependency, as well as individuals who have co-occurring disorders. Specialists also work in consultation with psychologists, educators, psychiatrists and social workers.

Innovative educational approaches including videotaping, simulated situations, role-playing, marathon group participation and discussion in small group seminars are used to help students develop the knowledge, therapeutic skills, and necessary attitudes to succeed in this profession. The program stresses development and exploration of both personal and professional characteristics graduates will need to be effective helpers.

The Associate Degree program enables students to specialize in one of the following educational tracks during their second year: Mental Health, Chemical Dependency/Substance Abuse Prevention or Mental Retardation. The six-quarter, three-track program includes 560 hours of hands-on experience under the direct supervision of professionals in local agencies. Practicum experiences are available in a variety of community agencies which include mental health centers, group homes, state psychiatric hospitals, schools, workshops, private hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, drug and alcohol treatment centers, homeless shelters, supported living environments, foster care facilities, youth treatment programs, and treatment programs within the criminal justice system

Graduates who complete the Associate Degree program are eligible to apply for a Certificate of Registration as a Social Work Assistant with the State of Ohio Counselor/Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board. The Mental Health/Chemical Dependency and Mental Retardation program is accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education.

The program also offers the following certificate programs:

Prevention Specialist Certificate

This 38-credit-hour certificate is open to students with an associate, a bachelor’s, or a master’s degree. Completion of this certificate meets educational practicum hours requirement for substance abuse prevention professional certification in the state of Ohio.

Community Living Specialist Certificate

This is a 54- to 58-credit-hour program for students who have, in the past, struggled with their own severe mental illness. Students make use of their coping skills to work effectively with persons with severe mental illness. Students participate in two to three clinical practicum experiences on a mental health community treatment team.

Advanced Chemical Dependency Certificate

This is a 53-credit-hour program for students with an associate, a bachelor’s, or a master’s degree in a related field. Completion of this certificate meets the 270 hours of acceptable chemical dependency training for CD licensure. Students have three or four supervised clinical practicum experiences, including one with clients who have co-occurring disorders.

Advanced Mental Health Certificate

This 51-credit-hour program is open to students with an associate, a bachelor’s, or a master’s degree. The curriculum provides courses focused on the knowledge and skills necessary to work in the mental health field. Students participate in four clinical practicum experiences in a variety of human service agencies.

Advanced Mental Retardation Certificate

This 52-credit-hour program is designed for students with an associate, a bachelor’s, or a master’s degree. The curriculum offers courses focused on the knowledge and skills necessary to work with clients with MR/DD issues. Students participate in four clinical practicums in a variety of human service agencies.

Community/Habilitation Assistant Certificate

This is a 29-credit-hour program for students who have a developmental disability. Course work is adapted to a fifth grade reading level. The curriculum provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to work as an assistant in the MR/DD field. Students participate in three clinical practicum experiences in a variety of human service agencies.

Courses MHCR 112, MHCR 115, MHCR 135, MHCR 191, MHCR 241, MHCR 247, MHCR 258, MHCR 291, and MHCR 298 are approved by Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities in obtaining adult service certification.

All technical courses in the chemical dependency track are accepted by Ohio Chemical Dependency Professional Board and for renewal of social work licensure.

Upon completion of the Associate Degree in Mental Health/Chemical Dependency/Mental Retardation, the graduate will be able to:
• Describe the philosophy and benefits of community support groups in the recovery process.
• Collect data and monitor progress.
• Use counseling skills.
• Plan for, lead, and process groups.
• Apply conflict resolution and anger management skills.
• Formulate assessments.
• Demonstrate an awareness of and involvement in community advocacy activities.
• Interact effectively with diverse populations.
• Make appropriate referrals.
• Demonstrate ethical behavior.
• Develop and/or implement treatment/service plans.
• Develop and/or implement strategies to meet treatment/service goals.
• Apply service coordination/case management skills.
• Apply computer literacy skills.
• Demonstrate self-assessment skills.

In addition to the general outcomes listed above a graduate in the Chemical Dependency track will be able to:
• Identify and demonstrate the 12 Core Functions of a chemical dependency counselor.
• Recognize and identify significant signs and symptoms of chemical dependency using a variety of assessment tools.
• Identify varying levels of care for chemical dependency treatment and common criteria for appropriate referral.
• Identify relapse dynamics/triggers and utilize a variety of intervention strategies.
• Recognize stages of change and implement appropriate
treatment strategies.
MH/CD/MR has articulation agreements with the following four-year colleges/universities: Ohio Dominican University, Otterbein College, Capital University, Franklin University, and University of Cincinnati.

Because students and workers in the health care field may be exposed to infectious materials and communicable diseases, the program emphasizes safety and prevention.

Specific Program Admissions Information

Listed below are additional requirements for admission to the Mental Health/Chemical Dependency/Mental Retardation program:
• Submission of an official copy of high school transcript verifying graduation or GED to Records and Registration.
• Attendance at a (voluntary) MH/CD/MR program
orientation session.
• Placement out of or completion of DEV 031 and 044.
• Completion of ENGL 101 and PSY 100 with a “C” or higher.
• Completion of the following five courses with a grade of “C” or higher:
• MHCR 111: Introduction to Mental Health
• MHCR 112: Introduction to Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities
• MHCR 114: Introduction to Chemical Dependency
• MHCR 115: Introduction to Counseling
• MHCR 117: Introduction to Documentation Skills
• Compliance with and completion of all additional program requirements outlined in the program’s admission policy.
• Mandatory attendance at a group admissions interview with the Mental Health/Chemical Dependency/Mental Retardation admissions coordinator and clinical coordinator.

Mental Health and Mental Retardation Tracks

Chemical Dependency Track

Prevention Specialist Certificate

Community Living Specialist Certificate

Advanced Chemical Dependency Certificate

Advanced Mental Health Certificate

Advanced Mental Retardation Certificate

Community/Habilitation Assistant Certificate