Addictions and Mental Health
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Program Overview
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.
Program Details
Program Code
AMH1
Credential:
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Duration
30 weeks
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2025 January
London
Open
2025 September
London
Open
2026 January
London
Open
2024 September
London
Closed
Part Time Offerings
2025 September
Fully Online
Open
2026 January
Fully Online
Open
2024 September
Fully Online
Closed
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2025 September
London
Open
2026 January
London
Open
2024 September
London
Closed
2025 January
London
Closed
Your Learning Experience
The Addictions and Mental Health one-year program will be beneficial for seasoned practitioners who are committed to maintaining currency, and/or 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 and/or mental illness.
This program is available part-time
Career Information
Graduates 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, Counsellor/Group Facilitator, Mental Health Support Worker, Outreach Services Advisor, Rehabilitation Services Case Manager, Residential Care Worker, Youth Worker.
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Learning Outcomes
- Use 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;
- Use research results to design and implement client care and services with the participation and contribution of the client, their family, and the community;
- Proactively build collaborative relationships with Indigenous stakeholders to ensure culturally appropriate services.
Academic School
Program Coordinator:
Ursula Goniarski
Admission Requirements
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*
Note:
*Applicants may be required to submit a resume and cover letter
that includes details of work
experience.
International Admission Equivalencies
Admission equivalencies for Fanshawe depends on your country of study. Please enter your location to see the requirements for your country below.
English Language Requirements
English Language Requirements
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 88 |
| 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 | 59 |
| Cambridge English | Overall score of 176 with no language skill less than 169 |
| ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in Level 9, 75% in Level 10 |
| Duolingo | Overall score of 120, with no score lower than 105 |
Post-Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements
The following items are applicable to the program and are time sensitive. Please refer to www.fanshawec.ca/preplacement for important information about preparing for placement by the due date.
- Possession of a Standard First Aid course certificate (either St. John Ambulance or Canadian Red Cross or equivalent) and a Basic Rescuer course certificate (Level "C" CPR)
- Verification of good health through the completion of required vaccination/immunizations with the Ministry of Health Guidelines.
- Police Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening, including a check of the Pardoned Sexual Offenders Database
- Guide to Completing your Professional Practice Requirements
- Pre-Placement Process
- Year 1: Professional Practice Health Form
- Placement Agreement
For all programs requiring the submission of pre-placement forms, please submit all supplemental forms (with the exception of transcripts) by email to regforms@fanshawec.ca.
The deadline for submission of these forms for the AMH1 program is December 1 of your first semester for fall term students and April 1 of your first semester for winter term students. The deadline for online students is December 1 of your first semester (Fall).
Courses
| Level 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| BSCI-6031 | Fundamentals of Addictions | 3 | ||
| This course will introduce students to substance-related and behavioural addictions as indicated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Through the biopsychosocial and trauma informed lens, students will critically analyze different theories of addiction and current initiatives in field addiction services. The signs and symptoms of dependence, abuse, problematic, and occasional patterns of substance use will be addressed. Throughout the course, students will engage in self- reflection regarding their understanding of addictions with the aim to challenge one's own beliefs and assumptions. | ||||
| BSCI-6032 | Fundamentals of Mental Health | 3 | ||
| In this course, the bio-psycho-social perspective will be used to help students gain knowledge and understanding of concurrent mental health and substance abuse issues in our diverse society. The description, prevalence, causative factors, outcomes, and treatment of mental health disorders will be presented in relation to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual. Students will have opportunity to examine current legislation, policy and initiatives in Mental Health. Throughout the course, students will engage in self-reflection regarding their understanding of mental health with the aim to challenge one's own beliefs and assumptions. | ||||
| BSCI-6033 | Professionalism in Person Centred Care | 3 | ||
| The focus of this course will be on the role and responsibilities of an addiction and mental health worker. Guiding principles for ethical, legal and professional practice will be addressed in relation to case management and advocacy. Students will be introduced to the components of case management including rapport and relationship building skills, screening and assessment tools as well as a strength- based documentation format. | ||||
| BSCI-6034 | Promotion & Prevention | 3 | ||
| This course focusses on the understanding of the key elements of health and wellness in our clients and ourselves. Students will consider the different levels and approaches to prevention of addiction and mental health problems. Using Anti-oppressive practice principles, students will learn to analyze and implement prevention programs servicing diverse populations in a range of milieus. | ||||
| BSCI-6035 | Social Justice: Equity & Diversity | 3 | ||
| In this course students will engage in self- analysis while exploring issues of privilege, power and stigma as it relates to individuals, families, and communities challenged by addiction. Through an anti-oppressive framework, students will examine current local initiatives aimed to reduce systemic inequities in the field of addiction and/or mental health through the lens of social change and advocacy. | ||||
| FLDP-6036 | Field Preparation | 1 | ||
| This introductory field preparation course will prepare AMH students for Field Practicum in level 2. Students will have the opportunity to learn and practice professionalism, reflective practice, and self-assessment skills in preparation for Field Practicum. Students will identify personal and professional strengths and learning needs and prepare documentation needed for practicum matching and interviews. Students will analyze the Field Practicum course learning outcomes and review the preplacement requirements, roles and responsibilities of students while on Field Practicum. | ||||
| RSCH-6013 | Lifespan Development | 3 | ||
| Students will gain a greater understanding of human development across the lifespan by exploring the physical, cognitive, and social- emotional stages of development. Selected theoretical approaches will be investigated in order to understand factors contributing to addiction as well as the impact of addiction on human development. | ||||
| RSCH-6014 | Capstone Project Development | 3 | ||
| Serving as an introduction to capstone project course in level 2 of this program, students are introduced to several foundational concepts related to research literacy. This course provides the theory and skills required for direct application toward successful completion of capstone research projects in level 2. Key course components include an introduction to research ethics and design, how to search and evaluate for credible sources, basic skills for critiquing and reviewing the literature as well as developing a focused research question. Students will also be introduced to field placement practice. | ||||
Tuition Summary
London
Online
Toronto
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.