Children's Mental Health Extension Certificate - Online

E-mail: cehealth@mtroyal.ca
Information: 403.440.6867 or toll-free 1.866.616.3606
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Required Courses | Student Testimonial

Enhance your professional practice and be proactive in the promotion of children’s mental health, provide better support to children with mental health problems and their families, and explore strategies to promote children’s mental health in the community.

Earn Credit Toward a Degree/Diploma
Certain Extension Certificates have been developed in cooperation with the Mount Royal University credit faculties. These certificates have components which are transferable into various diplomas, applied degrees and degrees, provided applicants achieve the minimum required grade in the course(s) and meet the entrance requirements for the degree. Please see credit program websites for diploma, applied degree or degree entrance requirements. For more information on transfer credit please contact Community and Health Studies at cehealth@mtroyal.ca or 403.440.6867.

Program Note for Current Students
If you started the Extension Certificate program prior to September 2011, you now  have the opportunity to choose from any of  the 9 new courses to complete your CMHC program. The courses you have taken to date will be credited towards your completion of the required 9 courses in the CMHC program. Please review the 9 new course descriptions below so you can plan which courses you would like to take to complete your program requirements.

Technical Requirements
It is important that you are aware of the technical requirements for using the Blackboard online learning platform prior to registering for any of the following courses. Please refer to the following link for more information: Blackboard Technical Requirements

Program Requirements
Learners must have skills in word processing to succeed in this program. Please log in to your Blackboard course on the official course start date and refer to your Course Outline for assignment due dates. APA 6 formatting standards must be met when completing all assignments. APA Formatting

Course Expectations
The listed course hours indicate the estimated time for students to review the online learning units. The actual time spent completing assignments will vary depending on each student’s particular learning style and level of study skills.

Earning Your Extension Certificate
Complete the 9 required courses (135 hours) with a minimum passing grade in each course. The courses may be taken in any order. This program must be completed within 3 years of commencement.

Career Outlook
The skills acquired in the Children's Mental Health Extension Certificate are applicable in a variety of health and human service settings where children with mental health issues may be found.

Required Courses

Framework for Healthy Development 
Develop a framework for working with children, youth and families based on the ecological model and strength-based practice. Explore early and adolescent brain development and the factors which impact healthy development of the brain.

The Child’s Social and Environmental Conditions
Examine factors that may impact children’s mental health, including neurological, genetic and developmental issues, various types of abuse, poverty, homelessness and neglect, as well as environmental causes.

Child and Youth Resiliency 
Explore the concept of resiliency and why it is so important in working with children. Examine risk and protective factors. Discover how the practitioner can build resiliency in children, families and communities to build children’s positive mental health.

Mental Health I: Disorders Diagnosed in the Early Years
Take a closer look at children experiencing Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), behaviour disorders and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Explore strategies for working with these children.

Mental Health II: Psychosis, Mood, Anxiety and Increased Risk
While psychotic disorders in children are rare, understanding them is important to be able to discern when further inquiry and support are necessary. Explore psychotic disorders, including childhood-onset schizophrenia, and mood and anxiety disorders. Examine the issue of suicide and self harming behaviours. Subject code: XCMH 10005.

Mental Health III: Physiological Needs and Theories for Intervention
Examine key factors relating to sleep disorders, substance use, and eating disorders. Examine Motivational Interviewing and the Transtheoretical Model of Change as the common interventions when working with children and their families experiencing these conditions. Know when referrals to professionals in the community are required.

Systems in Criminal Justice and Child Protective Services
Explore children’s mental health from the perspective of larger legislation systems – the youth criminal justice and child and family protective systems. The primary focus is on examining the different practices and system policies. Subject code: XCMH 10007.

Systems in Mental Health and Education
Examine children’s mental health from the perspective of larger systems – the mental health and education systems and their associated best practices. The primary focus is on exploring the different types and levels of services as well as the practitioner’s role in building capacity in families.

Systems Collaboration
Be introduced to systems collaboration and successful collaborative relationships. Explore collaborative planning and integration of services for the benefit of children and youth with complex needs and their families. Consider interagency communications to facilitate sharing information while providing integrated services.

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Student Testimonial

"This online course has structure but a flexible approach. If you had a question, the facilitator was willing to answer it. The course enhances my skills when working with abused families."

- Candace