This Ontario College Graduate Certificate program is primarily designed to enhance and further develop the skills of individuals who already work in health care or the social services field and who are interested in specializing in addictions and mental health. There is a growing need for coordinated services by professionals with the knowledge and skills to treat concurrent disorders. Students take an interdisciplinary approach to the study of mental health, mental illness, substance use including focus on holistic assessment and intervention strategies, recovery process, and promotion of ongoing mental health. Students acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities required by mental health professionals to deliver responsive and effective substance use disorder treatment and mental health services, while promoting empowerment, self-determination, and optimum quality of life to individuals. Students gain practical experience through the supervised field placement where they can apply knowledge of best practices and further enhance their skillsets. During placement, students are paired with a Field Placement Liaison for support and guidance.

Upon completion of the program, students possess the knowledge and skills to work with vulnerable populations in a variety of community mental health and addictions services settings, dependent on their prior experience and credentials, and skills built in the program. These settings may include social service and government agencies, mental health agencies, residential treatment centres, group homes, homeless shelters, school boards, services for specific vulnerable populations, family counselling programs, crisis response services, community outreach programs, community justice programs, medical detox programs, long-term care facilities, hospices, and other establishments.

The Addictions and Mental Health Graduate Certificate (AMH) is recognized by the Canadian Addiction Counsellor Certification Federation (CACCF), Canada`s Addiction Workforce Regulator. The CACCF affirms this program enables graduates to meet their certification requirements.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Are interested in improving the quality of life for those with mental health and/or substance use challenges
• Want to contribute as team members in a wide range of dynamic environments
• Are non-judgmental, flexible, mature and compassionate
• Like to support, empower, and encourage others
• Have patience and can handle stress and remain calm in difficult situations
• Are comfortable with self-reflective practice
• Possesses critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Have an ability to practice self-care
• Can communicate clearly and set professional boundaries
• Are comfortable advocating for both self and others

Careers

Graduates may find employment opportunities in the addictions and mental health field as community support workers, team leaders, case managers, clinicians, mental health counsellors, crisis workers, program evaluation coordinators, addictions counsellors, intake coordinators, and mental health workers.

Pathways

Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.

Th graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Use a bio-psycho-social-spiritual framework when providing addictions and mental health services.
2. Provide holistic, client-centred, gender-based, culturally relevant assessments and interventions to individuals, groups and families within social and cultural contexts across the lifespan.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Access, utilize and advocate for culturally informed community supports and services for individuals, families and the community.
6. Actively participate in and contribute to, relevant networks, groups and organizations promoting development, improvement and advancement in the fields of addictions and mental health.
7. Work collaboratively within inter-professional teams providing ethical, effective, timely, and coordinated holistic services.
8. Practice ethical and responsible behaviour in all aspects of work.
9. Use research results to design and implement client care and services with the participation and contribution of the client, their family, and the community.
10. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Application Information

ADDICTIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH
Program Code 1829X01FSU

Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

Applications are available online www.ontariocolleges.ca.

Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

International applicants applying from out-of-country can obtain the International Student Application Form at https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/ or by contacting the Registrar`s Office.

For further information on the admissions process, contact:

Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Ave
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
Telephone: 613-727-0002
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4723
TTY: 613-727-7766
Fax: 613-727-7632
Contact: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ro  

Program Resources

Health Requirements and Documentation:
The physical and emotional health of each applicant to the program must be such that he or she can successfully cope with the program of instruction including the demands of field placement (e.g. stress and time management).

Students accepted into the Addictions and Mental Health program must meet the following requirements:

• All students must be cleared through Placement Pass (ParaMed) in order to be eligible for placement. Failure to complete these requirements will prevent students from participating in field placement. Students who do not successfully complete field placement are not eligible to graduate.

Health Requirements:
Applicants must provide evidence of full and complete immunizations. Placement Pass (ParaMed) will review the student`s record of immunization and provide authorization for entry into placement. More information in this regard will be available on the website for successful applicants.

Police Records Check Documentation
To be eligible for placement, you must submit proof of a PRCSVS, which will be retained on your departmental file and used only for purposes related to your placement. You will be required to disclose the contents of the PRCSVS, including all notations, to the placement agencies.

It is your responsibility to obtain the PRCSVS from your local Police department prior to the deadline identified by your department and to pay any associated costs. It may take 8-12 weeks or longer to obtain this documentation; please submit your application as early as possible.