Lesson 7: Making Connections and Planning your Career


Attention


Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Connect with networking supports including the Mental Health Facebook site and Advising
  • Identify immediate and long-term educational goals.
  • Create a career plan.

Teaching

Get Advised!

Academic advising is one of the most important CONNECTIONS you will make as a student at KVCC

What Advising Is The word "advising" suggests "recommending," "suggesting," and "informing." The prerequisite for all this is listening. Faculty Advisors can be of great help to you in shaping your college program while still letting you make most of the decisions. An Advisor's input is especially important to first-year students.
What Advising is not

Academic advising is not:

- Having a faculty member choose courses for you or decide what major you should declare. (Of course, as noted above, we do need to make sure that certain courses are taken.) Good advising empowers students to make meaningful choices that direct their studies toward a goal.

- Personal counseling. Students that have personal problems that are interfering with studies, are ordinarily referred professions

What You Can Expect From Your Advisor


You can expect your advisor to be available to you for consultation on the matters noted above (What Advising Is). Your advisor should make his or her office hours available to you. You can get in touch, by phone, e-mail, etc.

Your advisor will want to meet with you at least a few times a semester. This is especially true for first-year students, who should meet with their advisor three times in the fall semester:

  • to get acquainted
  • to discuss midterm grades and get instructions for registration
  • to prepare for registration
  • Advisors are sensitive to the fact that some students need more advising than others. You may have more or fewer meetings with your advisor, as your needs require
What Your Advisor Expects From You
  • Contact your advisor at any time as questions about your academic program, or other issues arise
  • Talk about dropping a class in mid-semester BEFORE you do it
  • Come in if you are in academic trouble
  • See your advisor before registering for classes, and get his or her recommendations for courses

Your academic advisor is the person whom you will consult regarding course selection and the overall planning of your degree. Listed below are some examples of general reasons for which you might consult with an advisor. You are encouraged to meet with your academic advisor as frequently as needed and for whatever reason you see fit.

  • College admission requirements, Major/Minor Information, and General Education (GE) requirements
  • Degree Planning
  • Academic Policies
  • Graduation (verification of degree completion)
  • Transfer Credit Review
  • College Resources

Making the most of your Advising Relationship

Academic advisors are here to help you make the best choices. They cannot however do that alone. The level of your participation is directly related to the type of relationship you have with your advisor. For a successful relationship, both advisors and students need to fulfill their responsibilities.

You should:

  • Prepare a list of questions before your advising meeting
  • Observe academic deadlines
  • Schedule regular advising appointments in order to monitor your academic progress. You should check-in at least once a year via appointment; more often via e-mail
  • Accept a decision you made. An advisor will present options, along with pros and cons. The decision is ultimately yours
  • Inform you advisor, immediately, whenever you have a serious problem (e.g., medical, personal, financial) that disrupts your ability to attend classes and/or succeed
  • Create a folder just for your advising materials. Advisors will often write notes on your degree audit or other documents, it is important to keep these notes.
  • Talk with your advisor about your concerns if you do not see eye-to-eye. If you both agree that your relationship will not work, you might want to contact your college advising office and request a new advisor

Connecting on Facebook

KVCC's Mental Health program maintains a Facebook site! This site is private so you have to request to join. The site is VERY active with over 100 area agencies and KVCC Mental Health Alumni actively involved!

Click HERE and submit a request to join this group!


Your Career in Mental Health

People who work in the MHRT/C role provide services to adults with severe and persistent mental illness. These services include:

  • Community Integration
  • Intensive Case Management
  • Assertive Community Treatment
  • Skills Development
  • Day Support Services
  • Family Psycho-Education
Certification Requirements Time frame

MHRT 1 Certification

Individuals who choose to take the SOC 103: Introduction to Social Services Systems course as an elective can attain the MHSS Certificate. This is a critical part of the MHRT 1 Certificate which you need to work in residential services.

Getting your MHRT/C is not the same as getting your MHRT 1...they are not related to each other.

Provisional MHRT/Community Level A  

 

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in a human services-related field from accredited college or university.
Valid for one year; requirements for Provisional Level B must be completed during that one year.
Provisional MHRT/Community Level B   Completion of five courses:
  1. Intro to Community Mental Health
  2. Psychosocial Rehabilitation
  3. Interviewing and Counseling
  4. Crisis Identification and Resolution
  5. Cultural Competence/Diversity
  6. (See list of degree programs pre-approved for Provisional Level B Certification in Appendix C)

Valid for two years; requirements for Full MHRT/C Certification must be completed during those two years.

Full MHRT/Community Completion of the five courses listed above as well as these additional five courses:
  1. Group Process OR Vocational Aspects of Disability (Note: As of 1/1/09 only Vocational Aspects of Disability will be accepted.)
  2. Substance Abuse with a Dual Diagnosis Component
  3. Sexual Abuse, Trauma, and Recovery
  4. Case Management
  5. Mental Health & Aging
  6. (See list of degree programs pre-approved for Full Certification in Appendix B)
Full MHRT/C Certification does not expire

Substance Abuse Counseling

Persons interested in Substance Abuse Counseling are urged to apply for their Alcohol and Drug Counseling Aide License. Click HERE for more information and to download the application form from the State of Maine.

Click HERE to review the regulations regarding attaining a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor License.

MHRT/CSP

This certification is for individuals who wish to provide Crisis Support Services.

Click HERE for more information on how to get this advanced certification.


Examples of Occupational Titles of Mental Health Workers

(Some of these titles will require additional education/training)

Case Worker
Family Support Worker
Youth Worker
Social Service Liaison
Residential Counselor
Behavioral Management Aide
Case Management Aide
Eligibility Counselor
Alcohol Counselor
Adult Day Care Worker
Drug Abuse Counselor
Life Skills Instructor
Client Advocate
Neighborhood Worker
Social Service Aide
Group Activities Aide
Social Service Technician
Therapeutic Assistant
Probation Officer
Case Monitor Parole Officer
Child Advocate
Gerontology Aide
Juvenile Court Liaison
Home Health Aide
Group Home Worker
Child Abuse Worker
Crisis Intervention Counselor
Mental Health Aide
Community Organizer
Intake Interviewer
Community Outreach Worker
Social Work Assistant
Community Action Worker
Psychological Aide
Halfway House Counselor
Assistant Case Manager
Rehabilitation Case Worker
Residential Manager

For more information check out Human Service Workers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics


Pathways After Completion of Associates in Applied Science

(Common Alumni Tracks)

College Degree License/Concentration
University of Maine -Augusta (UMA) Bachelors - Mental Health

Licensed Social Worker (LSW)

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC/LADC)

University of Maine (UMO)

Bachelors - Social Work

Masters - Social Work

Licensed Social Worker (LSW)

Licensed Masters in Social Work (LMSW)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

University of Maine- Farmington (UMF)

Bachelors - Psychology

Bachelors - Rehabilitation

 
Husson University Bachelors in Psychology  

So what are all these Letters about?

You see them everywhere!

LSW, LMSW, LCPC, LCSW, MHRT/C, Ph.D., MD

OK, let's add some clarity to this. In the table below you will find information about DEGREES and LICENSES that allow you to do different things in the Mental Health field.

Letters Education What you can do
MHRT-I

Trainings

MHSS - Mental Health Support Specialist
First Aid / CPR
CRMA - Certified Residential Medication Aide
Crisis Intervention Method (MANDT)

Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician - I

Residential services, group homes, supported apartments, etc.

MHRT/C Provisional

Completed the first 5 MHT courses in the KVCC Mental Health Program

Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician / Community Provisional

Case Management, Community Integration, Program Management, etc.

MHRT/C Completed all 10 MHT courses in the KVCC Mental Health Program

Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician / Community

Case Management, Community Integration, Program Management, etc.

LSX

Bachelor Degree in mental health related field or other field

Requires completed bachelor's degree, confirmed employment at the LSX level; designated fully licensed LSW supervisor; three letters of recommendation.

After the two years under supervision eligible to pursue LSW license.

Licensed Social Worker - Clinical Conditional

Medical Social Work, Hospice Social Work, Hospital Social Work, Nursing Home Social Work, Child Protective, Supervisor for MHRT/C's

LSW

Bachelor Degree in Social Work or another related field

Successfully pass the LSW licensing exam; three letters of recommendation

Licensed Social Worker

Medical Social Work, Hospice Social Work, Hospital Social Work, Nursing Home Social Work, Child Protective, Supervisor for MHRT/C's; supervision bachelor's level interns

LMSW

Masters in Social Work

Successfully pass the Intermediate/Masters licensing exam; three letters of recommendation

Licensed Master of Social Work

Can work as social worker in non-clinical roles such as training, education, agency administration or research

MC

Masters in Social Work

Requires completed MSW degree: confirmed employment at the MC level; designated fully licensed LCSW supervisor; passing the Inermediate/Mastere's exam; three letters of recommendation.

After the two years under supervision eligible to pursue LCSW license.

Licensed Master Social Worker, Conditional Clinical

Allowed to conduct psychosocial assessments, diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions, consultant; supervision of LSW's and social work students.

LCSW

Masters in Social Work

Two years supervised work experience; Passed the Clinical licensing exam; three letters of recommendation.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Allowed to conduct psychosocial assessments, diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions, consultant; supervision of LSW's and social work students.

Allowed to practice at the independent level.

LCPC Masters in Counseling

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

Can collect a fee from individuals, families, groups, organizations or the general public to provide counseling service to assess and treat intrapersonal and interpersonal problems and other dysfunctional behaviors and to assist in the overall development and adjustment of those served.

Clinical Work, Psychotherapy, Group Psychotherapy, Family Psychotherapy, etc.

Psych NP Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree

Psychiatric Nurse Practictioner

Allowed to assess for medical conditions as well as mental health conditions. Allowed to prescribe psychiatric (psychotropic) medications. Can practice independently.

Psy. D. Doctor of Psychology

Less emphasis on the RESEARCH aspect of Clinical Psychology and more on the applied/clinical aspects.

Ph.D. Doctorate

The Ph.D. is a degree, not a license, so in and of itself they cannot do anything specific (and charge insurance companies for the work)

However, if someone has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and passes they exam, they are a "Clinical Psychologist"

MD/DO

Medical Doctor - Psychiatrist

MD is a regular Alopathic Doctor - this is the name of your regular doctor's field

DO is a Doctor of Osteopathy

Both are considered "regular doctors"

The difference between a Clinical Psychologist and a Psychiatrist is the medical background.

A psychiatrist has a regular Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) and specialized in Psychiatry. Often they are in the role of diagnosing disorders and prescribing medication.

A clinical psychologist focuses on counseling and group work and does not prescribe medicine (though there are some states that provide special post-doc training to allow for writing prescriptions.)


Assessment

In this section you will find descriptions of your graded Assessments.
Included in these descriptions may be information related to Graded Online Discussions.
These apply to students who are taking this class ONLINE...otherwise you can ignore them or your instructor may use them for in-class discussions.

Lesson 7 Assignment

For this assignment we would like you to connect to the KVCC Mental Health Facebook page. You will need to create a Facebook account in order to do this (if you do not have one already.)

Be mindful that this is a professional use of Facebook. As you enter this field you need to be aware that your "expressions" on Facebook are subject to review by potential employers and will be used in their evaluation for employment.

The KVCC Mental Health Facebook site is a very active site. It is private so you need to log into it and ask to be added as a member. Any other member can approve you.

Here is the address.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/KVCCMentalHealth/

Lesson 7 Discussion

To meet the criteria of this discussion you will need to make an appointment with your Advisor. At this meeting you will create a plan on how you are going to proceed through the Mental Health program and a Career Plan.

Once you have this completed, post your Career Plan in here. Discuss the experience of meeting with your Advisor.