Academic Calendar 2024-25 
    
    Oct 04, 2024  
Academic Calendar 2024-25

Mental Health Addictions and Criminal Justice (Advanced Certificate)


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Total Credits: 12
Credential: Advanced Certificate in Mental Health, Addictions, and Criminal Justice
Program Code: MHCJ.ACERT
CIP: 43.0104

Overview

The Advanced Certificate in Mental Health, Addictions, and Criminal Justice is designed to broaden graduates’ lens of practice and provide them with the knowledge, skills, and values to deliver and advocate for an integrated service model in the fields of criminal justice and mental health and addictions. The program prepares graduates to apply an inter-professional approach to the provision of services and supports for individuals with mental health or substance use challenges in contact with the criminal justice system.

Students build on their existing knowledge and skills to develop a shared foundational knowledge of the theories, systems, methods, and models of practice of the criminal justice and mental health disciplines, in addition to a common professional language and values.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will have an enhanced understanding of and ability to provide integrated services and supports, as well as to advocate for change in the systems and structures that individuals with mental health or substance use challenges experience in the justice system. Graduates will also have an increased understanding of the impact of systems, colonization, decolonization, and systemic racism on Indigenous peoples and communities.

Operating from a social justice perspective, the program emphasizes the values related to and importance of social responsibility, advocacy, community-capacity building, and inter-professional practice.

Admissions


One of:

  • A certificate, diploma, or degree in social sciences or a related field from a recognized post-secondary institution.
  • ​A certificate, diploma, or degree from an unrelated field plus one year full-time work or volunteer experience, or equivalent in social services, health, addictions, mental health or criminal or social justice.

And all of:

  • A statement of Intention: Submission of a 400-500 word statement outlining motivation for entering the program and career goals.
  • English Proficiency: Completed self-declaration confirming level of English proficiency.  Applicants to the program are expected to have English language proficiency with a strong recommendation of English 12 or higher.

Learning Outcomes


Upon successful completion of this program, the learner will be able to 

  1. Use theoretical concepts and perspectives from disciplines concerning criminal justice, mental health, and substance use to inform practice in an integrated system
  2. Incorporate knowledge of systems and services into the effective design and delivery of an integrated service model
  3. Model and support inter-professional practices and approaches that promote an integrated service model
  4. Improve the quality of support and care experienced by individuals who intersect with the mental health, criminal justice, and addiction service systems

Curriculum


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