New Employees in Mental Health Services - A Training Series

This 30-minute course prepares the learner to engage with clients living with mental illnesses in a trauma informed manner. Participants will learn to:

• Understand the impact of trauma on clients
• recognize signs and prevalence of trauma
• Adjust own behavior and create a safe space for persons exposed to trauma

This training series is developed in a partnership of Iowa Regional Mental Health Directors, Thresholds, Inc. and the Mid-America Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, to prepare the workforce to set a foundation to work with clients with serious mental illnesses. In particular, this 7-part series provides evidence-based content on Trauma Informed Care, Cultural Competency, Motivational Interviewing, De-Escalation, Self-Care, Shared Decision Making, and Recovery Oriented Care. Each training provides the learner with a foundation for effective practice and establishes a starting point for further learning. This project is supported by SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by SAMHSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Certificate of Completion Available

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This 30-minute course prepares the learner to effectively collaborate with clients on their treatment. Participants will learn to:

• Build collaborative, professional relationships with the client, families, and other members of the support team/system as identified by the client, using their strengths, needs, abilities and preferences
• Understand stages of change
• Use shared decision making with the client
• Actively elicit the perspective (voice and choice) of the client
• Prioritize the voice and preferences of the client
• Participate as an active member of service or support team
• Use a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach to working in partnership with the client to track progress toward goals and adjust services as needed and desired by client
• Gather and review information about the client to provide quality services

This training series is developed in a partnership of Iowa Regional Mental Health Directors, Thresholds, Inc. and the Mid-America Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, to prepare the workforce to set a foundation to work with clients with serious mental illnesses. In particular, this 7-part series provides evidence-based content on Trauma Informed Care, Cultural Competency, Motivational Interviewing, De-Escalation, Self-Care, Shared Decision Making, and Recovery Oriented Care. Each training provides the learner with a foundation for effective practice and establishes a starting point for further learning. This project is supported by SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by SAMHSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Certificate of Completion Available

REGISTER NOW AND BEGIN COURSE

This 30-minute course teaches the learner about the foundation of recovery and their role in assisting people with mental illness in the process. Participants will learn to:

• Empower the client to set goals, make informed choices, and follow-through on responsibilities
• Support the client to advocate for him or herself by encouraging the client to speak for his or herself
• Support the client as they learn to access needed services, support and resources
• Assist the client to overcome barriers and access needed services
• Inform the client and their family of their rights and how they are protected

This training series is developed in a partnership of Iowa Regional Mental Health Directors, Thresholds, Inc. and the Mid-America Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, to prepare the workforce to set a foundation to work with clients with serious mental illnesses. In particular, this 7-part series provides evidence-based content on Trauma Informed Care, Cultural Competency, Motivational Interviewing, De-Escalation, Self-Care, Shared Decision Making, and Recovery Oriented Care. Each training provides the learner with a foundation for effective practice and establishes a starting point for further learning. This project is supported by SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by SAMHSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Certificate of Completion Available

REGISTER NOW AND BEGIN COURSE

This 30-minute course prepares the learner to take on the role of the helper. Participants will learn to:

• Separate oneself from the struggles of the clients served
• Recognize symptoms and signs of compassion fatigue in self and others
• Create own wellness plan as part of professional development planning
• Identify and use coping strategies for own wellness

This training series is developed in a partnership of Iowa Regional Mental Health Directors, Thresholds, Inc. and the Mid-America Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, to prepare the workforce to set a foundation to work with clients with serious mental illnesses. In particular, this 7-part series provides evidence-based content on Trauma Informed Care, Cultural Competency, Motivational Interviewing, De-Escalation, Self-Care, Shared Decision Making, and Recovery Oriented Care. Each training provides the learner with a foundation for effective practice and establishes a starting point for further learning. This project is supported by SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by SAMHSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Certificate of Completion Available

REGISTER NOW AND BEGIN COURSE

This 30-minute course teaches the evidence-based practice of motivational interviewing including stage-based treatment and how to use micro-skills to respond to change or sustain talk. Participants will learn to:

• Assist clients in goal setting and responding to desires to change in a stage-based manner
• Engage clients through open ended-questions, affirmations, summaries and reflective listening
• Respond to sustain talk
• Elicit change talk

This training series is developed in a partnership of Iowa Regional Mental Health Directors, Thresholds, Inc. and the Mid-America Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, to prepare the workforce to set a foundation to work with clients with serious mental illnesses. In particular, this 7-part series provides evidence-based content on Trauma Informed Care, Cultural Competency, Motivational Interviewing, De-Escalation, Self-Care, Shared Decision Making, and Recovery Oriented Care. Each training provides the learner with a foundation for effective practice and establishes a starting point for further learning. This project is supported by SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by SAMHSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Certificate of Completion Available

REGISTER NOW AND BEGIN COURSE

This 30-minute course prepares the learner to effectively engage with clients who are experiencing a crisis.  Participants will learn to:

• Recognize risk and early warning signs of crisis
• Use positive behavior supports to prevent crisis and promote health and safety
• Use appropriate and approved intervention approaches to resolve a crisis through the use of de-escalation techniques
• Seek help from other staff or services when needed during and after a crisis and knows de-escalation techniques
• Monitor situations and communicate with the client and his or her family and support team to reduce risk
• Report incidents according to policies and procedures 
• See own potential role within a conflict or crisis and changes behavior to minimize conflict
• Create an individualized crisis prevention plan per agency policy and procedures

This training series is developed in a partnership of Iowa Regional Mental Health Directors, Thresholds, Inc. and the Mid-America Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, to prepare the workforce to set a foundation to work with clients with serious mental illnesses. In particular, this 7-part series provides evidence-based content on Trauma Informed Care, Cultural Competency, Motivational Interviewing, De-Escalation, Self-Care, Shared Decision Making, and Recovery Oriented Care. Each training provides the learner with a foundation for effective practice and establishes a starting point for further learning. This project is supported by SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by SAMHSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Certificate of Completion Available

REGISTER NOW AND BEGIN COURSE

This 30-minute course prepares the learner to engage with clients living with mental illnesses in a culturally competent and humble manner. Participants will learn to:

• Provide or access services that fit with the clients’ culture or preferences
• Value the culture of each client served to provide better support and services
• Recognize own biases and values and not let them interfere in work relationships
• Recognize that the client served is the expert in their own culture
• Inquire about and respect the cultural needs and preferences of each client
• Assist the client to find social, learning and recreational opportunities valued in their culture

This training series is developed in a partnership of Iowa Regional Mental Health Directors, Thresholds, Inc. and the Mid-America Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, to prepare the workforce to set a foundation to work with clients with serious mental illnesses. In particular, this 7-part series provides evidence-based content on Trauma Informed Care, Cultural Competency, Motivational Interviewing, De-Escalation, Self-Care, Shared Decision Making, and Recovery Oriented Care. Each training provides the learner with a foundation for effective practice and establishes a starting point for further learning. This project is supported by SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by SAMHSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Certificate of Completion Available

REGISTER NOW AND BEGIN COURSE