MCCCD Program Description

Peer Training for Behavioral Health Paraprofessionals

Course: BHS178

First Term: 2004 Summer I

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S

Description: Organized and tailored around the interests and needs of the individual student. Structured to provide an atmosphere of individualized research and study paralleled by professional expertise and guidance. Professional-type facilities and equipment available for student use. Allows the best aspects of independent study and individualized learning to be combined to maximize student development. COMMON COMPETENCY COURSE

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Describe key concepts involved in becoming a behavioral health paraprofessional including confidentiality, communication, attending skills, and developing rapport. (I) 2. Describe workplace expectations of behavioral health paraprofessionals including roles, responsibilities, ethics, and boundaries in the mental health field. (II) 3. Describe factors involved in the mental health recovery process for the peer behavioral health paraprofessional. (III) 4. Demonstrate communication skills to include helpful verses unhelpful communication styles, active listening, and techniques of engagement. (IV) 5. Describe best practices in the treatment of persons with serious mental illnesses including symptoms and treatment of thought disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders. (V) 6. Describe psychosocial rehabilitation including principals and strategies of psychiatric rehabilitation and how they relate to various philosophies of recovery. (VI) 7. Describe key concepts of conflict resolution. (VII) 8. Describe key factors in crises intervention. (VIII) 9. Define coordination of care, according to the Department of Behavioral Health Services, incorporating the roles of the family, the behavioral health professional, and other regulatory agencies. (IX) 10. Identify community support systems identifying agencies and their services to persons with mental illnesses. (X) 11. Describe psychopharmacology to include medications, side effects, brain physiology, and medication supervision. (XI) 12. Explain co-occurring disorders and related treatment strategies and barriers to treatment. (XII) 13. Identify regulatory agency requirements for clinical documentation to include progress notes and treatment plans. (XIII) 14. Describe principles of the recovery process for consumers, caregivers and society. (XIV)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Concepts Communication Skill Building A. Confidentiality B. Communication C. Attending Skills D. Rapport E. Conflict Resolution II. Workplace Expectations A. Roles B. Responsibilities C. Ethics D. Boundaries III. Mental Health Recovery A. Self Care B. Physical Health C. Mental Health D. Family Support IV. Communication Skills V. Best Practices: Symptoms and Treatment A. Thought Disorders B. Anxiety Disorders C. Mood Disorders D. Personality Disorders VI. Psychosocial Rehabilitation A. Principals B. Strategies C. Recovery VII. Conflict Resolution A. Anger 1. Physical 2. Verbal B. Empathy C. De-escalation VIII. Crises Intervention A. Levels of Crises Development 1. Anxiety level 2. Defensive level 3. Acting out level 4. Tension reduction level B. Aggressive Behavior 1. Defensive-aggressive 2. Offensive-aggressive 3. Passive-aggressive C. Team Approach D. Counselor Role E. Non-Verbal Communication and Proxemics F. Regaining Rationality IX. Coordination of Care A. Definition B. Family C. Behavioral Health Professional D. Other Regulatory Agencies X. Community Support systems A. Agencies B. Services XI. Psychopharmacology A. Medications B. Side Effects C. Brain Physiology D. Medication Supervision XII. Co-Occurring Disorders A. Prevalence B. Treatment Strategies C. Barriers to Treatment XIII. Clinical Documentation A. Agency Requirements B. Progress Notes C. Treatment Plans XIV. Recovery Process A. Consumers B. Caregivers C. Society

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 5/25/2004

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.