Diploma in Addiction and Mental Health Worker Centennial College - Ashtonbee Campus, Canada

The School of Community and Health Studies proudly offers the Addiction and Mental Health Worker program, a transformative educational journey designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and skills to thrive in the dynamic field of mental health and addiction services. Through a curriculum grounded in evidence-based practices, you will embark on a path to become a compassionate and competent professional capable of making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals experiencing mental health and substance-use challenges, all while embracing diverse cultural perspectives and practices.

In the Addiction and Mental Health Work courses, you will be immersed in a rich learning environment that prepares you to excel in various community health and human services settings, including mental health and addiction agencies, homeless drop-in centers, and crisis service centers. Here, you will cultivate the expertise to effectively engage with individuals, family members, and small groups impacted by addiction and mental health challenges, while advocating tirelessly for equitable access to essential supports and services such as health promotion, prevention, and harm reduction.

Program Highlights

In the Addiction and Mental Health Worker program, you'll learn to:

• The Addiction and Mental Worker program curriculum is reviewed on an annual basis to ensure courses are current, relevant, and based on evidence-based research and best practices in the field.
• Program faculty members are all trained in addiction and mental health work and social work practice, and have extensive knowledge, expertise and field experience.
• During your two years in the program, you'll have the opportunity to obtain a Stackable Certificate in Indigenous Studies: First Peoples in Canada.
• Two specialized field placements will provide you with valuable opportunities to integrate classroom learning, knowledge and skills in professional practice. Facilitated two days per week in the third semester and four days per week in the fourth semester, these experiences may include a variety of settings (governmental services, community centres, settlement agencies, social service agencies, shelters, residential group homes, employment counselling agencies and educational institutions, among others).
• As an Addiction and Mental Health Worker student, you'll have the opportunity to apply for an Indigenous focused field placement.  This placement is a full year placement and has a prerequisite to be enrolled in the  Stackable Certificate in Indigenous Studies: First Peoples in Canada. The program has a history of strong partnerships with global organizations.
• You'll have the opportunity to engage in interprofessional collaboration and practice with other programs within the College community, such as Early Childhood Education, Police Foundations, and Community.