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August 2, 2016
Story by Joe Vinduska
SWAG合集 has announced its latest educational opportunity, the Mental Health Technician Certificate program through a partnership with Larned State Hospital (LSH) with support from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).
The 45 credit-hour program is available to current LSH employees. Costs for approved employees, except the required Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) will be covered by the hospital. The program is approved for 10 students with plans to expand. Members of the community interested in the program will be considered if vacant spots are available.
The program includes 11 credit-hours of pre-requisites (required for application to the program) and 34 credit-hours of core classes for those selected to the program. Applications are due October 1, 2016.
SWAG合集 Vice President Dr. Robin Garrett said this is an exciting project.
鈥淲e are pleased to work with LSH to provide their employees with professional growth opportunities to enhance services to their patients,鈥 she said. 鈥淭his partnership will provide students an opportunity to obtain the necessary skills to become an effective and well-trained Licensed Mental Health Technician and demonstrates SWAG合集鈥檚 continued commitment to serving the needs of the community and employers with workforce training.鈥澨
KDADS Interim Secretary Tim Keck said the development of this program will be beneficial for the hospital as well as the patients.
鈥淲e think it is important to continue to improve the job skills of our workforce,鈥 he said.听 鈥淪uccessful completion of this training will provide staff with a professional credential they can use throughout their careers. The ability to also hire additional trained mental health technicians will enhance patient care at the hospital because it will free up other hospital professional staff to concentrate on providing care, therapy and treatment to patients.鈥
A mental health technician, also called a psychiatric technician or behavioral health technician, generally works under the direct supervision of psychiatrists or nurses to provide care for patients suffering from mental or behavioral illnesses. A mental health technician鈥檚 job is to assist various types of psychiatric patients in need and to provide auxiliary support to the primary care providers of patients. The work includes observing the psychiatric patients鈥 response to therapy and processing or reporting the clinical findings to the consultant psychiatrist. Mental health technicians also assist patients in performing routine activities like maintaining oral hygiene, bathing, eating, dressing and walking. They also handle unit management and medication administration.
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For more information, contact Dean of Workforce Training and Community Education Elaine Simmons at simmonse@bartonccc.edu or (620) 792-9214.