Mental Health Support Specialist (MHSS-Formerly RCS) Training Information

Jump to current list of upcoming MHSS trainings.    OR    Jump to the List of MHSS-related Forms

In the fall of 2005, the Mental Health Support Specialist Curriculum replaced the 1995 Residential Care Specialist Curriculum. 

This revised version is a recovery-oriented curriculum written from a trauma-informed perspective, intended to reflect best practices in the field and to provide the best possible training to those who support adults diagnosed with mental illness. The title of the curriculum was changed to reflect this new perspective. 

The MHSS curriculum is a 35-hour course, required of newly hired individuals providing residential services and daily living support services in Maine’s adult mental health system. Department of Health and Human Services-Adult Mental Health Services requires this training for “Other Qualified Individuals” (non-licensed/certified personnel) who provide residential services or daily living supports to adults with mental illness.  

For students, this web site will provide a list of approved MHSS trainers (only those who completed the 2005 Train the Trainer are certified to offer the course) as well as a list of MHSS trainings being offered throughout the state. 

For trainers, this web site will assist you with specific questions about curriculum use, trainer certification, student and trainer qualification, and quality assurance. Forms are available for downloading on this site.

UPDATES

In May, 2007, the MHSS Curriculum was updated.  Three new aspects were added to the curriculum modules on: Understanding Mental Health and Mental Illness, Health and Recovery, and Health and Safety.  These updates were added to the curriculum, PowerPoint disks and the Policies & Procedures Manual.
 

DSP vs. MHSS Certification: In 2006, the Direct Support Professional and Mental Health Support Specialist curricula were compared.  It was determined that the following three modules are interchangeable between the two curricula: Confidentiality, Documentation, and Sexuality.

As of October 1, 2006, the NEW Provisional Mental Health Support Specialist (MHSS) Handbook replaces the 1991 Caring for People with Mental Illness In Community Based Settings manual for Provisional MHRT I certification.  (Through September 30, 2006, you may continue to use the older manual.)  You may download the new handbook in your choice of Word or Adobe Acrobat formats. 

You may also download the updated Provisional MHRT I certificate in Word or Adobe Acrobat formats.  As of October 1, 2006, the Center for Learning will no longer accept any older versions of the Provisional MHRT I certificate.  Please update your files with the new version.

We're please to inform you that the Executive Summary of the MHSS Curriculum Evaluation is now available for your review. We appreciate all of the MHSS trainers who participated by distributing and collecting these evaluations!

You may review the summary in Word or Adobe Acrobat formats.

As of September 30, 2005 the former RCS curriculum will no longer be taught. On and after that date, only the new MHSS curriculum will be recognized. RCS certificates issued on or prior to September 30, 2005, will remain valid and acceptable toward MHRT1 certification.

We have a list of approved MHSS Trainers available through this link.

For further information regarding this course, please contact Christine Robinson at DHHS Adult MH Services.  Email: christine.c.robinson@maine.gov

List of Upcoming MHSS Courses   (This list was last updated November 5, 2009)
 
Please Note:  The Center for Learning does not accept registrations for MHSS courses.  You must call the instructor to register for their course.  This list may not be inclusive.  We list the information provided to us as we receive it. 

Trainers:  If you want us to list your course here, please submit the Training Notification Form (see further below) as soon as possible before your course takes place.  There is no charge for this service.

MHSS Related Forms for Download

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