Olde Federal Buidling, downtown Augusta

HOME MHRT TRAINING CATALOG FORMS LINKS
DHHS COMPETENCIES   OQMHP TRAINING CALENDAR STAFF TARGETED CASE MANAGEMENT
WORKSHOP ALLOCATIONS MHSS (RCS) HAPPY, HEALTHY & WELL

                                       


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 July 16, 2008)
 
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.

DATES / TIMES LOCATION CLASS SIZE INSTRUCTOR PHONE / EMAIL
June 17, 24, July 8, 15, & 22, 2008
8am - 4pm
 
Employment Specialists of Maine
776 Riverside Dr.
Augusta, ME  04330
12 Karina Patton & Rebecca McPhail vgilbert@esm-augusta.com

(207) 622-5946

July 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, & 17, 2008
9am - 5pm
Graham Behavioral Services
76 Eastern Ave.
Augusta, ME  04330
 
10 Brenda Radel brendaradel@gbsmaine.com

(207) 626-0003

July 7-11, 2008
8:30am - 5pm
OHI
Professional Development
240 State St.
Brewer, ME  04412
 
20 Bonnie A. Cole bcole@ohimaine.org

(207) 989-4007 ext. 202

July 14, 16, 18, 23, & 25, 2008
8:30am - 4:30pm
Lutheran Social Services
39 Mechanic St.
Suite 300
Westbrook, ME  04092
 
12 Michael Freeman mfreeman@lssme.org

(207) 797-3935

July 21-25, 2008
9am - 5pm
 
Port Resources
125 John Roberts Rd., Suite #12
South Portland, ME  04106
18 Mark Lindquist mlindquist@portresources.org

(207) 828-0048

July 21, 23, August 7, 11, 15, 22, 26, & 28, 2008
9:30am - 2:30pm
 
CLA Career Enhancement Center
2 North St.
Houlton, ME  04730
10 Craig Fournier, Mark Morin, & Wendy Tapley craig.fournier@clamaine.org

(207) 532-5526

July 17, 22, 24, 31, August 7, 2008
8am - 4pm
Motivational Services-Training Center
71 Hospital St.
Augusta, ME  04330
20 Christy Daskoski, Gary Mascher, John Painter, Christine Vincent, and Peggy Cope-Mascher
 
cdacus@mocomaine.com  

(207) 623-7721

July 29, August 5, 12, 29, September 9, 2008
8am - 4pm
 
Employment Specialists of Maine
776 Riverside Dr.
Augusta, ME  04330
12 Karina Patton & Rebecca McPhail vgilbert@esm-augusta.com

(207) 622-5946

August 6, 7, 8, 11, & 12, 2008
8:30am - 5pm
OHI
Professional Development
240 State St.
Brewer, ME  04412
 
20 Bonnie A. Cole bcole@ohimaine.org

(207) 989-4007 ext. 202

September 8-12, 2008
8:30am - 5pm
OHI
Professional Development
240 State St.
Brewer, ME  04412
 
20 Bonnie A. Cole bcole@ohimaine.org

(207) 989-4007 ext. 202

September 8 - December 10, 2008 (Mondays)
5pm - 8pm
 
Kennebec Valley Community College-Buker Center in Augusta 20 Angie Newhouse Flora Stack at:
fstack@kvcc.me.edu

(207) 624-3916

October 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30, 2008
8am - 4pm
Motivational Services-Training Center
71 Hospital St.
Augusta, ME  04330
20 Christy Daskoski, Gary Mascher, John Painter, Christine Vincent, and Peggy Cope-Mascher
 
cdacus@mocomaine.com  

(207) 623-7721

October 13-17, 2008
8:30am - 5pm
OHI
Professional Development
240 State St.
Brewer, ME  04412
 
20 Bonnie A. Cole bcole@ohimaine.org

(207) 989-4007 ext. 202

November 3, 5, 7, 10, & 14, 2008
9am - 5pm
 
Port Resources
125 John Roberts Rd., Suite #12
South Portland, ME  04106
18 Mark Lindquist mlindquist@portresources.org

(207) 828-0048

November 10, 12, 13, 14, & 17, 2008
8:30am - 5pm
OHI
Professional Development
240 State St.
Brewer, ME  04412
 
20 Bonnie A. Cole bcole@ohimaine.org

(207) 989-4007 ext. 202

December 8-12, 2008
8:30am - 5pm
OHI
Professional Development
240 State St.
Brewer, ME  04412
 
20 Bonnie A. Cole bcole@ohimaine.org

(207) 989-4007 ext. 202

 

MHSS Related Forms for Download

FORM
 

Word Format
 
Adobe Format
 
Provisional MHSS Handbook
Used by agencies to enable their new employees to become Provisional MHRT I certified
 
Word Version Adobe Version
MHSS Trainer Notification Form
Used by trainers to send information to CFL about upcoming MHSS trainings they plan to offer.  Sending in this form enables CFL to advertise your training on this webpage.
 
Word version Adobe version
Training Validation Form
Used by trainers after completing an MHSS training course to report the results of that training to CFL.
 
Word version Adobe version
Student Information Form
To be completed by all students who successfully complete the MHSS course.
 
Word version Adobe version
MHSS Curriculum Modification Form
Used by trainers who wish to alter the order of the modules or the content of the MHSS training program.
 
Word version Adobe version
Evaluation Forms
(Last updated on May 31, 2007)

To be filled-out by students to provide feedback on the training.  Data collected is used to update/improve the MHSS curriculum.
 
Modules 1-6 Word

Modules 7-12 Word
 

Modules 1-6 Adobe

Modules 7-12 Adobe
 

Trainer Feedback Form
Used by trainers who wish to provide feedback/comments on a particular part of the training or the materials provided for training.
 
Feedback Form Word
 
Feedback Form Adobe
 
MHSS Training Policies and Procedures Manual Manual Word Manual Adobe

Home ] DHHS Competencies ] OQMHP ] CFL Forms ] Workshop Allocations ] Calendar ] TCM.htm ] MHRT ] [ MHSS ] Links ] Staff ]
 

 
  The Center for Learning
  45 Commerce Dr.
  Suite 11
  Augusta, ME  04330
  Phone: (207) 626-5200
  Fax: (207) 626-5022
  TTY: (207) 626-5282
 
cfl-muskie@usm.maine.edu
University of Southern Maine Logo

            Muskie School of Public Service