Title

Mental Health Worker: 245 Essentials

Widgets

This comprehensive mental health training program is designed for aspiring mental health professionals and direct care providers who want to build a solid foundation in the field. The program covers essential topics and offers practical experience, enabling participants to deliver quality care confidently within a mental health and direct care provider setting. 

Benefits:

  • Led by experienced professionals
  • Practical, real-world applications
  • Flexible online learning
  • Ensures that participants meet the necessary eligibility criteria and acquire the qualifications required to work effectively in the mental health industry as outlined in the Minnesota 245I statute.
  • Successful program completers receive a Mental Health Worker: 245 Essentials badge.

The Mental Health Worker: 245 Essentials program is designed to offer employers a high quality, verifiable training source for new hires that meets the Minnesota Statue 245I.05, subd.3 initial 30-hour training requirements for non-licensed mental health workers thereby reducing costs and streamlining new hire onboarding. Review Minnesota Statute Requirements here.

Program Details and Registration Here

About the course

This program fulfills the Minnesota State Statue 245I.05, subd.3 requirements for non-licensed mental health worker 30-hour new hire training spanning five topic areas:

  • Mental illness
  • Client/patient recovery and resiliency
  • Mental health and de-escalation techniques
  • Co-occurring disorders
  • Psychotropic medications and medication side effects

The program covers essential topics and offers practical experience, enabling participants to deliver quality care confidently within a mental health and direct care provider setting.

Course Format

Training for Individuals

This 6-week hybrid training program includes 30 hours of training.

  • Students will participate in both
    • Asynchronous, self-paced and instructor facilitated online learning, and
    • Weekly, 1-hour, synchronous online instructor led classroom learning.
  • Each module includes 1-2 learning assessment activities and module exam.
  • Students take a final exam online in week six (6).

Students successfully completing the course and all assessments at a rate of 80% or above will earn a Mental Health Worker: 245 Essentials badge.

Mental Health Worker: 245 Essentials badge holders who enroll in the Minneapolis College Human Services Diploma or A.S. Degree programs will earn six (6) college credits, equivalent to two (2) courses. This will accelerate their degree completion and reduce the time needed to graduate.

Customized Training Options for Employers

Also available in in-person classroom or hybrid delivery formats, the Mental Health Worker: 245 Essentials training will ensure that non-licensed mental health workers in your organization have the knowledge base and skills needed to ensure quality client care.

Contact us at customized.training@minneapolis.edu or 612-659-6500 to learn about options to bring customized training to your group or organization.

Meet Your Instructor

Dung Mao
Dr. Dung Mao, who holds a Ph.D. in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota, serves as a faculty member at Minneapolis College. He develops and teaches courses designed to engage and inspire learners. With a background in education, research, and instructional design, he thoughtfully contributes to the academic community. His scholarly work, including publications on online learning and trauma-informed teaching, enhances his approach to classroom instruction. Additionally, as the Founder and CEO of Storyloon LLC, Dr. Mao empowers educators to create engaging online courses by utilizing innovative instructional design principles, learning research, and storytelling.

Prerequisites

This program is an excellent choice for non-licensed mental health workers and direct care providers. It caters to those working in mental health roles that require less than an associate's degree, as well as individuals in related fields who offer direct care or services to clients and other individuals.

Participants must have completed high school or have a G.E.D.

Program completers must be able to pass a criminal background study to gain employment in the field. 

Cost

The cost of this training is $850 per participant. This includes class materials.

Payment Options

  1. Personal pay cash, check or credit card.
  2. The cost of the course may be covered by dislocated worker or WIOA funds. Please contact your local CareerForce Center to determine eligibility.
  3. Some employers may cover the cost for their employee’s training. Please contact us at 612-659-6500 or continuing.education@minneapolis.edu to learn more about third party payment options.