The County of Los Angeles Department of Mental Health MHSA Workforce Education and Training Division invites eligible participants to apply to attend the Instructor Led On-Line Adult Health Navigator Certification Training  led by Pacific Clinics Training Institute (PCTI) in partnership with the USC School of Social Work.

This Certification Training Program sets a foundation for integrated services and provides trainees with the certification and tools to link adult consumers of behavioral health services with services in the primary healthcare system. We invite you to take advantage of this FREE training opportunity.

Mental health consumers face challenges in accessing the healthcare system – leading to significant health disparities – due to numerous factors which include, poverty, stigma, race/ethnicity and a general lack of coordination between the primary healthcare and the behavioral healthcare systems. As a result, individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) experience higher rates of physical illness, poor access to treatment, and problems in diagnosis, treatment delivery and follow up. All of which result in poorer health outcomes for every major health condition, including: heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, cholesterol and respiratory illnesses. Results indicate that individuals with severe mental illness have a lifespan that is 20-25 years shorter than the general population in the United States.

Health Navigation is designed to reduce these disparities by building skills among the peer behavioral healthcare workforce – Peer Providers, Case Managers, Community Care Providers, or individuals who perform duties similar to those of a Peer Advocate – that empower them to assist consumers to more effectively access and utilize services in the physical healthcare system.
 
Health Navigation provides a viable solution to the problem of early mortality faced by those with serious mental illness. The Health Navigator Certification Training Program prepares agencies to implement healthcare reform through the provision of integrated services.

The Health Navigator Certification Training Program will provide instruction on the Health Navigation Intervention Model which addresses the following, but is not limited to:
  •  Role of the Health Navigator
  • Research Behind Health Navigation
  • The Recovery Model & Health Navigation
  • Screening Process for Health Navigation
  • The Engagement Process
  • The Evaluation Process
  • Wellness Coaching & Modeling Skills
Who Can Participate

Individuals participating in this training are recommended to be in a peer level position or a paraprofessional, such as: 
    • Peer Partner
    • Peer Advocate
    • Peer Specialists
    • Recovery Coach
    • Community Care Coordinator
    • Mental Health Advocates/Worker 
    • Case Manager
    • or a similar position
  • Must be employed within the public mental health system through a DMH directly operated site or contract provider
  • Must have background clearance to work with mental health consumers and be in good standing with their corresponding agency
  • Must have direct access to working with consumers with healthcare needs
  • Priority will be given to individuals in Peer level positions
Nomination Requirements
  • Must be employed to work directly with Transitional Age Youth (TAY), Adult or Older Adult consumers
  • Must have Agency and Supervisor approval to participate
  • Participant and Supervisors must attend all scheduled training dates
  • Participant must attend the 35 hours of live webinar classroom training and 9 hours of coaching  post training
  • Supervisor must attend Orientation and Implementation meetings
  • Must commit to submitting implementation tracking sheets on a monthly basis for a period of four months post training  
  • Participant must have agency commitment to provide consumer access in order to implement and execute all health navigation activities
Selection Process
  • Only 30 slots available - Please submit this application as soon as possible!
  • Applicant and Supervisor will be notified regarding the application status within a week of submittal
  • If applicant meets all requirements based on the information submitted them and their supervisor will be notified of the selection to participate via email
APPLICATIONS DUE BY APRIL 27, 2022

On-Line Training Schedule

Participant Schedule

Week 1
Monday           5/9/2022        9:00am-12:00pm Participant Orientation
Tuesday          5/10/2022       9:00am-12:00pm     Day 1
Thursday         5/12/2022       9:00am-12:00pm     Day 2

Week 2
Monday           5/16/2022      9:00am-12:00am      Day 3
Tuesday          5/17/2022       9:00am-12:00pm      Day 4
Thursday         5/19/2022       9:00am-12:00pm    Day 5

Week 3
Monday           5/23/2022      9:00am-12:00pm      Day 6
Tuesday          5/24/2022       9:00am-12:00pm    Day 7
Thursday         5/26/2022       9:00am-12:00pm    Day 8

Week 4
No Monday – Memorial Day
Tuesday          5/31/2022     9:00am-12:00pm    Day 9
Thursday         6/2/2022       9:00am-12:00pm   Day 10

Coaching Sessions
Thursday        6/23/2022     9:00am – 12:00pm or 1:00pm -4:00pm  Coaching Day 1
Thursday        7/7/2022       9:00am – 11:00am or 1:00pm -3:00pm  Coaching Day 2  
Thursday        7/21/2022     9:00am – 11:00am or 1:00pm -3:00pm  Coaching Day 3
Thursday        8/4/2022       9:00am – 11:00am or 1:00pm -3:00pm  Coaching Day 4 

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