Program Title – Addiction & Mental Health Worker
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Program Title – Social Service Worker
Credential Earned Ontario College Diploma
Delivery Full Time
Program Length 4 Semesters
Program Status Open
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Bring Your Own Device
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Program Codes
NORT-A151W (PC) – Winter Intake, Timmins Campus
Please note that no classes are held during the Summer Semester during the first year of the program. The program resumes in the Fall and continues for the Winter and Summer Semesters to be completed in under two years.
NORT-A151 (PC) – Timmins Campus
NORT-A152 (HL) – Haileybury Campus
NORT-A153 (KL) – Kirkland Lake Campus
NORT-A154 (CK) – Contact North, Distance Learning
Program Description
The Addiction and Mental Health Worker program provides students with evidence-based knowledge and skills in screening, assessing and responding to people with mental health, substance use and other addictions from diverse cultural and community perspectives.
Graduates will be prepared to analyze multiple and intersecting causes and impacts of addiction and mental health issues from a multidimensional framework that integrates an Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) lens, inclusive of Indigenous and traditional approaches to healing. The focus of this approach will prepare students to work with individuals and family members experiencing addiction and mental health issues and challenges, as well as to intervene in an advocacy role at organizational and systems levels to promote equitable access to supports and services, including health promotion and prevention/harm reduction.
The field placement component of this program provides students with the opportunity to work in inter-professional teams to gain direct practice experience providing support to clients and families/kin through case management, assessment and referral and navigating systems of care.
Alternate Delivery
This program is available to students on campus and to students studying at a distance by e-learning format. Please note that students studying by e-learning format will be required to travel to lab locations (e.g out of town) on multiple occasions at their own expense.
Career Opportunities
Professionals with training in addictions and mental health are highly sought after by social service employers. Graduates of the Addiction and Mental Health Worker program can find employment in shelters, drop-in centres, hospitals, correctional facilities, recovery or rehabilitation homes and crisis support agencies in roles such as Case Manager, Harm Reduction Worker, Street Outreach Worker, Short-Term Crisis Bed Worker, Front-Line Shelter Worker, Withdrawal Management Counsellor, and others.
With respect to employment prospects for individuals trained in mental health and addictions work, Service Canada (2013) notes that the labour market and demand for community and social services workers will remain high in the coming years, particularly in the addiction and mental health sector.
Graduates of the Addiction and Mental Health Worker program will be prepared for practice with individuals, families/kin and small groups who are impacted by addiction and mental health issues in a variety of community health and human services settings such as social and advocacy organizations, residential care facilities, outpatient care centres and community-based food, housing, emergency and other relief services.
Pathways & Transfer Agreements
Pathways from the Addiction and Mental Health Worker program include the following programs offered at Ontario Colleges:
• Social Service Worker
• Recreation Therapy
• Youth at Risk program
• Community and Justice Services program
• Child and Youth Worker program
Pathways into degree programs include:
• Bachelor degree in Social Work
• Bachelor degree in Social Welfare and Social Development
• Bachelor degree in Psychology/Sociology
• Bachelor degree in Gender Equality and Social Justice
• Professional Addiction Studies (Continuing Education)
For more informations on Northern’s Transfer Agreements download the complete Articulation Agreement list for Universities and Colleges (PDF, 113KB) or visit OnTransfer, which provides information and resources to help students and potential students find their way through Ontario’s postsecondary system.
Contact Information
Lori Vachon
705-235-3211 ext. 2141
vachonl@northern.on.ca
Semester 1
AM1003 – The Role of Biology in Addiction and Mental Health
In this course, students will explore current research, focused on genetic and epigenetic factors that may play a role in the development of addiction and mental health of individuals. Students will review the role of medication in supporting those living with additions and mental health. By the end of this course, students will have an understanding of the many factors: biological, psychological and social factors that influence mental health and addiction.
SW1014 – Working on Teams and in Groups
This course will provide an interactive environment to enable students to develop group leadership and collaborative group work skills and to critically reflect on interprofessional teamwork. Students in this course will work with and in groups to explore theories relevant to group dynamics and group facilitation. Students will apply theories learned in a lab setting which will examine group dynamics, leadership styles, group conflict management as well as forming and facilitating groups.
CM1913 – Communications I
This course is designed to enhance students’ writing, speaking and critical thinking skills as required in academic and workplace settings. Students reinforce correct grammar and mechanics usage, develop specialized vocabulary, and apply effective writing techniques to produce a variety of documents. Topics covered include the communications process; the writing process (planning, composing, editing); paragraph development; email; research and documentation (APA format); essay/research paper structure; cover letter, resume and portfolio development.
SW1073 – Understand Power, Privilege & Oppression
Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) and Structural Social Work (STSW) are the philosophical basis for Northern College’s Social Service Worker Program. In this course, students will begin to understand their own social location, the concepts of Privilege and Oppression and the impact of these on marginalized people with whom Social Service Workers work. The concept of “Private Troubles versus Public Problems” will assist students to understand their role in working to change systems that oppress people.
SW2073 – Working with Indigenous Peoples
This course is intended to assist the student to develop the capacity to work with Indigenous individuals, families, groups and communities. Students will examine the impacts of trauma and colonization for Indigenous peoples and communities by gaining an in-depth understanding of the residential school system, the 60s’s scoop and intergenerational trauma. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to identify culturally safe practice considerations and assist in the development of holistic healing plans that incorporate appropriate cultural resources. Students will connect the concepts learned in two other courses: Trauma-Informed Care and Crisis; and Understanding Power, Privilege and Oppression in Social Service Work to this course in order to be able to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous individuals, family and communities while recognizing the impact of their own privilege on these relationships.
SW3123 – Trauma-Informed Care and Crisis
This course is designed to introduce students to a variety of concepts related to trauma, trauma informed practice, crisis and crisis intervention. Students will adopt a trauma informed perspective as part of their Social Service Worker practice. Through case studies and role plays, students will learn how to employ crisis intervention skills in a culturally appropriate manner. Students will have the unique opportunity to apply their skills in different mock crisis situations.
EL1003 – Elective I
Semester 2
AM1013 – Professional Practice Skills
Students will examine different models of practice as they relate to mental health and addiction. Students will engage in critical self-reflection to build awareness and appreciation of how power differentials, internalized oppression and social location all influence interactions. A focus on mindful communication practices will be emphasized with a specific focus on anti-oppressive and collaborative communication. Students will learn the models of practice, focusing on effective communication, beginning interviewing skills, empathetic listening, paraphrasing, perception-checking, questioning and affirming.
AM2003 – Social Policy and Legislation in Addiction and Mental Health
Students will discuss social policies relating to addiction and mental health from a structural perspective. Students will explore the concept of personal troubles versus public issues. These analyses will assist the student to be able to access appropriate services for clients, as well as develop and implement services to address gaps.
AM2013 – Screening, Assessment and Case Management
Based on the cultural beliefs, values and needs of a client/support system, and in collaboration with all service providers, screening, assessment and case management enables clients with support systems to be linked with appropriate providers of care and resources throughout the realm of health and community services and across various care settings. They do so while ensuring that the care provided is safe, effective, client-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. This course will identify the range of diverse service settings in which people with addictions and mental health concerns present, and will examine reasons why the majority of people with addiction and mental health questions do not seek specialized treatment, drop out prematurely or “fall through the cracks” attempting to navigate multiple service systems. Based on a foundation model of trauma informed care, students will use care-based applications to screening and assessment tools for addiction and mental health matters, and will critically reflect on the shortcomings of these tools among specific populations, including Indigenous Peoples and culturally specific groups.
AM2023 – Addressing Stigma in Addiction and Mental Health Work
Challenging the stigma associated with addiction and mental health takes understanding, education and examines personal attitudes towards health. This course provides students with an in-depth exploration and analysis of the social construction of stigma relating to people with addiction and mental health issues. Students will focus on the causes, consequences and impacts of stigma at the micro, meso and macro levels, as well as multiple solutions to combat stigma. Students will have the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills by creating an anti-stigma initiative using the (AOP) lens, community outreach and engagement approaches.
AM2033 – Interviewing and Counselling Skills
Students began to learn about intervention skills in the first semester in Professional Practice Skills. This course provides the opportunity to practice these skills while continuing to enhance the understanding of work at the micro, mezzo and macro levels of practice, with individuals, families, groups and community. Students will enrich their ability to screen, assess and case manage through in-class simulations and case studies. Students will learn to manage risk, determine needs and intervene during crisis. Self-care strategies will be emphasized throughout the learning.
AM2043 – Integrated Approaches to Addiction and Mental Health Work
There is a tendency for addiction and mental health to be viewed separately from other areas such as trauma/violence as though they have unique causes and outcomes. Taking an integrated perspective not only improves the student’s understanding of addiction but also invites them to understand collaboration across disciplines rather than in silos. In this course, students will begin to link theory with practice in addiction and mental health work, demonstrating that how one understands addictions will determine the response to it. Students will reflect on their own “theories” of addiction and mental health, and will use this self-reflection as a starting point for discussion of key theoretical frameworks in the addiction and mental health field. Students will describe and examine their theories using the anti-oppressive approach. Students will apply their self-reflection and learning to include a multidimensional theory of addiction and mental health that takes into account biological, psychological, social and structural factors. Students will be able to apply addiction and mental health within a number of intersecting causes and influences with a range of individual, social and social-structural interventions and possible responses.
CM2913 – Communications II
Communications II enhances and applies the communication skills learned in communications I to additional specific formats required in the workplace. Students will learn to write effective and professional business letters, reports, and documents particular to their field of study. Students will continue to review and practice grammatical structure and APA format.
Semester 3
AM3003 Preparation for Placement in Addiction and Mental Health
The aim of this course is to prepare students for success as a professional Addiction and Mental Health Worker. This course will be interactive in providing students with opportunities to explore resources currently available in our community to support their success as a Mental Health and Addiction Worker. Students will define their learning styles and develop their own student success plan which will include self-care strategies, and approaches to prevent compassion fatigue and burn out. Students will explore the policies and practice procedures that will help prepare them for Field Placement. Students will learn about professional competencies required for Field Placement and required for employment as an Addiction and Mental Health Worker. Important themes that will be addressed will be workplace safety, de-escalation, suicide prevention and positive client engagement and collaboration.
AM3013 Addictions and Mental Health Capstone
Students will explore specific populations and key issues in the field of addictions and mental health. Students will work in small groups to explore special populations and share the information with their peers. These populations include women (including pregnant women); older adults; youth; Indigenous people; LGBTTTIQ/Q communities; racialized communities; new Canadians; differently-abled individuals; those who are homeless; people with concurrent disorders, dual diagnosis, PTSD and survivors of interpersonal trauma/violence. This capstone course will be the vehicle for students to pull together all of the learning in the program, including theory, practice, group work skills and community engagement strategies to develop and present their project.
SW1093 Human Behavior and the Social Environment
This course explores human development across the life span in the context of bio-psycho-social influences, including theories and knowledge about the range of social systems in which individuals live and diversity of human behaviour throughout the life cycle. Students will develop an understanding of the interactions between and among biophysical, social, psychological, and cultural systems as they affect human development and shape individual values, beliefs, worldviews and identities.
SW2083 Community Health and Development
The importance of Social Service Workers being able to navigate and work within communities at a macro level is imperative to the human services field. This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamental concepts and theories used within community organization and development. Community service learning is incorporated where students will do an analysis of the health of their community (using the social determinants of health as a guide. Based on the results students will develop a plan to address their findings, using a structural and anti- oppressive lens to inform their work.
SW3113 Working with Diverse Families
This course will examine how to work with and support Canadian families in contemporary society. Using an anti-oppressive and structural lens: students will examine challenges that Canadian families are facing and develop an awareness of the principles and values that guide human service practice with families. The many layers affecting families will be discussed, including (but not limited to); coupling, marriage, parenting, divorce and blended families. Students will be encouraged to examine their own family systems in light of the contemporary theories of family.
SW3153 Interpersonal Violence
This course focuses on the historical, social and cultural contexts of family violence in Canada. Students will acquire a broad understanding of child abuse and intimate partner violence and apply this knowledge to social service work interventions. In this course, students will also explore the social challenges of reducing and ultimately preventing family violence in the future.
Semester 4
AM4002 – Fieldwork Seminar
This course is a co-requisite of Fieldwork Placement. While on placement, students will attend four Seminar days. This in-class experience provides the opportunity to critically analyze the experiences that are occurring in the field. Students begin to understand the delicate balance between what they have learned in the classroom (theory, skills), the needs of clients and the requirements of agencies. Self-care will be emphasized as students transition from the role of student to that of entry-level professional.
AM4003 – Fieldwork Placement
This is a cooperate endeavour between the College Addiction and Mental Health Worker Program and various community agencies. Students are placed in agencies under supervision for a 650-hour duration. The objective is to provide students with a practical opportunity as a professional in training to integrate and apply entry-level knowledge, values and skills, while actively participating in the activities of the agency with staff and clients.
