Dear Providers,
The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health is partnering with DCFS to present a unique and exciting opportunity for providers of mental health services to receive free on-line certification and CEUs through a collaboration with the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI) Pilot for Mental Health Professionals. Although the title contains the word "adoption", this curriculum covers a broad spectrum of components related to family permanency from a trauma-informed perspective. The program is intended for both agency providers and those in individual practice who provide or plan to provide clinical services to children, youth and families experiencing the process of guardianship and/or adoption, blended families, divorce, problems relative to attachment and bonding, grief and loss, and identity formation.
As a partnership, IL DCFS and DHS/DMH have the opportunity to enroll 500 mental health practitioners into this program. 100 qualified participants will receive 3 additional, virtual real-time coaching sessions and may then be considered a Coach for their agency, community and/or private practice.
DHS/DMH supports practitioners in IL to complete this training as it positions the individual providing therapy and/or service as having the basic core competencies of trauma-informed care. Regarding future opportunities for funding and programming, providers with this certification would be able to competitively bid for offering services under Rule 132 Specialty Program Certification and Competency.
Attached is more information including registration instructions. Please note that sessions may be completed as a group, however only individual log-ins of registrants for the sessions can be used to obtain the certification and CEUs. Those interested in completing the training may sign up and begin independently. Please forward a list of names for consideration for the positions of Coach directly to me, including: name, job title and level of education by April 10th 2018.
Thank you in advance for reviewing this information thoroughly, making determinations of who would best support your practice in obtaining this certification, and forwarding me your selected candidate for Coach if you choose to have one. DMH is excited to partner with DCFS and our CMHC providers to advance trauma-informed care and improved services for children and families!
Christina Flower, MA
Systems of Care Project Specialist, Child & Adolescent Services
Illinois Department of Human Services
Division of Mental Health
600 Ash Street
Building 500, Third Floor South
Springfield, IL 62703
Phone: (217) 558-0137
Fax: (217) 785-3006
Christina.Flower@illinois.gov
