Professional Certificate Program in Mental Health Care for the Older Adult

This professional training program in mental health and aging prepares the professional to work more effectively with older adults experiencing mental distress. Learn the most current assessment and treatment methods. Special attention is paid to quality person centered care.

Professional Certificate Program in Mental Health Care for the Older Adult

This advanced program is ideal for licensed practitioners and allied health professionals who work with older adults. The curriculum is specifically designed to meet continuing education needs for professionals working with older adults.

You will be taught by highly respected and knowledgeable faculty from UW-Madison. This is a unique continuing education series in Wisconsin.

 

Requirements for certificate

A professional training program in mental health and aging that will prepare the professional to work more effectively with older adults experiencing mental distress. Learn about the most current assessment and treatment methods with special attention to quality person centered care. This advanced program is ideal for licensed practitioners and allied health professionals who work with older adults. The curriculum is specifically designed to meet continuing education needs for professionals working with older adults.

Individuals who want to earn the certificate in Mental Health and the Older Adult must complete five required seminars and three elective seminars in addition to the Summer Institute which is offered every even year.  All requirements must be completed in two years. The five required seminars are Late Life Depression, Late Life Anxiety, Late Life Sleep Disorders, Managing Psychotropic Medications, and Common Geriatric Conditions and Mental Health.

See the Continuing Studies catalog for detailed class descriptions

Frequently asked questions

What if I cannot attend the Summer Institute when it is offered?
Exceptions can be made to the two year time frame requirement on a case by case basis.  Individuals needing a time extension should write a detailed letter explaining the situation to the program director, Suzanna Castillo, PhD, at scastillo@dcs.wisc.edu

What will I receive when I complete the course?
You will receive a framed, signed and official certificate from UW-Madison for your participation in the “Professional Certificate Program on Mental Health Care and the Older Adult.” You will also receive a record of your 53 hours of instructional time or 5.3 Continuing Education Hour Units from UW Madison as well as a letter of acknowledgement from Dr. Suzanna Waters Castillo, Programs on Aging at PDAS. Certificates will be mailed to participants upon completion of all required coursework or may be awarded at the seminar on the day of certificate completion.

How many CEU’s will I receive?
You will receive .5 CEUs (5 hours) for each seminar or a total of 4.0 CEUs, which equals 40 hours in addition to the 1.3 CEUs provided by the Summer Institute. The Department of Professional Development is an approved continuing education provider for licensed social workers and other human service and AODA professionals.

How much does this certificate series cost?
Each seminar is paid for separately at the time of enrollment. Per seminar costs currently are $120.00. Summer Institute is $295.00.

What if I started the program before the Summer Institute of 2012?
If you stated the certification program before the Summer Institute of 2012, you will be grandfathered into to the new program.  Individuals that completed any seminars on or before June 1, 2012 must complete any six elective seminars in addition the Summer Institute within a two year time frame in order to be eligible for the certificate in Mental Health and the Older Adult.

How to register

Call 608-265-3517 to register for the program or visit our Aging and Long Term Care classes page for more information about current course offerings.  Contact Brooke Ekvall at 608-265-3517 or at bekvall@dcs.wisc.edu with further questions.  You will be asked to complete a registration form indicating your intent to pursue the certificate in Mental Health and the Older Adult.

For more information

Brooke Ekvall 608-265-3517 (toll-free: 800-442-4617), bekvall@dcs.wisc.edu