Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Clinical Social Work Practice Specialization
Social work is a leader in the delivery of mental health services and practices of counselling. The Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health specialization topic emphasizes practical, experiential learning that mirrors real-world clinical practice in diverse settings with diverse peoples.
We will critically examine the implication of mental health theories, policies and research by integrating evidence-based and anti-oppressive practices.
We will explore in-depth the fundamental principles, processes and practices of psychosocial interventions for young people and families affected by substantial mental health disorders.
We offer comprehensive and practical training in the areas of:
a) infant, early childhood and perinatal mental health
b) mental health for school-aged children and families
c) adolescent mental health and addictions
What will I learn?
Expand your developing clinical framework to provide evidence-based and anti-oppressive mental health services for infants, children, adolescents and their families. This is done through experiential learning that mirrors real-world clinical practice.
Advanced Topics in Infant, Child, & Adolescent Mental Health
In this practice-based course, we'll explore the clinical social work identity and philosophies of care. These include family-centred, trauma-informed, culturally-informed and Indigenous approaches to mental health.
We'll conduct an in-depth examination of relevant theories and models of mental health, such as addiction and mental health recovery models integrating neurobiology with social determinants.
You'll also critically examine the practice implications of regional, provincial and national legislation, policies, and strategies within historical, economic, social and cultural contexts.
Through this practice-based learning, you'll be able to incorporate theory, research and policy.
Infant, Early Childhood (0-5 yrs) and Parental Mental Health in Complex Contexts
We begin this course with an exploration of theories and practice models that inform systemic and relationship-based approaches to care (e.g., family-based and group work). You'll then explore mental health practice with infants/young children and their families. We'll pay particular attention to the importance of perinatal mental health and the reciprocal influences between young children and caregivers within their diverse and complex developmental contexts.
Through experiential learning that mirrors real-world clinical practice, you'll learn to incorporate theories and research in the areas of development, attachment, neurobiology and social justice.
You'll learn to critically analyze policies and their effects on program design and implementation across multiple levels of service delivery (i.e., prevention, early-intervention and acute care). You'll also learn to understand, identify and intervene when presented with concerns and/or diagnoses that typically emerge during this developmental period in a child's life.
School-Aged Children (6-12 years) and Family Mental Health in Complex Contexts
In this course, we'll engage in an in-depth exploration of theories, policies, research and practice models most relevant to working with the school-aged population, their families and their communities.
We'll critically re-examine theories, such as attachment, development, neurobiology and social justice, including the importance of environmental influences, such as school settings for socio-emotional development.
Special attention will be paid to understanding, identifying and intervening with those presenting concerns and/or diagnoses typically emerging during this developmental period. Best-practice models will be explored.
This course culminates with intensive training related to the effective practice of school-based mental health.
Adolescent (13-18 years) Mental Health Across Complex Contexts
This course focuses on an in-depth exploration of theories, policies, research and practice models most relevant to working with adolescents and their complex contexts.
We'll critically re-examine theories, such as attachment, development, neurobiology and social justice as they relate to this population, including the elements of risk and resilience in navigating societal influences (e.g., peers, social media) on diverse emerging identities.
We'll explore best-practice models and pay special attention to understanding, identifying and intervening with those presenting concerns and/or diagnoses typically emerging during this developmental period.
Our explorations will culminate with intensive training related to effective practice with youth who are at-risk and suffer from dual-diagnoses and addictions.