Become a Partner

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The Role of a Mental Health Community Partner

A Mental Health Community Partner supports an individual in recovery and their support system when transitioning from a treatment setting to the community. A Partner employs a person centered, strengths-based, and culturally humble approach, and guides them in creating and achieving their wellness goals.

A Partner Will:

  • Meet with the individual and supporters weekly throughout the 90 day program

  • Guide participants in learning a psychoeducational curriculum focused on the cycle of recovery and whole-family support
  • Provide ongoing support to prevent re-hospitalization and support the transition to the community

About Partner Trainings

Mental Health Community Partners Trainings are offered online over 9 hours (3 half-days) of live instruction, with offline assignments. Additionally, trainees have access to optional self-paced skill-building modules, for up to 20 total hours of continuing education credit.

Training Topics Include:

  • Person-Centered Planning
  • Deep Listening Skills
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Cultural Assessments for Recovery Planning

  • Stigma & Perspectives of Illness

  • Self-Compassion & Self-Care

  • Trauma & Mind-Body Health

  • Healing-Centered Engagement

Requirements for a Partner

An Mental Health Community Partner is:

  • Is a professional, paraprofessional, or peer supporting adults with Serious Mental Illness or youth aged 12+ with Serious Emotional Disturbance and/or their families

  • Connected to an MHCP Partner Site in New York State

  • Works in New York State

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Benefits of Certified Partners

  • Up to 20 renewable clock credit hours for CASAC Counselors, Peer Support Specialists, Family Peer Advocates, Youth Peer Advocates, and other qualifying professions

  • Certification to deliver the Mental Health Community Partners model through your agency to the local community

  • Access to program materials including psycho-educational curriculum, group exercise guides, support form guides, etc.

  • Invitation to the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS) Family Engagement Summit to network with other certified Partners

  • Ongoing technical assistance from MHANYS in the form of marketing support, webinars, call-in support meetings, newsletters, evaluation support, etc.

  • Eligible for Mental Health Community Partner recertification at no cost

  • Eligible for MHANYS CarePath Coach Training certification at a reduced cost

Interested in Becoming a Partner?

To access free Mental Health Community Partners Certification Training, your organization must be an approved Partner Site.

Check out if your organization is a Partner Site.

Albany Housing Authority
Behavioral Health Services North
Center for Independence of the Disabled New York
City of Albany: Love Your Block
Community Routes
Community Connections of Franklin County
Created for Greatness Leadership Group
Ellis Medicine
Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc.
Endorphins Mind Body
FREE Success Community Care Clinic
Healthy Families
Joseph’s House and Shelter
Liberated Life Coaching
Mental Health Advocates of Western New York
Mental Health America of Dutchess County
Mental Health Association in Jefferson County
Mental Health Association in Niagara County
Mental Health Association in Tompkins County
Mental Health Association of Genesee & Orleans Counties
Move 2B Moved
National Alliance on Mental Illness Huntington
New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, Inc. (NYAPRS)
Northern Region Center for Independent Living
Neurobehavioral Research
 NYS Office of Mental Health
SEAT (Social Enterprise and Training) Center
Services for the Underserved
West Hill Neighborhood Association

If your organization is not listed, check out: Why be a Mental Health Community Partner Site?

Accessing free MHCP Certification Trainings requires 3 easy steps:

  1. Submit a Partner Site Application: this is completed by the organization’s primary contact.

  2. Sign a Memorandum of Understanding: this is provided via email to approved Partner Sites, and signed by organization leadership.

  3. Submit Staff Application(s): these are completed by each individual staff member of the approved Partner Site who will participate in the MHCP Certification Training. 

Ready to bring MHCP to your community? Check out upcoming training dates and submit your application today!

Submit a Partner Site Application
Submit a Staff Application

Podcast: All About Mental Health Community Partners

The Mental Health Community Partners Team talks “All About MHCP” – what it is, how it works, and why we love it. Listen in to learn: Who is MHCP for? How does MHCP support families? How does MHCP provide meaningful care, and continuity of care? How does MHCP support diverse families & communities? What opportunities exist to get involved in MHCP? Why should agencies get staff trained & certified in MHCP?

    Featuring MHCP Director Deborah Faust, Assistant Director Michelle G. Garcia, and Program Specialist Megan Spagnola. Facilitated by Production Manager Cohen Miles-Rath.

    Question Quick Links:

    Listen Now

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