The Behavioral Health Sciences Institute (BHSI) is a collaboration between Spurwink Services and the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA). The collaboration's mission is to improve the quality and range of behavioral health services through training and research.
These courses contain the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) required content to deliver in-home services to children with emotional and behavioral challenges. Completion of the BHP course will lead to eligibility for the BHP state certification for children's behavioral health services. The topics covered prepare the student with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide in-home services to families and children. COST: no charge. The fee for this course is subsidized by DHHS. Registration Form available here or by contacting dkinsella@bhsi.net.
Participants will focus on the delivery of the Behavioral Health Professional (BHP) curriculum to agency staff. Participants will also review/discuss the areas of competency as outlined in the curriculum as well as the various levels (1-3) of proficiency assigned to each competency. Completion of this course will allow participants to be certified to deliver the curriculum to agency staff. COST: no charge. The fee for this course is subsidized by DHHS. Application Form available here or by contacting dkinsella@bhsi.net.
The Direct Support Professional (DSP) training program is a consistent, statewide foundation of knowledge and skills that is portable across the entire state of Maine for staff working with adults with developmental disabilities including mental retardation. The BHSI-DSP Program is currently approved by the Department of Health and Human Services-Adult Developmental Services (DHHS-ADS) and upon completion of the training; participants receive an official certificate of completion.
BHSI offers individual agencies the option to work directly with BHSI for the administration of the DHHS-ADS recognized DSP training. BHSI has been involved with the creation and implementation of the DSP program since its inception in 2000, and provides quality services to agencies across the state. In addition to administering the program, BHSI offers agencies the opportunity to utilize the expertise at BHSI to meet individual agency needs in regards to the DSP training.
Please contact David Kinsella, LCSW, BHSI Division Director at dkinsella@bhsi.net or 207-321-6081 x101 if you are interested in having more information on the above options.
BHSI will deliver a three-day Train-the-Trainer to certify PSS trainers who will provide the training to direct care workers in provider agencies, adult education programs, and private training facilities. This training covers Principles of Adult Learning, the fifteen modules of the PSS curriculum and a presentation of training skills. Application Form available here or by contacting fhauger@bhsi.net.
The Maine Co-Occurring State Integration Initiative Workforce Development Committee is a group of professionals and consumers who are interested in supporting a workforce that is able to provide Co-Occurring services to individuals throughout Maine. Learn more about COSII
The Behavioral Health Sciences Institute offers individual agencies the option to work directly with BHSI for the administration of the DHHS-ADS recognized DSP training
Please contact David Kinsella, LCSW, BHSI Division Manager at dkinsella@bhsi.net or (207)321-6081 x101 for more information.