Edmonds College Logo

Behavioral Health Support Specialist Program Course Descriptions

BHSS 301: Introduction to Behavioral Health Support Specialist

Credits: 5.0

Course introduces the role of Behavioral Health Support Specialists (BHSS) within service delivery systems such as medical and behavioral health facilities, agencies, and community-based systems. The roles, values, responsibilities, and ethical concerns of the position are explored and career options in the field are delineated. Includes introductions to trauma and culturally-informed services, legal standards, and stigma related to behavioral health. The skills and ethical considerations needed to work with various clients are discussed.  Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into BHSS program.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Outline the roles and scope of  practice for Behavioral Health Support Specialists (BHSS) and the function of the BHSS within service delivery systems.
  2. Differentiate the responsibilities of the BHSS from those of other behavioral health providers, highlighting their unique contributions to client care and interdisciplinary teams.
  3. Explain skills BHSS require for effective intervention.
  4. Examine effects of stigma and bias in determining client needs and identify strategies to help clients heal from those effects.
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical concerns related to the BHSS role.

BHSS 310: Law and Ethics in Behavioral Health

Credits: 5.0

Course is designed to heighten students' sensitivity and awareness of ethical aspects of Behavioral Health Support Specialist practice. Students will develop an approach to ethical issues through consideration of essential components of professional ethical decision making. Students will consider problems that behavioral health workers encounter and work to incorporate ethical decision-making while addressing these challenges. Codes of ethics, ethical decision making within an interprofessional lens, professional boundaries, supervision, confidentiality and mandatory reporting will be reviewed and best practices identified. Legal parameters of practice in Washington State as well as nationally will be covered. Complex ethical issues will be covered as will the unique needs of working with vulnerable populations.  Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into BHSS program 

Course Level Objectives

  1. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
  2. Recognize and apply principles involved in practice situations.
  3. Define and implement knowledge of confidentiality, informed consent, and client rights and apply state, federal and local laws to ethical situations.
  4. Apply anti-racism, diversity and equity lens to ethical decision making.
  5. Demonstrate process for detecting and then evaluating ethical dilemmas and implement an ethical decision-making model appropriate to the role of behavioral health support specialists.
  6. Evaluate own values and beliefs, reactions to ethical dilemmas and possible areas of vulnerability with goal of enhancing self-awareness.
  7. Identify principles of effective supervision in consideration of the role of behavioral health support specialists within various employment settings. 

BHSS 330: Mental Health Disorders and Evidence-Based Client Support

Credits: 5.0

This course offers students a review of common mental health disorders and use of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to support clients. Students will practice various EBIs for goodness of fit with client needs and critique effectiveness of the practice. Students will identify stigma related to mental illness and how unaddressed stigma hinders recovery. Course familiarizes students with the process of diagnosis, documentation, and treatment of various behavioral health disorders. Case documentation of plan and progress are components of class. Class will help in identification of client needs and preferences and introduce evidence-based practices for addressing client concerns according to assessed level of care and client's stage of change.   Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into BHSS program.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Identify stages of change and stage-matched interventions.
  2. Outline process of diagnosis and treatment of various behavioral health disorders. 
  3. Evaluate and choose evidence and strength-based treatment options for various common mental illnesses, including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, and psychosis.
  4. Demonstrate ability to document case plan and progress.
  5. Implement and apply client rights when working with clients.

BHSS 340: Case Management and Care Coordination

Credits: 3.0

Course addresses case management and care coordination skills for Behavioral Health Support Specialists (BHSS). Focus on skill development in partnering with clients, determining service eligibility, completion of intakes, development of various care plans to achieve client-identified goals, support positive behavioral health outcomes, promote quality of care, and respond to client needs over time. Students will learn to prioritize cooperation with clients and with client supports, as indicated. Includes focus on planning, referral, client health awareness, follow-up, boundary-setting, use of motivational interviewing, documentation and, respect for client's cultural values.  Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the BHSS program.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Explain the purpose of care coordination/care management and its correlation to patient outcomes.
  2. Assess current systems that create challenges in access to services and compliance with care plans and develop strategies to work with community partners to overcome them.
  3. Identify methods to coordinate services and care transitions to meet client needs.
  4. Collaborate with clients to set goals and assess progress.
  5. Demonstrate development of biopsychosocial assessment, whole health care plan, and wellness plan with client. 

BHSS 345: Advanced Counseling Skills

Credits: 5.0

This course provides a survey of the major contemporary theories of counseling and common evidence-based techniques as well as their implications for practice, with emphasis on motivational interviewing, ongoing client engagement, strengths-based  and culturally-supportive approaches. Core topics such as historical background, key concepts, the counseling process, counseling techniques and procedures, multicultural perspectives, and evaluation are examined for each theory. Students are given the opportunity to conceptualize selected case studies, decide on appropriate interventions, and practice a variety of techniques that are commonly used in counseling practice.  Completion of SHS 114 or instructor permission is required to take this course.  Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into BHSS program.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Interview clients to assess strengths, weaknesses, and service needs.
  2. Demonstrate essential interviewing and counseling skills, building from a person-centered model.
  3. Articulate a variety of theories and models related to clinical mental health counseling.
  4. Utilize research to identify evidence-based counseling practices for various diagnoses and disorders, and critically evaluate their application to client scenarios.
  5. Demonstrate de-escalation skills.
  6. Demonstrate movement toward a professional model of counseling.

BHSS 346: Psychoeducation Skills Lab

Credits: 2.0

Lab course designed to implement evidence-based practices from BHSS 330, Mental Health Disorders and Evidence-based Client Support. Students develop and lead psychoeducation groups, implementing skills and concepts from BHSS 345, Advanced Counseling Skills, and support individual student-clients in weekly one-to-one and group exercises based on these practices. Completion of BHSS 330 and co-enrollment in BHSS 345 is required. Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into BHSS program. 

Course Level Objectives

  1. Identify and/or select an evidence based practice and design curriculum that incorporates concepts from the practice.
  2. Demonstrate skills in planning, executing, and evaluating group sessions.
  3. Demonstrate skils in supporting a student-client individually through change process based on ongoing individual work.

BHSS 350: Trauma-Informed Care

Credits: 5.0

Course addresses theory and practice of trauma-informed care and practice including trauma-informed assessment and interviewing in behavioral health. Includes exploration of the range of traumatic experiences and individual, familial, group, historical, and multigenerational responses and consequences. Distinguishes between traumatic stress, acute stress reactions, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). Incorporates knowledge of vicarious traumatization and need for clinician self-care.  Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into BHSS program.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Describe and apply concepts of trauma-informed care and the potential impact of early trauma on individuals, families, and communities throughout the lifespan. 
  2. Demonstrate understanding of trauma-informed care and practice in behavioral healthcare settings.
  3. Articulate need for professional self-awareness and use of self for work in trauma-informed care.
  4. Describe how trauma and grief impact the mind and body.
  5. Apply knowledge of trauma and grief interventions to identify and use appropriate screening tools with clients.
  6. Describe impact of generational and historical trauma on the individual and on communities.
  7. Analyze need and recommend referral based on client need and level of care required.

BHSS 410: Behavioral Health Assessment, Screening and Referral

Credits: 4.0

This course prepares students to partner with clients to screen, assess, refer, and support clients through the process of assessment and placement, honoring client needs while ensuring a thorough biopsychosocial-based assessment and referrals are implemented.  Prerequisite(s): Admittance to BHSS program. 

Course Level Objectives

  1. Determine client eligibility for services.
  2. Implement behavioral health screening tools that are bias-free and accessible to client being served.
  3. Implement skills and knowledge to complete a biopsychosocial assessment. 
  4. Identify crisis services and ongoing services that connect clients with appropriate professional services based on client needs.
  5. Demonstrate skills in directly addressing signs of suicide and employ nonstigmatizing language when discussing suicide, and articulate when to seek supervision.

BHSS 420: Behavioral Health Goal Setting and Documentation

Credits: 2.0

Course is designed to explain setting goals and developing service plans with clients. Incorporates introduction to telehealth procedures and legalities. Documentation and record-keeping for all Behavioral Health Support Specialists (BHSS) are introduced. Includes overview of Electronic Health Records (EHRs).  Prerequisite(s): Admissions into BHSS program. 

Course Level Objectives

  1. Demonstrate ability to develop, with clients, care plans including individual service planss, safety plan, and ongoing wellness plans.
  2. Identify legal requirements for telehealth procedures related to client safety, location, and confidentiality. 
  3. Construct Electronic Medical Record (EMR) that are relevant, objective, and informative. 
  4. Contrast and compare documentation needs of paper charts and EHRs in light of the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 42, Part 2 (42 CFR Part 2), and applicable Washington State laws. 

BHSS 430: Professional Development

Credits: 2.0

Prepares students for field entry through resume and goal preparation, scheduling interviews, self-assessment, supervision discussions, and site selection. Students will investigate employment opportunities, and credentialing regulations, preparing them to launch into successful careers as Behavioral Health Support Specialists (BHSS). Completion of all 300 level course in BHSS is required to take this course. Prerequisite(s): Admissions into BHSS Program. 

Course Level Objectives

  1. Assess career readiness and develop plan for addressing any deficits as well as post-college goals. 
  2. Access resources for professional development and ongoing career opportunities.
  3. Develop a professional resume that leads to desired employment. 
  4. Complete application for the BHSS credential. 
  5. Locate the site for placement.

BHSS 431: BHSS Internship I

Credits: 5.0

Course provides supervised clinical experience in behavioral health. Students will focus on development of aspects of clinical care, including client-centered assessment and case management. Documentation, referral, cultural humility, and interprofessional practice will be implemented within the placement. Completion of first year of BHSS program and BHSS 430 is required to take this course. Prerequisite(s): Admissions into BHSS program.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Demonstrate professional, culturally-informed, and ethical standards of behavioral health. 
  2. Develop and use a self-care plan for self, and as needed, for clients. 
  3. Identify and implement clinical boundaries that support clients and staff. 
  4. Identify the limits of behavioral health support specialists and refer or consult as required by agency and staff role. 
  5. Document interactions as indicated by supervisor and agency policy. 
  6. Formulate strategies to avoid the disclosure of personal information which has the potential to interfere with clients' work toward recovery.

BHSS 432: BHSS Internship II

Credits: 5.0

Course builds on skills learned in first placement. Students will identify individualized goals for professional growth and skill-building based on feedback from first internship, coursework, and instructor feedback. Students will broaden skills and increase understanding of the role of Behavioral Health Support Specialists (BHSS) and the responsibilities therein. Completion of BHSS 431 is required to take this course. Prerequisite(s): Admissions into BHSS program. 

Course Level Objectives

  1. Complete duties assigned such as client screening and assessments, monitoring client progress in behavioral activation or other client-therapist assigned homework, and leading psychoeducational groups. 
  2. Demonstrate a culturally-informed, trauma-sensitive approach to interactions with clients and fellow staff.
  3. Implement feedback from site supervisor and class instructor. 
  4. Demonstrate skills in documentation, screening, and referral.
  5. Demonstrate professional work habits such as timely response, fulfilment of duties, abiding by agency policies, and integrating supervisory feedback. 

IHCM 315: Interprofessional Education and Collaboration

Credits: 4.0

Framework for deliberately working together with other health professionals to maintain a climate of mutual respect and shared values in today's complex health care environment, with the common goals of providing person-centered care and improving patient outcomes. Students will apply the concepts of interprofessional collaboration and teamwork to real-world situations using case studies and tools in a simulated environment. Students work in interprofessional groups with facilitators guiding the discussions/collaborations to create care plans that cross disciplines. Prerequisite(s): Admission to IHCM - BAS program.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Discuss the concepts and principles of interprofessional health care and collaboration.
  2. Explain the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) core competencies framework that guides interprofessional practice and initiatives.
  3. Develop awareness of the diversity of expertise that underpins effective interprofessional collaborative teams.
  4. Diagram the relationships among professional roles in the healthcare industry by classifying the core functions of various professional roles within their cohort.
  5. Appraise the importance of interprofessional collaboration by correlating the effect of those collaborations to their impact on desired health outcomes and healthcare performance for patients, communities, and healthcare organizations when given case studies.

IHCM 330: Population Health and Community Wellness

Credits: 3.0

Examines how multiple determinants of health (i.e., socioeconomic status, physical environment) impact the health outcomes of populations. Integrates principles of population health, community collaboration, behavior change, and cultural competency, to improve regional health outcomes and address clinical prevention at the individual level. Focus on person-centered care with inclusion of family and community based organizations in decision making. Prerequisite(s): Admission to IHCM - BAS program.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Explain the emergence of the population health perspective on the US Healthcare system and its implications for the practice of medicine and medical education.
  2. Identify and analyze racial, ethnic, class and other health disparities, their origins, and their remediation.
  3. Identify the various determinants of access to care for low-income and vulnerable populations, particularly as related to rural health.
  4. Investigate the current health of thelocal community and develop a plan to make a difference to overall community wellness.

IHCM 430: Health Equity, Disparities and Social Justice

Credits: 5.0

Concepts of health equity with a broad overview of health disparities in the United States. Analyzes the relationship of health disparities to the structure of the health system in the United States and examines historical issues, theories and data that inform health equity and disparities in today's healthcare environment. Working in interprofessional teams, students will complete a simulated intervention targeted to promote health equity and reduce a health disparity. Prerequisite(s): Admission to IHCM-BAS program.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Evaluate the cultural factors of a society that contribute to health disparities and identify frameworks to examine health disparities.
  2. Describe and analyze the determinants of health disparities for particular groups using social epidemiology methods.
  3. Appraise the components of programs and interventions to determine their systematic effectiveness in addressing health disparities and cultural factors.
  4. Generate ideas for programs and policies that promote health equity.
  5. Summarize the evidence regarding a specific health disparity (topic and population of their choice) and develop an intervention proposal to promote health equity.
  6. Obtain and evaluate evidence to support the intervention proposal.
TOP