School of Social Work

Institute for Families

Certificate Program in Child/Adolescent Mental Health This Certificate Program offers clinicians the opportunity to increase their diagnostic and treatment skills

particular to the needs of children and adolescents. Designed for the advanced practitioner in a variety

of settings, these workshops address developmental, environmental, cultural, and family issues that

impact clinical interventions. Workshop topics include developmental theories, comprehensive

assessment, differential diagnoses, legal and ethical issues, socio-cultural influences,

psychopharmacology, and treatment modalities.

Certificates of completion will be offered after each workshop and a final certificate will be awarded

when all requirements have been met. All workshops offered in this certificate program are designed as

clinical workshops. Participants not seeking the certificate program are welcome to take individual

workshops.

To receive a final certificate, a participant must attend:

• 9 Required Workshops

• 2 Electives Workshops

• A total of 14 days.

REQUIRED WORKSHOPS (12 Days Total)

1. Attachment Theory 5 C.E.H. Clinical

• Describe both pioneering and current principles of attachment theory

• Discuss methods for assessing attachment between parent and child

• Demonstrate strategies for facilitating parent-child attachment and trust

2. Normality and Pathology 5 C.E.H. Clinical

• Describe normal, age appropriate developmental milestones in children

• Recognize behaviors beyond normal developmental limits that are mental health issues

• Describe age-appropriate treatment approaches

3. Assessment & Differential Diagnoses of Childhood Disorders (2 days) 10 C.E.H. Clinical

• Explain the key factors in accurate assessment of childhood mental disorders

• Describe the use of multiple data sources and standardized assessment tools

• Identify and describe major diagnostic categories which affect children

• Use the DSM IV in the process of diagnosing mental health problems in children

4. Principles of Differential Diagnoses in Adolescents (2 days) 10 C.E.H. Clinical

• Identify steps involved in the process of differential diagnoses of adolescents

• Discuss sources of diagnostic confusion in evaluating and assessing adolescents

• Identify and describe major diagnostic categories which affect adolescents

• Use the DSM IV in the process of diagnosing mental health problems in adolescents

5. Psychotherapeutic &Psychosocial Treatments for Child &Adolescent Disorders (2 days)

10 C.E.H. Clinical

• Describe the current treatment models for child and adolescent disorders.

• Compare and contrast psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and behavioral approaches to

treatment of child and adolescent disorders

• Identify specific interventions for the most common child and adolescent disorders

• Demonstrate techniques which address treatment difficulties or impasses

6. Psychopharmacology with Children and Adolescents 5 C.E.H. Clinical

• Identify the basic classes of psychotropic medications and describe the indications for their use

• Explore the side effects of psychotropic medications used to treat children and adolescents

• Demonstrate strategies to help improve collaboration between the patient and other systems

7. Legal and Ethical Issues in the Clinical Treatment of Children and Adolescents

5 C.E.H. Clinical

• Describe the general rights of children and adolescents as they relate to applicable statutes and

case law as well as to mental health treatment settings

• Explore the ethical dilemmas concerning client confidentiality in the treatment of children and

adolescents

• Demonstrate strategies for resolving confidentiality issues

8. Dealing with Differences and Diversity in the Clinical Treatment of Children and Adolescents

5 C.E.H. Clinical

• Explore how differences such as race, culture, language, gender identity, and body image affect

the psychological development of children and adolescents

• Describe barriers clinicians face when dealing with differences and techniques to overcome

these barriers

• Demonstrate intervention strategies which address differences

9. Understanding and Treating Children and Adolescents in the Context of their Families

5 C.E.H. Clinical

• Describe how differences in temperament, developmental pressures, interactive styles, needs,

interests, strengths, and vulnerabilities influence the parent-child relationship

• Describe strategies to assess and elicit information to understand fully the “match” between

parent and child

• Demonstrate intervention strategies to improve parent-child relationships within and outside of

the family unit

ELECTIVE WORKSHOPS (Two Required)

Two one-day electives are required in addition to the 9required workshops.

For more information please contact us:

• Web: http://socialwork.rutgers.edu/ce/

• Email sswcep@ssw.rutgers.edu

• Phone (732) 445-3178