This course will provide an overview of what it means to provide Trauma Informed Behavioral Health Care, engage in work with diverse populations, and understand cultural competence related to mental health.  Emphasis will be placed on principles of laws and ethics, scope of practice, confidentiality, and respect of human dignity.  This course will prepare students for career fields in behavioral health such as social work, counseling, and mental health.  Students will have the opportunity to hear from industry professionals and obtain certifications.  This course is designed to be an introductory course lending to a second year course and workplace learning in year two. 

• 2.0 Applied Arts Credits
• 11 - 12th Grade

This course is a deeper exploration of concepts introduced in the Foundations of Behavioral Health course. Students will explore behavioral health systems across the lifespan with a more robust exploration of evidence-based treatments and interventions as well as non-traditional and culturally specific approaches to healing. Students will engage with key developmental psychology theories, including Piaget's cognitive development theory, Bandura's social learning theory, and Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development. Students will explore treatment modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI), as well as learning about emerging approaches.

• 1.0 Applied Arts Credit
• 12th Grade

This capstone course will further develop students' understanding of careers in psychology, social work, counseling, or community health, while providing essential life skills for emotional intelligence and advocacy. With an interdisciplinary model of understanding behavioral health through the ecological systems framework, students will be better advocates to work with marginalized communities. Students will explore therapeutic interventions and treatment approaches in diverse settings and develop employable soft skills including self-regulation, rapport building, and cultural intentionality. This second year course will examine social and ethical diversity in healthcare delivery and its implications for mental health disparities and foster interdisciplinary collaboration and ethical awareness in behavioral health careers, as well as build advocacy and career development skills within the behavioral health field. 

• 0.5 Applied Arts Credit
• 12th Grade