Mental Health Screener Training Locations - Delaware Health and ...

Dear Mental Health Provider;
March 1, 2013
Based on House Bill 311, effective July 1, 2013, only a psychiatrist or credentialed mental health screener may
initiate a 24-hour psychiatric detention for evaluation of an adult. To become credentialed through Delaware
Health and Social Services’ Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, you must meet the
professional requirements as well as successfully complete the full 36 hours of Mental Health Screener
credentialing training and pass a final exam to be awarded your credential, valid for two (2) years.
In addition to the training and exam, the professional requirements to become a Credentialed Mental Health
Screener include the following: having completed the education and level of clinical and psychiatric crisis
experience indicated on the next page, holding a valid Delaware nursing or mental health professional license
(see next page), and successfully passing a criminal background check (paid for by the credentialing candidate,
approx. $53).
Training and examination will be provided at no cost in two locations. Participants must attend each class to
be credentialed, but can attend either upstate or downstate trainings on the same topic. Each training session
will be held from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. No meals are provided. CEUs are available. Please contact Delaware
Technical Community College, Terry Campus – Corporate and Community Programs at 857-1400 to register
and for more information.
Thank you for your interest in this exciting professional opportunity.
Mental Health Screener Training Locations
New Castle County Kent/Sussex County
DELDOT Building Delaware Technical Community College-Terry Campus
119 Lower Beech St., 2 nd fl. Auditorium 100 Campus Drive Corporate Training Center – Room 407 A/B
Wilmington, DE 19805 Dover, DE 19904
MH Screener Training Curriculum/Class Schedule Wilmington Dover
Overview of DE Law and Screening Process 5/1/13 5/6/13
Clinical Documentation, Confidentiality and Suicide Assessment 5/8/13 5/13/13
Assessment of Special Populations 5/15/13 5/20/13
Assessment of Special Populations (cont.) 5/22/13 5/28/13
Screener Safety and Working with Law Enforcement 5/29/13 6/3/13
Community Resources and Final Exam 6/5/13 6/10/13

Table for Application Criteria – Credentialing of Mental Health Screeners
(see Del. Administrative Code Title 16 Health and Safety, Department of Health and Social Services/DSAMH
Reg 6002 Credentialing Mental Health Screeners and Payment for Voluntary Admissions)
Min. Years of
Clinical/
Crisis Experience2 Direct Superv.
Mandatory/
Recommended
DELAWARE
State
Licensure1 Professionals Who May Apply to Become Credentialed Mental Health Screeners Minimum Educational Degree
PHYSICIAN - Psychiatrist MD/DO Yes
PHYSICIAN -- Emergency Medicine MD/DO Yes
PHYSICIAN -- Other Specialties MD/DO Yes
Yes 5
Master’s, or clinical nursing specialty
certificate in psychiatry only
ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE -- Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist
-- Psychiatry ONLY
Yes 2 3 -5
Master’s -- Psychiatry specialty or Mental
Health Nursing (MSN)
REGISTERED NURSE
REGISTERED NURSE Bachelor’s (BSN) Yes Recommended 5
REGISTERED NURSE 2-Year RN Program (ADN) Yes Mandatory 2 3 -5
PSYCHOLOGISTS Psychology Doctoral Yes 2 3 -5
CLINICAL SOCAL WORKER Masters Yes 5
Masters Yes 5
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR OF MENTAL HEALTH, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
THERAPIST
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT Bachelors + AMA-accred. PA program Yes Mandatory 5
ASSOCIATE COUNSELOR OF MENTAL HEALTH Masters Yes Mandatory 5
ASSOCIATE MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST Masters Yes Mandatory 5
Unlicensed Mental Health Profs Under Direct Psychiatric Supervision 3 Bachelors or Masters in MH-related field No Mandatory 2
1 All Registered Nurses must hold State of Delaware or Compact (Multi-State) Delaware Licensure
2 Min. 5 years Experience for self-employed licensed professionals not employed by the State or by Stated-contracted health services providers.
3 Working as a State employee or contractor; or if working with a Delaware Health Care Facility as an employee or contracted staff member;