Training Services
CRMA Certification
The Mental Health Support Specialist
Certified Residential Medication Aide Curriculum
Taught by a certified Registered Nurse, the purpose of the Certified Residential Medication Aide (CRMA) course is to provide standardized training for the direct support professional. This curriculum has been designed to be taught in 24-45 hours. Northeast Residential Services offers a full course in 40 hours.
The course covers the State of Maine regulations. These include standard residential facility policy, basic anatomy and physiology of the human body, common medications in the majority of drug classes and the practice of safe medication administration procedures. Participants will be provided the opportunity to practice taking vital signs, transcribing physician orders, administering medication in the classroom setting and completing medication cards as a type of learning too.
- A CRMA is competent to:
- Understand the role of the CRMA.
- Understand the regulations and responsibilities of the CRMA.
- Discuss the systems of the human body.
- Discuss the basic drug effects on the human body.
- Recognize the physical and emotional changes associated with the aging process.
- Use common medication abbreviations.
- Recognize medication measurements.
- Read and use symbols related to drug therapy.
- Explain mediation classifications.
- Use infection control practices.
- Explain the medication administration process.
- Assess resources.
- Handle medication emergency situations.
- Take vital signs.
- Transcribe practitioner orders.
- Understand common side effects of medication.
- Understand common reactions and interactions of medications.
- Complete a minimum of three (3) medication passes observed by an RN according to the set forth standards.
The Mental Health Support Specialist
The Mental Health Support Specialist (MHSS) provides daily living support and residential services to individuals with mental illness.
The Mental Health Support Specialist curriculum is a 35-hour course required of newly hired individuals providing residential and daily living support services within Maine's adult mental health system. The intent of this course is to provide essential fundamental knowledge and skills needed to perform well, raise participant awareness surrounding mental health and related services. The participants will have the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of their professional role and the importance of demonstrating respect and unconditional positive regard.
For individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness, the challenges faced daily can be overwhelming. The MHSS will play an important role in the daily lives of those you support. This initial mental health course lays a foundation for your journey to your MHRT-1 Certification.
Topics covered in the MHSS 35 hour training include:
- The Role of the Mental Health Support Specialist
- Understanding Mental Health and Mental Illness
- Trauma
- Health and Recovery
- Communication
- Confidentiality
- Documentation
- Human Sexuality
- Health and Safety
- Diversity and Cultural Competence
- Maine's Mental Health System
- Being Part of the Community
The curriculum is intended to provide the MHSS with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to perform well as a mental health support specialist. The curriculum is based on two principles for improving mental health care:
- Services and treatments must be person and family centered, geared to give individuals real and meaningful choices.
- Care must focus on increasing an individual's ability to successfully cope with life's challenges of recovery, and building resilience, not just managing symptoms of an illness.
This is done through assisting individuals to: Create positive relationships with the people providing help. Setting meaningful goals based on the individual's current skills and ability to gain (learn) new skills. MHSS will be encouraged to allow/build positive expectations and hope by developing self-awareness about the aspects of the individual's own behavior. A model of recovery is used and encouraged.