Jump Start is a subsidized 12-week Fellowship for people interested in working in the community (public) mental health field.The Fellowship is open to graduates with a B.A. or B.S. in any field.Participants will be trained in the classroom and gain first hand experience during an assigned internship. The Fellowship provides both philosophical and skills-based training for people looking to enter the mental health field who may not have previous experience.
Jump Start is run by Mental Health America of Los Angeles, is funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and located on the campus of California State University of Dominguez Hills.
Classroom training will include:
Classroom training will focus on experiential learning, group discussions and activities.
LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS This portion will provide an overview of various mental illnesses, causes of mental illness, history of the mental health system, and concepts of rehabilitation and recovery.
PRINCIPLES OF RECOVERY AND PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION
This portion will provide an overview of the philosophy, practices and perspectives of people with mental illness and families. Specifically, the program will introduce and familiarize participants with proven rehabilitation and recovery methods that address co-occurring disorders, family support, work and education support.
HELPING RELATIONSHIPS This portion will introduce participants to the skills and theories necessary for creating effective partnerships between service providers and mental health clients. Specifically, participants will learn techniques for providing services, advocating, group work, communicating effectively, empowering and helping clients integrate (or reintegrate) into the community. Participants will learn skills necessary to work within the regulations set by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and Medi-Cal including documentation, ethics, boundaries & scope of practice.
POPULATIONS AND PROGRAMS This portion will provide participants an overview of special populations, including: various cultures, people who are homeless, youth exiting from the foster system, older adults, individuals with substance use or abuse issues, veterans, people who are gay/lesbian/bisexual/transsexual, people with co-occurring physical needs and other underserved populations. Participants will gain exposure to various types of programs and models including community based services, work in inpatient settings, and forensic mental health.
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