Prince George, B.C. – UNBC’s School of Social Work is getting set to relaunch its Aboriginal Child and Youth Mental Health Certificate.

The graduate-level certificate will be available online and is designed for students who wish to practice in the area of Aboriginal child and youth mental health with a focus on working in northern and remote communities.

From left: Dawn Hemingway, UNBC School of Social Work Program Chair, Joanna Pierce of the Aboriginal Child and Youth Mental Health Planning Committee, and Susan Burke, UNBC School of Social Work lecturer – photo courtesy UNBC

“I’m really, really excited about the certificate program and I do think that it’s really needed in the North and really everywhere,” says Social Work lecturer Susan Burke. “I think that it really offers an exciting opportunity for people to be able to learn while they’re working in the field.”

“I think the other aspect is the need for something that is specific to Aboriginal children and youth because to our knowledge, this is the only post-graduate certificate that is offering this option,” says School of Social Work program chair Dawn Hemingway.

She adds the online component will help make the course accessible to everyone, no matter where they live.

“We’re expecting a lot of people will come from across the North, but as the word spreads, I think we’re also expecting that we’re going to get students from wherever they’re interested and can access through the internet.”

Burke also says she’s pleased the certificate focuses on Aboriginal specific issues.

“I think that in an undergraduate degree, although you touch on and talk about those issues in every class, having the certificate that’s devoted to looking at it is really important and can really enhance practice.”

As for the program itself, students will take six courses on topics ranging from Aboriginal Peoples in Canada, mental illness and addictions to crisis work with children and youth.

Hemingway notes UNBC is fortunate to have Burke on board and teaching the first course.

“Susan has a lot of experience in practice and is an indigenous woman herself. It’s really made a difference to being able to develop this in a way that is really strong and useful.”

Applications for the course (which starts in May) are now open and will be accepted until it is full. It is designed for students who have completed a Bachelor or a Master’s degree in Social Work or a related field.