The Addiction and Mental Health Worker program provides students with evidence-based knowledge and skills in screening, assessing and responding to people with mental health, substance use and other addictions from diverse cultural and community perspectives.

Graduates will be prepared to analyze multiple and intersecting causes and impacts of addiction and mental health issues from a multidimensional framework that integrates an Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) lens, inclusive of Indigenous and traditional approaches to healing. The focus of this approach will prepare students to work with individuals and family members experiencing addiction and mental health issues and challenges, as well as to intervene in an advocacy role at organizational and systems levels to promote equitable access to supports and services, including health promotion and prevention/harm reduction.

The field placement component of this program provides students with the opportunity to work in inter-professional teams to gain direct practice experience providing support to clients and families/kin through case management, assessment and referral and navigating systems of care.