MU to offer Post Master's in Child/Family Mental Healt

[cougarnurse]

For those interested: Nurse.com - MU to Offer a Post-Master's Certificate in Child/Family Mental Health

Beginning in spring 2009, the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing in Columbia will offer a post-master's certificate in child/family mental health. The certificate program will train graduate students to provide mental health services to adults and children.

"There is a great need to provide mental health services to children and families. This program aims to address that need by training more mental health nurses," says Jane Bostick, associate teaching professor in the school of nursing, in a news release. "Nurses will be trained to work with school counselors, teachers, and parents to provide the appropriate services for children with mental health needs."

The Bureau of Health Professions, a federal agency, reported only 5% of advance-practice nurses were nationally certified in psychiatric mental health nursing in March 2004. In Missouri, only 27 advance-practice nurses have certification in child/family mental health nursing.

The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded the nursing school a $370,000 grant to develop the certificate program. Previously, nursing students were certified only to treat adults.

The post-master's certificate will be offered to students at the campus and online through a distance mediated program. The nursing school will collaborate with the MU College of Education to develop course offerings and faculty resources for the program.