Integrative Behavioral Health Clinical Training Center

Initiative Information

• Community-Engaged Programs and Services
  
  

  JAXPERCH A community agency collaborative JaxPERCH is a collaboration between the UNF Brooks College of Health and other collaborating academic institutions working with local community mental/behavioral and physical health non-profit agencies serving persons who experience health disparity and live with differing abilities. JaxPERCH member agencies work collaboratively with other interprofessional community members to expand creative and innovative practices, offer training internships and fellowships. Some JaxPERCH agencies offer paid fellowship employment and support for tuition and fees to complete the IBH Post-Master’s Certificate for qualified candidates. This collaborative partnership will connect advanced clinical training, inter-professional collaboration and integrative and integrated healthcare experiential practices to address the critical shortage of qualified mental health providers needed across Florida. Also provides “boots on the ground” approach in having professors and program leaders collaborating with community providers. First in Northeast Florida, then based on empirical research, expand through U.S. JaxPERCH Integrative Behavioral Health Practices Fellowship Fellowships offer supported work experience. Holistic focused team approach. Three-year commitment Agency employing fellow covers employee compensation as well as tuition and fees for the certificate and individual clinical supervision at the agency. Fellows are supported by UNF faculty and agency staff where they work.     Community Health and Wellness Practices and Events Holistic health and wellness events bring UNF students studying for careers in healthcare out of the classroom and into the real world to work with people need. Working alongside faculty, students see up close the challenges of mental and physical health when there is socio-economic and healthcare disparity. This community service provides experiential practice in communities of high need with health promotion, education, screening, early intervention, and referral to available providers for long-term care. Fall 2023 and 2024 – New Town and Grand Park Spring 2024 – Edward Waters College     Community Engaged Programs in Human-Animal Interactions and Interventions in Healthcare and Education Through numerous unique programs, UNF offers opportunities for experiential engagement with animals on the UNF campus and supports JaxPERCH Community Partners in developing Animal-Assisted Service (AAS) programs, including Animal-Assisted/Equine Assisted Treatment programs. On campus programs include: Campus Canines: A dozen handlers and their dogs participate in Campus Canines, an all-volunteer group who frequently visit with UNF students in the library and at the student union on Market Days. Scholars with Collars offers a higher level of trained canine who works with professors to teach students about animal training and behavior. Scholars with Collars: Animal-Assisted Education (AAE) is one of numerous AAS except that the animals and/or animal environments are an integral component of the curriculum, classroom experience, and/or a specific intervention intending to positively impact the learning and/or educational experience of the student(s). Sometimes called “Scholars with Collars,” AAE utilizes experiential education theories as the foundation for efficacy and validity for the practice. AAS and AAE require specialized formal training, preparation, and supervised experience for the providers/educators to ensure ethical and best practices in human and animal welfare are foundational to the services provided. Equine Assisted Education @ Paramount Adaptive Riding Center: Animal-Assisted Services (AAS) partners trained and registered animals, mental health professionals with specialized expertise, and paraprofessionals with patients/clients to enhance physical, emotional, and social well-being. AAS is a form of mental health counseling and can either be provided as the sole form of counseling a patient/client receives or may be used in conjunction with other behavioral healthcare services. At UNF HEALTH (Hub for Equine Assisted Learning and Therapy), AAS is provided in partnership with equines. Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is a specific type of AAS, pairing a licensed therapist with expertise in working with horses and humans either with or as an Equine Specialist to facilitate human change through the horse/human relationship. AAS and EAP are forms of therapy under the larger umbrella of Nature-based Therapeutics (NBT). The UNF IBH Center program educates and trains mental health counseling and social work interns and post-graduate fellows to facilitate equine-assisted psychotherapy. At times during the academic year, equine psychotherapy groups are held at the farm, providing therapy to UNF students who are referred to the program. At UNF, equine-assisted psychotherapy is facilitated by a mental health clinician, partnering with a horse and specialized paraprofessionals to promote physical, emotional, and social well-being. Equine-assisted psychotherapy can be provided as the sole form of counseling or in conjunction with other behavioral healthcare services. Equine-based Therapy provides the client with the advantages of being outdoors while working with a horse and builds behavioral skills that can carry over into other areas of the client’s life.  On campus and affiliated AAS programs offer students who wish to learn more and/or become registered/certified to work with animals in their clinical practice the opportunity to advance their specialty practice training while completing their academic program. UNF is one of the few academic institutions across the country offering this benefit for specialty practice development. Community agency programs include: JaxPERCH Agency AAT (Animal-Assisted Treatment) Consulting NEMOURS ADAPT PARAMOUNT ARC – Equine Assisted Mental Health Treatment Program VOLUNTEERS In Medicine

• Counseling Our Communities

  Counseling Our Communities IBH Workshop This 30-hour hybrid workshop includes 22 hours distance learning, 8 hours in a live experiential workshop session practicing interactive and holistic health interventions. The workshop provides an introductory level of competence in integrated and integrative behavioral health practices suitable for post-baccalaureate students and master’s level students, entering or working in community mental health agencies as clinicians. Each person completing the workshop successfully will receive a digital badge to advertise their level of training. Additional training and competency badges are also available to be earned during the academic year. Workshop Description This workshop has been created to prepare post-baccalaureate and current behavioral health master’s students for entry into their internship, ideally with a JaxPERCH Community Agency. The workshop targets knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors necessary for success in a public/private community mental health center by introducing the PERCH Foundation of clinical practice. The PERCH Model of Clinical Practice Spans Prevention and Early Intervention to impede the development of more serious illness, to building Resiliency through the integration of Counseling and Holistic Health practices, thereby preparing providers to treat the whole person and the systems in which they live, work, and play. It is a first step for students interested in exploring Integrative Behavioral Health strategies.Upon completion of this workshop and the post-workshop evaluation survey, students committing to interning in an approved community agency could receive up to $1,000 scholarship (restrictions apply). Once students complete the workshop , other experiential learning activities and meet ups are offered with the IBH Clinical Faculty. Workshop Objectives Build a supportive community container for those working in community agencies. Identify and connect to a personal mission for helping others through clinical services. Join a holistic practice model with traditional medical treatment approaches to improve efficacy, resiliency, and provider satisfaction. Enter the community agency setting with professionalism and confidence. Creatively explore and connect how to incorporate theory into practice. Connect the science of assessment, case conceptualization, and diagnosis to the art of intake, informed consent, and rapport building through the lens of holism. Recognize the importance of interpreting the narrative story into clinical thought and language. Enrollment Open to anyone post-baccalaureate working in a community behavioral health setting or current master’s student in behavioral health disciplines from any university in any geographic location. Application Applications are accepted throughout the year. Student may register for the next forming cohort by following the link below. The CoC on-line curriculum is hosted by UNF’s Division of Continuing Education, who handles registration and provides certificates and badges upon completion. Cohort engagement run from July 1 – June 30 each year. Workshops are offered each fall starting in September and Spring beginning in February.  Workshop Application

• Academic Programs

  Integrative Behavioral Health Post-master's Certificate An advanced program for providers who want to be fully authentic in their practice. Specialties like spirituality, art and creativity, animals, and nature in healthcare are incorporated into practice. The emphasis is on recent graduates who are working as interns toward independent licensure. Two-year, 18-credit-hour, advanced practice certificate Closely supervised, integrative healthcare practices, training to emerge as providers whose practice reflects their authenticity and commitment to holism. Specialty practices s include spirituality creativity, animals, and nature in healthcare, sometimes incorporating food and exercise as medicine. Open to all master's and above-level providers, pre- and post-licensure but concentrates focused on support for new graduates working through internship to independent licensure. Graduate School Program Overview     Animal-Assisted Services for Health and Education Graduate Certificate The Animal-Assisted Services for Health and Education provides exploration and supervised practice for entry level components of animal-assisted services. The UNF AAS for Health and Education Graduate Certificate uses the following as guidelines and teaching aids: Competencies endorsed by the American Counseling Association Standards and Competencies from Animal Assisted Intervention International (AAII) International Association for Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO) Pet Partners and the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals (AAAIP) The Animal-Assisted Services for Health and Education certificate program is available to anyone seeking graduate-level academic credit from an accredited academic institution. Students currently enrolled in The Graduate School at UNF, will not need to apply but may need to complete a change of major form to add the certificate program to their existing program of study. Students not currently enrolled in The Graduate School at UNF will need to apply for admission. Apply Now to The Graduate School Programs of Study Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) – fulfills 9 credit hours Physical Therapy Education School Counseling Social Work Psychology Students who complete the UNF Graduate Certificate in Animal-Assisted Services for Health, Wellness and Education will be able to interpret and apply the Industry Standard Competencies to practice in the health, wellness and education settings. Student will be able to: Examine the ethical and humane treatment of animals included in the therapeutic environment. Demonstrate the use of creative modalities in the profession of counseling healthcare and education. Apply intentionality in the inclusion of animals for healthcare, wellness, and education. Investigate and utilize a variety of theories for practice. Be able to experience the social and emotional impact of animal-assisted education via in-person equine-assisted learning sessions.   Special Notes Certificate programs are not eligible for financial aid. Please visit the Department of Financial Aid for more information regarding eligibility.This course may be taken alone to gain a preliminary understanding of the intentional model of including animals in practice and is offered completely online. Students outside of the state of Florida will have to pay out-of-state tuition rates.  For UNF students, this certificate has priority admission for Graduate Students pursuing Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and pursuing a graduate degree in School Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or Education. Current UNF graduate students should complete a Change of Major Form to add the certificate, training programs or post-master's licensed mental health professionals may also apply and will be admitted based upon space available.   Application Deadlines Fall Term....................August 1 Spring Term...............December 1 Summer Term...........April 15 Admission Requirements The following items must be submitted no later than the deadline posted above. Incomplete applications with outstanding requirements, or those post-marked after the posted deadline, are subject to cancellation. Once an application has been canceled, the decision cannot be reversed. Applicants may apply for the next application cycle. Students accepted into the program who do not register for that academic year will need to re-apply. UNF admission application Application fee If applicable, collection holds and judicial holds must be cleared     Proposed for Fall 2025 Proposed Undergraduate Minor, Integrative Health, Wellness, and Fitness Practices (IHWFP) Overview of the proposed minor: The Proposed Integrative Health, Wellness, and Fitness Practices (IHWFP) Minor lays the educational groundwork for understanding integrative health practices. Integrative health, wellness, and fitness practices play vital roles in healthcare management, emphasizing a commitment to a comprehensive approach to well-being. Through their coursework in this proposed study, students may examine the prevalent forms of IHWFP, explore the cultural contexts of these practices, and scrutinize evidence-based and ethical applications of IHWFP.

• Division of Continuing Education Collaborative Programs

  AAS Professional Development Certificate Animal-Assisted Services Certificate Program The vision of the program creators is to promote the thoughtful and ethical practice of AAS by focusing on practitioner competency, quality client care, and optimal animal welfare and well-being. The UNF AAS program includes five consecutive 6-week courses and provides the knowledge, skills, and values needed for successful planning and implementation of AAS in a professional or volunteer capacity for all branches of animal assisted services (AAS) including animal assisted activity/support programs, animal assisted education, and animal assisted therapy/treatment. The curriculum caters to individual student interests with guidance in learning to navigate AAS literature, identify and access best practices, and gain practical skills for individuals or organizations to propose, evaluate, and develop an AAS program in the student’s choice of environments. The AAS program explores animal welfare practices, animal communication and behavior, session planning and implementation, program development and administrative requirements. This professional development certificate program is approaching its 20th anniversary with nearly 300 successful practitioners, creating a world-wide network of professionals demonstrating best practices. Upon successful completion of the University of North Florida’s Animal Assisted Services Certificate Program, individuals may use the credentials of a Certificate in Animal Assisted Services (AAS). Animal-Assisted Services Program Courses     In the Footsteps of St. Francis  A wonderful opportunity for life-long learners, the UNF Department of Continuing Education has joined in collaboration with the Integrative Behavioral Health Center to develop this one-of-a-kind travel experience. This intriguing course focuses on understanding the unique way Italians benefit from living in harmony with nature, sharing experiences of food, culture, farming, art, music, and spirituality. You will walk the cobblestone streets where St. Francis experienced a young life of trouble and challenge to find his peace among the Franciscan brothers and the animals, he's so famous for befriending. It is a relaxing trip by design; and one filled with time for meaningful reflection. Watch the video on this next page and you'll see what we mean: https://www.unf.edu/ce/italy.html.