Navigating the U.S. behavioral health system can be overwhelming for both newcomer clients and their social workers.  

Switchboard's new free online self-paced course, Understanding the Behavioral Health Care System in the U.S., demystifies this complex system and equips you with the knowledge to connect clients with the right mental health resources.  


What Does the Course Cover? 

Upon completing this course, you will be able to: 

  • Explain the meaning of behavioral health and the unique behavioral health needs of newcomers 
  • Analyze the U.S. behavioral health system—including levels of care, services, the role of providers, and the locations in which services take place—to serve unique client needs 
  • Apply information about the behavioral health system to create your own community resource map, and make effective referrals to behavioral health services 

Who Is This Course For?  

This course is designed for social workers and other resettlement professionals who support newcomers' mental health, including:

  • Direct service providers
  • Supervisors
  • Managers
  • Other resettlement professionals interested in learning more about behavioral health service options 


Approximate time to complete: 60 mins

Need support? Email [email protected]

This is an ASWB-accredited course worth 1 continuing education unit (CE). 

  

This is an independent, asynchronous pre-recorded course that learners will navigate via Thinkific course player. Registration is free and ongoing. For ADA accommodations, please contact [email protected], attn: Tigest Coleman. All learners are required to have a computer system and internet connection sufficient to play online course videos.   

Course Curriculum

    1. How to Navigate this Course

    2. Welcome to the Course

    1. What is Behavioral Health?

    2. Newcomers and Behavioral Health

    3. Knowledge Check: Behavioral Health in the U.S.

    4. Module 1 Completion

    1. Levels of Care

    2. Knowledge Check: Levels of Care

    3. Module 2 Completion

    1. Common Behavioral Health Services and Providers

    2. Behavioral Health Services and Providers

    3. Common Service Locations

    4. Knowledge Check: Common Services, Providers, and Locations

    5. Module 3 Conclusion

    1. Community Mapping

    2. Community Mapping Resources

    3. Making Effective Referrals

    4. Knowledge Check: Making Effective Referrals

    5. Module 4 Conclusion

    1. Course Completion

    2. Additional Resources

    3. Course Satisfaction Survey

    4. Course Outro & Next Steps

About this course

  • Free
  • 23 lessons

Jenna Christie-Tabron

LMSW, MFT

Jenna is Switchboard’s Senior Training Officer. She is a licensed social worker in Arizona who has nearly a decade of experience in treating adults and adolescents facing various individual and family challenges. Jenna has worked as a trauma-focused clinician, advocate, educator, and consultant in the psychiatric, health care, judicial, and education systems. Before joining Switchboard, she was the Intensive Case Management Supervisor for the IRC’s Phoenix office. She holds two postgraduate degrees in Family Therapy and Social Work.
Photo of course instructor: Jenna Christie-Tabron LMSW, MFT

Course Completion

ASWB CE Information

Social workers must attend the entire course and complete a course evaluation to be eligible for CE credit. Social workers will be required to get 100% on a post-test in order to receive CE credit, but they may retake the test as many times as necessary to get this score. Certificates of completion will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.   

 

Understanding the Behavioral Health Care System in the U.S., course #6519, is approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program to be offered by Social Work World as an individual course.   

 

Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE course approval period: XXXX – XXXX. Social workers completing this course receive 1 general continuing education credit.  

Switchboard TA's grievance policy ensures timely, ethical, and transparent resolution of complaints—including those related to course content, instructors, certificates, or other concerns—with oversight by the designated social work consultant and CE director to safeguard fairness and objectivity. Participants may request a copy of the full grievance policy or submit a grievance at any time using the contact information provided. 

Take the course with Switchboard, start today.

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