Credentialed Mental Health Support Specialist Program

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) public mental health system employs paraprofessionals working in its licensed, designated, and funded programs in a variety of settings, such as housing or rehabilitation. The term “paraprofessional” is defined broadly and includes people working in an OMH provider location who are not performing the functions of a licensed professional or Peer. This definition covers multiple positions within the system. While the tasks and functions of these positions have some similarities, there is not a uniform title or credential that provides an identity, core competencies, or standardized training for these essential members of the public mental health system workforce. Through partnership with the vendor awarded as a result of this RFP, OMH intends to create a paraprofessional credential, titled “Credentialed Mental Health Support Specialist“ that will provide current and future members of the workforce with a path for career advancements within the system.