Mental Health Support Specialist (MHSS)
Learn more about the MHSS certification process by selecting the tabs below.
The Mental Health Support Specialist (MHSS) provides daily living support and residential services to individuals with mental illness. In order to be a MHSS you must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or a GED.
The MHSS course meets one of the requirements for Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician MHRT I certification. MHSS consists of approximately 35-hours of training and it is regularly offered throughout Maine by various agencies and trainers. The MHSS course may be waived in certain circumstances. Please see the section of our website on MHRT I for details.
NEW! For trainers of the MHSS curriculum and the MHRT/C non-academic domain training, there is now a page containing supplemental material, (link opens in a new page) shared by other approved trainers. If you have material you would like to share, please send it to cfl-muskie@maine.edu
As a Mental Health Support Specialist (MHSS) trainer, you have a variety of requirements. Some of your responsibilities include: Offering the MHSS course to participants at least one time per year; notifying the Center for Learning at least 30 days before you teach the MHSS course; and collecting course evaluations from participants and submitting them to the Center for Learning.
You will also need to submit a Validation Form (confirmation of the dates that you taught the class and the names of participants who attended) to the Center for Learning.
By clicking on the following link, you will find detailed information about MHSS training policies and procedures.
Please note that in 2006, the Direct Support Professional and Mental Health Support Specialist curricula were compared. It was determined that the following three modules are interchangeable between the two curricula: Confidentiality, Documentation, and Sexuality.
NOTICE FOR MHSS TRAINERS:
The Office of Behavorial Health Services revised the MHSS evaluation policy in 2012. The policy includes the following:
1) Trainer(s) will assign one student to distribute the evaluations, collect them once completed, and place them in an envelope provided ahead of time by Center for Learning. The envelope will have instructions for both the designated student and trainer. 2) Trainer(s) will leave the room while students complete their evaluation form. 3) Trainer(s) may reenter the room after all evaluation forms have been collected and sealed by the designated individual.
Please notify the Center for Learning (using the MHSS Trainer Notification form) within 30 days prior to offering a course so that we can ensure you have the envelope and instructions prior to the end of your course.
Below are links to the various forms that you will need as a trainer.
Use the Training Notification Form to notify the Center for Learning that you will be teaching the MHSS class:
MHSS Training Notification Form (updated April 16, 2020)
Training Notification Form Word
Training Notification Form PDF
Use the Evaluation Form when you are ready to ask students to provide feedback about the course:
MHSS Student Evaluation Form (updated June 2014)
MHSS Student Evaluation Form Word
MHSS Student Evaluation Form PDF
Use the Curriculum Modification Form if you wish to change the order of the MHSS modules or add material to the standardized curriculum:
MHSS Curriculum Modification Request Form
MHSS Curriculum Modification Form Word
MHSS Curriculum Modification Form PDF
Ask students to complete the Student Information Form so that they can receive their certificate once they finish the course
MHSS Student Information Form (Updated April 16, 2020)
MHSS Student Info Word
MHSS Student Student Info Form PDF
Use the Training Validation Form to inform the Center for Learning of the dates that you taught the MHSS class and the names of students who participated:
MHSS Training Validation Form (Updated April 16, 2020)
Please Note: The Center for Learning does not accept registrations for MHSS courses. You must contact the instructor directly to register for their course. Since we list the information provided to us as we receive it, this list may not be inclusive.
Trainers: If you want us to list your course here, please submit the Training Notification Form (see further below) as soon as possible before your course takes place. There is no charge for this service.
Trainings could be postponed due to COVID-19, please be sure to contact your instructor to determine if your course is still occurring or is being rescheduled.
List last updated: May 23, 2023
June 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29, 2023
9am – 4pm
In-Person training
Alternative Services-Northeast
1567 Lisbon St., Suite 2
Lewiston, ME 04240
10
$250
Corey Provencher
cprovencher@asi-ne.org
(207) 777-1107
June 9, 13, 14, 15, & 16, 2023
9am – 4pm
via Video Conference
Motivational Services
71 Hospital St.
Augusta, ME 04330
15
Internal Staff Only
Nicholas Anderson
Donna Wilson at:
dwilson@mocomaine.com
(207) 624-0479
June 16, 30, July 7, 14, & 21 2023
8am – 4pm
In-Person Training
Sweetser
Brunswick, ME 04011
10
Internal Staff Only
Laurel Bailey
lbailey@sweetser.org
(207) 844-4282
June 20, 22, 27, 28, & 29, 2023
8am – 4pm
In-Person training
R&K Wellness
13 Railroad Square
Suite 1, Office 10
Waterville, ME 04901
8
$300
Ericka Roy
ericka.roy@wellnessrk.com
(207) 660-7998
July 13, 14, 18, 19 & 20, 2023
9am – 4:30pm
via Video Conference
OHI
205 Maine Ave.
Bangor, ME 04401
12
$285
Wayne Day
Nina Fritz at:
nfritz@ohimaine.org
(207) 605-1246
July 24, 25, 26, & 31, 2023
9:15am – 5pm
In-Person Training
Shalom House
106 Gilman St.
Portland, ME 04102
18–FULL
$300
Kristine Lausier & Stephanie Garza
klausier@shalomhouseinc.org
(207) 874-1080 ext. 7177
September 13, 14, 15, 18, & 19, 2023
9am – 5pm
In-Person training
The Opportunity Alliance
50 Lydia Ln.
South Portland, ME 04106
10
$275
Amber Elliott
patty.mann
@opportunityalliance.org
(207) 523-5019
October 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30, 2023
9am – 4pm
In-Person training
Alternative Services-Northeast
1567 Lisbon St., Suite 2
Lewiston, ME 04240
10
$250
Corey Provencher
cprovencher@asi-ne.org
(207) 777-1107
October 17, 18, 19, & 20, 2023
9:15am – 5pm
In-Person Training
Shalom House
106 Gilman St.
Portland, ME 04102
18
$300
Kristine Lausier & Stephanie Garza
klausier@shalomhouseinc.org
(207) 874-1080 ext. 7177
December 6, 7, 8, 11, & 12, 2023
9am – 5pm
In-Person training
The Opportunity Alliance
50 Lydia Ln.
South Portland, ME 04106
10
$275
Amber Elliott
patty.mann
@opportunityalliance.org
(207) 523-5019
Approved MHSS Trainers
Below is a list of trainers who have been certified to teach the Mental Health Support Specialist curriculum with contact information. Email links are disabled to reduce spambot mining. You will need to copy the email into your email program.
Last updated on December 16, 2022
Trainer’s Name
Agency
Phone
Julia Abernethy
Maine Behavioral Healthcare
(207) 594-9507
jabernethy@mmc.org
Jessica Amato
Sweetser
(207) 298-1693
jamato@sweetser.org
Nicholas Anderson
Motivational Services
(207) 832-1224
nick.c.anderson78@gmail.com
Laurel Bailey
Sweetser
(207) 373-4287
lbailey@sweetser.org
Shawna Chase
Tri-County Mental Health Services
(207) 364-5851
schase@tcmhs.org
Billie Jo Cookson
Graham Behavioral Services
(207) 626-0003
billiejocookson@gbsmaine.com
Nicole Cote
NFI North
(207) 346-8113
kylo2012@yahoo.com
Jeremy Crockett
Volunteers of America
(207) 944-5054
jeremy.crockett@voanne.org
Jennifer Cunningham
ESM, Inc.
(207) 622-5946
jennifer.cunningham@
esm-augusta.com
Wayne Day
OHI Professional Development
(207) 605-1222
wday@ohimaine.org
Sarah Delano
rahcreature@twc.com
Keri Devlin
Assistance Plus
(207) 453-4708
kdevelin@assistanceplus.com
Jodi Eldridge
ESM, Inc.
(207) 622-5946
jodi.eledridge@
esm-augusta.com
Amber Elliott
The Opportunity Alliance
(207) 874-1060
amber.elliott@
opportunityalliance.org
Sarah Emerson
The Opportunity Alliance
(207) 535-2001
Semerson@spurwink.org
Amy Flewelling
MAS Community Health
(207) 561-9533
aflewelling@
mascommunityhealth.com
Cheryl Fournier
MAS Community Health
(207) 376-4880
cfournier@
mascommunityhealth.com
Stephanie Garza
Shalom House
(207) 874-1088
sgarza@shalomhouseinc.org
Susan Gordon
Crisis & Counseling Centers, Inc.
(207) 213-4545
sgordon@crisisandcounseling.org
Michelle Gowell
Independent Instructor
michellegowell2292@gmail.com
Dannielle Hartford
AngleZ Behavioral Health Services
(844) 294-5306
dhartford@anglezbhs.com
Stephanie Hatcher
Northeast Residential Services
She is available to train at other agencies.
(207) 383-7554
shatcher@northeastme.org
To book a training please use:
shatcher2@gmail.com
Kristine Lausier
Shalom House
(207) 874-1080
klausier@shalomhouseinc.org
Sabrina Malcomb
Graham Behavioral Services
(207) 626-0003
sabrina@gbsmaine.com
James McClay
Aroostook Mental Health Center
(207) 764-0759
jmcclay@amhc.org
Becky McPhail
ESM
(207) 622-5946
becky.mcphail@
esm-augusta.com
Scott Morrison
Ascentria Community Services
(207) 783-3446
smorrison@ascentria.org
Darlene Panzino
Spurwink
(207) 838-2469
dpanzino@spurwink.org
Savannah Patton
ESM, Inc.
(207) 622-5946
savannah.patton@
esm-augusta.com
Doreen P-Bouchard
Northern Maine General
(207) 444-5152
doreen.bouchard@nmgeneral.org
Corey Provencher
Alternative Services-Northeast
(207) 777-1107
cprovencher@asi-ne.org
Brenda Radel
Pillars Community Outreach
She is available to train at other agencies.
(207) 453-4500
bradel@
Wynona Randall
PENQUIS-Charlotte White Center
(207) 564-2464
wrandall@penquis.org
David Roderick
Volunteers of America
He is available to train at other agencies.
(207) 981-0486
david.roderick@voanne.org
Ericka Roy
R&K Wellness and Mental Health
(207) 850-3026
ericka.roy@wellnessrk.com
Melanie Sparks
kmfg143@yahoo.com
Deborah Walker-Roper
Community Health & Counseling Services
(207) 922-4490
dwalker@chcs-me-org