Benefits-Respons

The Enhanced Placement Certification Program
for BHS Providers:
Description, Benefits and Responsibilities

Description:
“EP Certified” providers are those BHS care providers who have been certified by the city-funded organization Philadelphia Connections as providing an enhanced educational experience at their agencies for students doing field placements, internships, practicum, rotations and/or other educational activities. Students and providers do this through participation in the Enhanced Placement (EP) Program of Philadelphia Connections. For a description of the EP program, see the EP Student Handbook available from the Connections Office (215-546-0300 Extension 6044) or on our web site at www.philaconnect.org

Benefits for EP Certified BHS Provider Agencies:

Funding for Providers Training/Education Needs
Philadelphia Connections will fund appropriate proposals from providers for special educational and training activities or training needs assessments, or appropriate training materials for provider staff.

Funding for Program Development/Evaluation
Philadelphia Connections will fund appropriate proposals from providers to make available expert consultation on program development or assessment.

Special No-Charge Connections-Sponsored Educational and Training Presentations for Provider Agency Staff
Staff at EP Certified agencies will be eligible to attend, at no charge, Connections-sponsored or funded training/educational presentations during the school year, some of which will offer continuing education credits for staff with professional degrees.

Special No-Charge Connections-Sponsored Field Supervisor Training
Any provider staff who supervise students will be offered special free Connections-sponsored educational and training opportunities concerning clinical supervision topics.

Free Presentation on Consumer and Family Issues
Philadelphia Connections will arrange for a free presentation for provider staff covering Consumer and Family Issues in the Behavioral Health System.

EP Certification Demonstrates That An Agency is a Desirable Placement Site for Students
In addition, any MSW student doing a field placement at an “EP Certified” agency is automatically eligible to participate in the Connections Enhanced Placement program, regardless of which school the student comes from. EP Certification demonstrates that an agency is seen by Connections, participating schools, students, and oversight agencies to be a desirable placement site for students.

Responsibilities of EP Certified BHS Provider Agencies

To become an “EP Certified” agency, the provider agrees to:

Designate an agency contact person
The agency provides the name of an agency contact person and backup for Connections to communicate with about the program (See EP Agency Information form).

Allow EP Students at the Provider Agency to Use Six Placement Days Over the Course of the School Year to Attend Connections Enhancement Programs
Four of these days are mandatory training seminars in topics such as psychoactive medications and suicide management—areas identified by BHS providers as being important for students to know in order to provide quality treatment to BHS consumers.

Allow Provider Staff Who are Doing Field Supervision to Attend Special Field Supervisor Presentations
These presentations are sponsored by Connections (up to four during the school year), and field instructors or other student supervisors can attend at no charge assuming their time can be scheduled to do so. If there is a problem with losing staff billable time, Connections will pay the provider agency for the field supervisor’s time involved in attending the presentations (See EP Certification Letter of Understanding form).

Host one Family/Consumer presentation During the School Year
As mentioned above, some time during the school year, Connections will provide experienced family and consumer speakers at a time and place at your agency convenient for provider staff—unless the provider wants to arrange for particular family or consumer presenters (See EP Certification Letter of Understanding form).

Sign the EP Certification Letter of Understanding
This is not a legal document, but a listing of what Philadelphia Connections, the provider agency, and any participating schools with students placed at the provider programs or sites agrees to do (See EP Certification Letter of Understanding form).

For further information contact:
(Also see: "Contact Us" in the navigation bar on the left hand side of this page)

Max Molinaro, Ph.D.
Coordinator, Philadelphia Connections
Office: 215-546-0300 Ext. 6044
Fax: 215-599-5174
Email: mmolinaro@pmhcc.org

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The Enhanced Placement Certification Program for BHS Providers: Description, Benefits and Responsibilities

Benefits for EP Certified BHS Provider Agencies:

The Enhanced Placement Certification Program
for BHS Providers:
Description, Benefits and Responsibilities