Designed for professionals with a graduate degree in social work or another mental health disciplines who want to expand their expertise in crisis response.
Natural disasters are occurring with greater frequency and intensity. Climate change is driving stronger hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other environmental events. At the same time, human-caused crises such as school shootings, terrorist attacks, and wars are becoming alarmingly frequent around the globe. Communities struck by these events face devastating psychological and social impacts, requiring specialized mental health support to rebuild and heal.
Many clinicians express a strong desire to help during these crises, but they often feel unprepared. Without proper training, even experienced professionals may struggle to offer the care survivors need. This is where the Disaster Mental Health Certificate Program comes in—providing essential knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to make a meaningful impact when disaster strikes.
Program Features
- Online Format: Synchronous online courses allow students to participate from home after work or an internship, while having peer discussions in a class.
- Expert Faculty: Learn from leading professionals in disaster response, trauma-informed care, and mental health intervention.
- Real-World Experience: Engage in case studies based on real disaster scenarios to build practical, hands-on skills.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with agencies, nonprofits, and responders locally and internationally, building your professional network in disaster response.
- Culturally Responsive Training: Understand the importance of culturally responsive approaches when working with diverse and vulnerable populations.
- Global Perspective: Learn about disaster mental health approaches from around the world, including opportunities to participate in international online learning programs in some courses.
Careers
Obtaining this certificate will give you a competitive edge in today’s mental health and emergency response fields, allowing you to:
- Expand Your Practice: Offer specialized disaster mental health services to individuals, families, schools, and communities in need.
- Work with Government and Nonprofit Agencies: Pursue roles with organizations like FEMA, Red Cross, UNICEF, or other humanitarian relief agencies.
- Serve in Crisis Intervention Teams: Join specialized response units that assist in schools, hospitals, or disaster-stricken areas.
- Career Growth and Promotion Opportunities: Many employers seek candidates with experience in crisis and trauma management for leadership roles.
- Support Global and Local Initiatives: Position yourself as a mental health leader, supporting international relief efforts and community preparedness programs.
Highlights
As part of this program’s forward-thinking vision, students will soon have unique opportunities to collaborate and connect globally.
- Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Opportunities: Connect with students and professionals from institutions abroad through online learning networks. Exchange ideas, case studies, and cultural perspectives to expand your understanding of international disaster response practices.
- International Student Learning Trips: Upcoming plans include a study-abroad experience in Japan, where students will visit disaster sites and agencies that provided support to survivors of major events like the Great East Japan Earthquake. Participants will gain firsthand insights into the immediate response, long-term recovery, and mental health support strategies used by Japanese agencies to aid survivors and rebuild communities.
- Experiential Learning: Engage in simulations based on real disaster scenarios, or intern at a disaster-related agency (e.g., American Red Cross) to build practical, hands-on skills.
Why This Program Matters
Whether responding to the aftermath of hurricanes, helping children process the trauma of school violence, or supporting refugees affected by war, disaster mental health professionals play a vital role in recovery. This program will equip you with the knowledge and tools to confidently step in when communities are at their most vulnerable. You will not only learn how to assist others but also develop the resilience needed to manage the emotional demands of crisis work.
Join Us and Make a Difference
By completing the Disaster Mental Health Certificate Program, you’ll gain more than just credentials; you’ll become a beacon of hope in times of crisis. Be ready to step up when it matters most and bring healing to those in need, whether in your own community or across the globe.
Don’t just watch from the sidelines: be prepared to make an impact.
School / College
College of Health and Human Services
Department
Social Work