Provisional

  • If a staff member has a MHRT-1, but any of the following components have expired (CPR/First Aid, MANDT, or CRMA) and they were working outside of the field and are coming back into the behavioral health field, a Provisional MHRT-1 needs to be completed along with a letter which shows the dates the employee will be attending trainings to complete the requirements they are missing along with copies of current certifications required for full MHRT-1 and the approval of the Muskie Center.
  • The Provisional can be issued for no longer than twelve months, unless special permission is granted by the Muskie Center for Learning.
  • If an employee already has a MHRT-1 Provisional issued by another agency, s/he must contact that agency to see when the Provisional was issued and when they left the former place of employment. They can only be issued a Provisional for the remainder of the twelve months This information must be submitted in writing.

We caution anyone applying for MHRT-1 position who has a criminal conviction of client abuse, neglect, exploitation, violence, and/or sexual abuse against any victim or criminal conviction classified A, B, C, D, or E within ten years.

The State-of-Maine requires healthcare providers to perform criminal background checks on all new employees to protect clients and their families. If these charges are over ten years, agencies may use their discretion depending on their hiring policies. If you have any questions regarding these statements, please contact us at your earliest convenience.

Course Description

Five (5) classroom sessions and a final exam to test a student’s competencies for assisting individuals living with mental illness to assure the highest level of independence possible. Students will learn to support individuals in learning to develop and maintain skills of daily living and to progress toward mental health recovery. Students will learn to support individuals in their own homes, in supported living environments, and in the individual’s community of choice.

Required course modules include:

  • The role of the mental health support specialist (MHSS)
  • Understanding behavioral health and illness
  • Trauma
  • Health and recovery
  • Communication
  • Confidentiality
  • Documentation
  • Sexuality
  • Health and safety
  • Diversity and cultural competence
  • Main’s mental health system and related resources
  • Being part of the community

MHRT-1 Certification

To receive full MHRT-1 certification which is a requirement for a position in the Daily Living Support Services division, all of the following must be received.

No part of the MHRT-1 requirements can be waived.

  1. A letter of interest with the applicant’s current return address and a phone number in order to be reached during normal business hours.
  2. Legible photocopies of current certificates of completion of:
  • Residential Care Specialist (RCS) certificate
  • Mental Health Support Specialist (MHSS) certificate
  • Mental Health Rehabilitation Certified (MHRT-C)
  • Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician 2 or 3 (MHRT II/III) certification
  • A current Certified Residential Medication Aide certification (CRMA)
  • A current intermediate level MANDT, NAPPI, CPI, or other DLRS certification
  • A First Aid (CPR/FA)card must be current at the time of application

Tuition Fee

The tuition cost for the full MHRT-1 requirement is $500.00. Assistance Plus will provide students with a calendar of scheduled training dates for this course.