Addiction and Mental Health Worker
How To Apply
Program Details
- Program Code1235
- Credential TypeOntario College Diploma
- SchoolSchool of Community and Health Studies
- Program TypePost-secondary program
- Program Length2 years/ 4 semesters
- LocationAshtonbee Campus
- Emailcommunitystudiesashtonbee@centennialcollege.ca
- Telephone416-289-5000
- Technology RequirementsCareerExplorerPlugin
Program Availability
- Program Overview
- Courses
- Career Options and Education Pathways
- Admission Requirements
- How to Apply
- Tuition and Fees
- Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
- Advising Services
- Indigenous Studies
The School of Community and Health Studies proudly offers the Addiction and Mental Health Worker program, a transformative educational journey designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and skills to thrive in the dynamic field of mental health and addiction services. Through a curriculum grounded in evidence-based practices, you will embark on a path to become a compassionate and competent professional capable of making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals experiencing mental health and substance-use challenges, all while embracing diverse cultural perspectives and practices.
In the Addiction and Mental Health Work courses, you will be immersed in a rich learning environment that prepares you to excel in various community health and human services settings, including mental health and addiction agencies, homeless drop-in centers, and crisis service centers. Here, you will cultivate the expertise to effectively engage with individuals, family members, and small groups impacted by addiction and mental health challenges, while advocating tirelessly for equitable access to essential supports and services such as health promotion, prevention, and harm reduction.
Moreover, our program is deeply committed to fostering reconciliation with Indigenous communities in Canada, ensuring that you will receive invaluable insights on addiction, mental health, and wellness from diverse cultural perspectives and practices.
Complementing your classroom instruction is a second-year field placement experience, offering you the invaluable opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in real-world settings. Under the guidance of seasoned professionals, you will spend several days each week working directly with community members, gaining hands-on experience in case management, assessment, referral, and navigating systems of care. This immersive practical experience serves to reinforce your classroom learning, providing a solid foundation for your future endeavors in the field.
As a graduate of the Addiction and Mental Health Worker program, you'll meet the educational requirements for registration as a social service worker in the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). This credential enhances your professional credibility and opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities in the social service sector.
Unlock your potential to make a lasting impact in your community and beyond. Enroll in the Addiction and Mental Health Worker program today and discover the path to becoming a dedicated advocate for community members in the pursuit of mental health and wellness for all.
Program Overview
The School of Community and Health Studies proudly offers the Addiction and Mental Health Worker program, a transformative educational journey designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and skills to thrive in the dynamic field of mental health and addiction services. Through a curriculum grounded in evidence-based practices, you will embark on a path to become a compassionate and competent professional capable of making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals experiencing mental health and substance-use challenges, all while embracing diverse cultural perspectives and practices.
In the Addiction and Mental Health Work courses, you will be immersed in a rich learning environment that prepares you to excel in various community health and human services settings, including mental health and addiction agencies, homeless drop-in centers, and crisis service centers. Here, you will cultivate the expertise to effectively engage with individuals, family members, and small groups impacted by addiction and mental health challenges, while advocating tirelessly for equitable access to essential supports and services such as health promotion, prevention, and harm reduction.
Moreover, our program is deeply committed to fostering reconciliation with Indigenous communities in Canada, ensuring that you will receive invaluable insights on addiction, mental health, and wellness from diverse cultural perspectives and practices.
Complementing your classroom instruction is a second-year field placement experience, offering you the invaluable opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in real-world settings. Under the guidance of seasoned professionals, you will spend several days each week working directly with community members, gaining hands-on experience in case management, assessment, referral, and navigating systems of care. This immersive practical experience serves to reinforce your classroom learning, providing a solid foundation for your future endeavors in the field.
As a graduate of the Addiction and Mental Health Worker program, you'll meet the educational requirements for registration as a social service worker in the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). This credential enhances your professional credibility and opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities in the social service sector.
Unlock your potential to make a lasting impact in your community and beyond. Enroll in the Addiction and Mental Health Worker program today and discover the path to becoming a dedicated advocate for community members in the pursuit of mental health and wellness for all.
Courses
Career Options and Education Pathways
Program Highlights
In the Addiction and Mental Health Worker program, you'll learn to:
- The Addiction and Mental Worker program curriculum is reviewed on an annual basis to ensure courses are current, relevant, and based on evidence-based research and best practices in the field.
- Program faculty members are all trained in addiction and mental health work and social work practice, and have extensive knowledge, expertise and field experience.
- During your two years in the program, you'll have the opportunity to obtain a Stackable Certificate in Indigenous Studies: First Peoples in Canada.
- Two specialized field placements will provide you with valuable opportunities to integrate classroom learning, knowledge and skills in professional practice. Facilitated two days per week in the third semester and four days per week in the fourth semester, these experiences may include a variety of settings (governmental services, community centres, settlement agencies, social service agencies, shelters, residential group homes, employment counselling agencies and educational institutions, among others).
- As an Addiction and Mental Health Worker student, you'll have the opportunity to apply for an Indigenous focused field placement. This placement is a full year placement and has a prerequisite to be enrolled in the Stackable Certificate in Indigenous Studies: First Peoples in Canada. The program has a history of strong partnerships with global organizations.
- You'll have the opportunity to engage in interprofessional collaboration and practice with other programs within the College community, such as Early Childhood Education, Police Foundations, and Community.
Career Outlook
- Case Manager
- Harm Reduction Worker
- Street Outreach Worker
- Short-term Crisis Bed Worker
- Community Health Support Worker
- Shelter Worker
- Residential Support Worker
- Drop-in Worker
- Supportive Housing Worker
- Peer Support Worker
- Addictions Case Worker
- Mental Health Support Worker
- Hostel Relief Worker
Education Pathways
Successful graduates of this Addiction and Mental Health Worker diploma program have the opportunity to apply learning achieved at Centennial for credits toward further study at the degree level. Listed below are institutions offering pathways for this program.
Please note that each receiving institution has minimum admission requirements in order to qualify for transfer credits, which are assessed by the receiving institution.
For more detailed pathways information, visit our website at //centennial.adv-pub.moveonca.com/outgoing-home/.
Use the following Education Pathways Checklist as a guide as you explore your options.
For pathways to other Ontario post-secondary institutions, please visit ONTransfer.
Areas of Employment
Areas of EmploymentAdmission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older)
- Grade 12 English (C or U), or equivalent (minimum grade required), or take the Centennial English Admission Test
Additional Requirements
Semester Requirements
A C Grade is required in all core courses.
How to Apply
1. Apply Online
If you are applying through the Better Jobs Ontario Program, please work with an Employment Ontario service provider. For more information go to Better Jobs Ontario Program.
If you have previously attended a full time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.
All other applicants must apply online at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $125 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.
2. Submit Documents
Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.
Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.
Applicants who attended school outside of Canada: If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS).
For more information go to Submitting your Transcripts.
3. Confirm Your Offer of Admission
Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.
You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.
You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.
When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.
4. Pay Fees
Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.
You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.
5. Build Your Timetable (Register for Courses)
Build your timetable (web-register for courses) at my.centennialcollege.ca.
Fall registration begins mid-July
January registration begins mid-December
May registration begins mid-April
Your web-registration will not open if:
You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.
Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.
Tuition and Fees
Fees noted below are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters, beginning Fall 2025.
| Student | Tuition (2 Semesters) | Ancillary Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian | $2,721.00 | $1,295.33 | $4,016.33 |
| International | $17,148.00 | $1,793.28 | $18,941.28 |
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes describe what graduates of the program have demonstrated they can do with the knowledge and skills they have achieved during their studies. The outcomes are closely tied to the needs of the workplace. Through assessment (e.g., assignments and tests), students verify their ability to reliably perform these outcomes before graduating.
- Develop a plan to assist the client in achieving their goals for mental wellness and recovery from addictions
- Integrate group work and group facilitation skills across a wide range of community service settings, supporting growth and development of individuals, families, and communities affected by addictions and mental health issues
- Consider social policy, legislation, and political, social, and economic systems and their impacts on service delivery in addiction and mental health services
- Provide appropriate treatment and prevention strategies to individuals and families impacted by addiction and mental health issues
- Recognize diverse needs and experiences of individuals, groups, families, and communities to develop and promote accessible and responsive programs and services
- Respond accordingly to clients in crisis to provide appropriate assistance and referral where necessary
- Develop and maintain positive interprofessional collaboration and working relationships with colleagues, supervisors, and community partners that adhere to professional, legal and ethical standards
- Advocate at a system-level for nonjudgmental acceptance and unconditional positive regard of individuals with addictions and mental health issues
- Collaborate with indigenous peoples and their communities to identify and advocate for access to culturally appropriate resources to address addiction and mental health issues
- Engage in critical self-reflection to support professional growth and lifelong learning
- Reimagining the ways the sector engages with community members through the creation and collaboration of innovative organizational approaches
Advising Services
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Joshua Panganiban, Community and Health Studies, Graduate, 2018It's sort of a bittersweet feeling knowing I'm about to graduate. It was such an amazing time being in a program where every single person cared about your success. Centennial College was a life changer.
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