• The Mental Health Administrator (MHA) program is designed for professionals who are responsible for implementing, managing, and monitoring regulations in a Head Start environment. Candidates enrolled in this program typically have 1 to 5 years experience administering a Mental Health Services area.  Due to the in-depth nature of this program level, candidates should be knowledgeable about Head Start policies and requirements in accordance to the Federal regulations. The Mental Health Administrator program is designed as a valid and reliable measure of the candidates ability to design, develop and implement Head Start systems. Candidates of the MHA program will acquire extensive knowledge of State regulations that directly impact a program's ability to maintain compliance.  Candidates enrolled in this credentialing program acquire a skill set which consist of the best practices and procedural methods for implementing regulations and handling Head Start compliance during a federal review.

A credential at HS University is an "educational process" of establishing the qualifications of professionals in Head Start, Early Head Start, Migrant Head Start, American Indian/Alaska Native and Early Childhood employees.  The process consists of the attainment of a specific skill level and knowledge of regulations and the assessing of the candidate's educational background and experience. A credential is then awarded to the professional who meets the standards set for the credential.  It signifies that a student has enrolled, attended and successfully completed the requirements of a specific mental health services plan of study within a Head Start program.  The administrator credential process usually takes about 6 weeks to complete and requires 15 units.

The credential in Mental Health Services is designed to help students develop a “systems approach” to monitoring mental health services, reflecting the vision articulated within the Performance Standards and mental health protocol that strong systems are essential to maintaining program quality. Under this approach, students will learn how to identify a failure within mental health service area and identify the underlying problems in which federal review teams might identify as a non-compliance finding. The credential focuses on how systems, services, and mental health activities interact to create and maintain quality support and services. The focus of the credential will be on both the child and family, using the regulations and best practices to develop procedures and policies. This credential is a holistic, multifaceted credential that allows students to learn how to integrate quality mental health support systems and services. The credential uses the mental health competenciees as the core of the credential. Students learn the provisions of establishing a Head Start-based mental health program that emphasizes a programmatic way of observing and recognizing mental health and behavioral changes in staff, children and families and directing them to the best support services. 

The credential in Mental Health Services is designed for students who want a concentration in the areas of mental health services management in Head Start.  Credits earned can be used for transfer into the college degree programs - Mental Health Services Management.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates will be able to:

All courses are six week in length, 15 credits unless specified otherwise. HS University students are Head Start working adults who can earn their certificate at their own pace and on their own schedule.  Most students attend part-time, and the normal time to complete this program is 12 weeks.

Program Cost

Cost information for HS University program is available at http://www.hsuniversity.org/cost_fees.html.  The tuition and fees for the entire program, at current tuition rates, are $1495. 

Program Course of Study

The following list a suggested course of study. Students must complete 5 credits/15 units in order to earn a certificate. Please contact your advisor and student representative for an individual Professional Development Plan (Plans consist of a detailed program of study requirement and Proposal for Tuition payment).  Students must complete an application and pay application fee in order to receive Professional Development Plans of Study.