Overview of Mental Health Concentration

The Mental Health Concentration focuses on preparing social workers for advanced practice roles in community mental health and substance abuse services organizations, particularly those that address the needs of the most marginalized, oppressed, and disadvantaged members of our communities. Although the concentration embraces a life course perspective, its primary focus is upon working with children, youth, and adults who are grappling with, or at risk for, serious mental health and substance abuse problems. Such work requires that students develop an understanding of mental health and substance abuse funding streams and services. Students must also become familiar with competing conceptual and theoretical frameworks for understanding the nature, etiology, course, and consequences of major mental disorders, and emerging models of care for different mental health problems. Particular emphasis is given to understanding models of care, systems, and services for mental health and substance use issues as they affect oppressed and marginalized populations.

Although we have three concentrations, the curriculum across each of the three concentrations is guided by the same overarching conceptual framework: an advanced generalist approach to practice. Within each of the concentration areas, students are required to take an advanced practice course, a policies/services course, a concentration elective, and a field seminar. In addition, all students in concentration year are required to take a macro-practice elective that is not specific to an area of concentration, and two additional free electives. This structure ensures that students learn knowledge and skills to effect change at multiple levels and across systems.

If you have any questions about the Mental Health Concentration, please feel free to contact Prof. Peggy Sleeper at msleeper@wisc.edu

List of Required and Elective and Mental Health Concentration Courses

Concentration Chair: Peggy Sleeper, M.S.S.W.

1. Advanced Practice:

SW 861 - Advanced Practice In Mental Health (Fall)

2. Policies and Services (Take One Course):

SW 935 - Community Mental Health Services (Spring)

3. Concentration Elective (Take One Course):

SW 712 - Psychopathology in Social Work (Fall)

4. Recommended Elective Courses:

SW 715 - Family Systems in Social Work (Fall)
SW 742 - Assessing & Treating Children and Adolescents (Fall, Spring)
SW 842 - Consultation and Supervision in Social Work (Fall)
SW 860 - Social Work and Substance Abuse (Spring)
SW 862 - Clinical Intervention with Adults with Serious Mental Illnesses (Spring)
SW 867 - Advanced Macro Practice (Fall, Spring)