Health Careers
Behavioral Health Aide
Professional Activities
Behavioral Health Aides (BHA) are unique to Alaska, and address local mental health and substance abuse problems to promote healthy individuals, families and communities in rural Alaska. BHAs help Alaska Natives address their behavioral health needs from alcohol, drug, and tobacco abuse and addiction to inhalant abuse. BHAs also help with mental health disorders such as grief, depression, suicide, and homicide.
The Tribal health system has invested significantly in the development of the BHA model so that local people can be trained in providing a full range of behavioral health services. The purpose of the BHA Program is to enhance village-based behavioral health services to promote healthy individuals, families, and communities in rural and remote Alaska Native villages. When it comes to providing behavioral health services in rural and remote locations, the BHA Program wants to shift away from the approach that requires a diagnosis before treatment, to one that intervenes early and disrupts the cycle of unacceptable behaviors and poor choices that lead to health problems.
BHAs are trained to learn how to develop a helping relationship with people who are seeking treatment. They receive instruction in how to understand, evaluate, and provide treatment for someone facing an addiction, substance abuse, or mental health issues. BHAs may provide group, family and individual counseling. They also become knowledgeable about available local and statewide resources to connect those facing behavioral health issues with these resources to help them achieve success.
BHAs work under the supervision of a licensed clinician who is employed by an Alaska Tribal health organization. Because BHAs live and work in remote areas, they communicate regularly with their supervisors by telemedicine, telephone, email, and some in-person visits.
Behavioral Health Aides work with a range of clients from individuals to families to entire communities. A BHA may help individuals facing serious health problems related to lifestyle choices such as cancer, heart disease, influenza, and pneumonia. They may assist families in dealing with disruptions such as abuse, neglect or violence. BHAs may also work with whole communities in coping with injuries or deaths related to accidental or intentional injuries. They also provide suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention activities and services.
Behavioral Health Aides generally work in the village where they live, and are employed by their tribal council or tribal health organization. The village council usually makes the selection for employment and training. Some BHAs work as itinerants and may work in a number of villages each year.
Educational Requirements
- After BHAs complete the BHA training they may complete additional clinical work requirements to become a certified BHA. Behavioral Health Practitioner is the highest level of accomplishment for training and certification.
- All BHAs may obtain certification at their level of training or experience by meeting program requirements determined by the Community Health Aide Program Certification Board (CHAPCB).
- BHAs may work toward a Rural Human Services certificate, Human Services, Social Work or other behavioral health related Associates degree, Bachelors degree, or Masters degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks or an accredited college in Alaska.
Academic Programs
Rural Human Services provides entry-level training and skill development for BHAs. Training sessions are held at different sites around the state. The educational program receives guidance and direction from its Program’s Advisory Council. For further information, contact RHS Statewide Office at 1-800-478-5696 extension 2.
Contacts
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Alberta Unok
ANTHC - DCHS
Behavioral Health & Rural Services
4000 Ambassador Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone: (907) 729-4499
Fax: (907) 729-8749
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: http://www.anthc.org/cs/chs/behavioral/becomeabehavioralhealthaide.cfm
This page was last updated by Janice Troyer on April 15, 2009
