Online Master’s Degree Programs in Community Mental Health Management

“Community mental health (CMH) is a specialization that requires an in-depth understanding of mental health and related systems that impact marginalized communities…Students who complete an MA in CMH have the opportunity to contribute in positions and roles in community-based organizations.”

Kini Chang, LMFT, Chair of the Community Mental Health Program, California Institute of Integral Studies School of Professional Psychology and Health

Psychology is a fascinating and diverse discipline often valuable to professionals pursuing various career paths. Knowledge derived from psychology can be applied in countless ways in numerous settings, including business, human resources, child development, rehabilitation, education, and career counseling.

The need for trained counselors and therapists in the United States is robust. The National Alliance on Mental Health (2024) estimated that roughly one in five adults experience mental illness annually.

Several factors continue to drive the need for counseling resources. Some of these include the rapid pace of technological and societal change that creates feelings of profound dislocation and alienation for some people, the recent and lingering disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the high prevalence of substance abuse and addiction within the American populace.

Community mental health is one framework in which mental health and related services are conceptualized and subsequently treated. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the genesis of the community mental health concept is attributable to the Community Mental Health Act of 1963. Before the passage of this act, individuals with mental illness in the U.S. were often institutionalized, and the quality of the care they received in such settings varied significantly.

After 1963, the model of providing mental health treatment changed from institutionalization to the creation of mental health centers, which began offering treatment and other services to people in the communities where they live and work.

This shift in how mental health services are delivered resulted from a change in the theoretical foundation that informs how such services are conceptualized and then offered. The community mental health model is based upon the premise that communities are better able to create, operate, and sustain the mental health facilities and programs needed to meet the needs of their population. The American Psychological Association defines community mental health as activities that promote mental health that are performed in the community instead of in institutional settings.

Decades after the passage of the Community Mental Health Act, community mental health centers continue to play a vital role in the wellness of the communities they serve. A variety of staff often work at a community mental health center. These include social workers, psychiatrists, counselors, psychologists, and peer support specialists. These centers often serve as a critical resource and stopgap measure when other resources, such as psychiatric hospitals, state departments of public health-operated facilities, and private providers, are insufficient to meet the needs of both individuals and the broader local population. Such centers often provide critical referrals to other local service providers and directly contract with these other providers to provide services that effectively sustain a safety net in countless communities throughout the U.S.

Read on to discover community mental health and related academic programs in the United States.

Featured Mental Health Administration Programs
Grand Canyon University MS - Community Mental Health AdministrationProgram Website
Arizona State University Behavioral Health - Clinical (DBH)Program Website
Arizona State University Behavioral Health - Management (DBH)Program Website
Walden University PsyD - Behavioral Health LeadershipProgram Website
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Meet the Expert: Kini Chang, LMFT

Kini Chang

Kini Chang is the chair of the community mental health program at the California Institute of Integral Studies School of Professional Psychology and Health.

Previously, Chang was the assistant clinical professor and director of the counseling and forensic psychology graduate program at Holy Names University in Oakland, CA. At Holy Names University, she had the opportunity to build a culturally inclusive community of students, faculty, and leadership that embodied diversity and equity. She had the privilege of teaching and consulting for a number of higher education institutions.

Chang comes from a liberation and social justice lens when working with trauma associated with systemic oppression, social inequity, community violence, abuse and attachment, juvenile justice reformation, and traumatic grief and loss. Her role as an educator, activist, and healer are guiding principles in her work in the community.

In addition to her role at the university, she has a private practice in Oakland, CA, where she specializes in intergenerational and multigenerational familial trauma, transitional struggles and life challenges, anxiety and depression brought on by environmental and social impacts, multicultural couples therapy, and parent education and coaching on adolescent development and child-rearing.

MHAOnline.com:What is something you wish the public understood about master’s in community mental health programs?

Chang: The MA in community mental health has a clinical track for students who want to become licensed therapists who work in the community providing therapy services to the community.

Community mental health (CMH) is a specialization that requires an in-depth understanding of mental health and related systems that impact marginalized communities. Populations include but are not limited to folx who struggle with substance use and addiction challenges, homelessness, children in foster care and social services, severe mental illness, community violence, juvenile justice/criminal justice system, survivors of dating/partner violence, and other forms of system involvement that can impact overall well-being and ability to function and thrive.

Many of the individuals and groups in community mental health have experienced complex trauma and discrimination, and have limited access to resources. Students who complete MA in CMH have the opportunity to contribute in positions and roles in community-based organizations. Their positions have significant roles in supporting CMH populations in developing a safer environment to meet basic needs. These needs may be food, shelter, healthcare, therapy, and a general network of support and resources, providing the opportunity for CMH populations to build resilience, self-efficacy, and healing.

MHAOnline.com: What advice would you give to aspiring master’s in community mental health students?

Chang: I would have prospective students ask themselves whether they are interested in clinical or non-clinical so they can narrow down their search. Clinical track means a graduate degree that prepares students for licensure towards LCSW, LPCC, or LMFT. This will help them begin to formulate their goals and support their decision-making as they choose the best graduate program.

I would also advise them to gain work/volunteer experience in a community-based mental health organization to get a sense of the work in CMH. It is also essential to explore concepts such as cultural humility and attunement, their privilege and position, and the intersectionalities.

Lastly, it is a great idea to go to university info sessions with the specific program they are interested in to meet the faculty. This gives prospective students a snapshot into an area of expertise of the faculty at each university.

In addition, they will be able to ask questions directly during a Q&A with the faculty who teach the courses. Another component of this exploration process is to look at each program’s specific curriculum. The curriculum outline will allow students to get a glimpse into the coursework. At a glance, prospective students will have a sense of what to expect from their education.

Bernd Geels
Bernd Geels
Writer

Bernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].

Kimmy Gustafson
Kimmy Gustafson
Writer

With a unique knack for simplifying complex health concepts, Kimmy Gustafson has become a trusted voice in the healthcare realm, especially on MHAOnline.com, where she has contributed insightful and informative content for prospective and current MHA students since 2019. She frequently interviews experts to provide insights on topics such as collaborative skills for healthcare administrators and sexism and gender-related prejudice in healthcare.

Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education. She is passionate about seeing the world and has traveled to over 27 countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. When not working, she can be found outdoors, parenting, kiteboarding, or cooking.

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