,Globe University and Minnesota School of Business (Globe and MSB), in partnership with Accurate Home Care, recently developed the Accurate Home Care Cooperative Training program, designed to increase the number of trained and qualified Mental Health Behavior Aides. The program combines academic education with on-the-job workforce applications to match employers with the skilled workforce required for this specialized position.
Student/employees in the program will work for Accurate as entry-level Mental Health Behavior Aides 20 hours per week while attending Globe and MSB full time to earn a mental health technician certificate. During the nine-month program, student/employees will receive a cooperative training scholarship each quarter and additional hourly income intended to be put toward tuition.
Accurate, which has a large office near the Mississippi River in downtown Otsego, is planning to expand next year with a new office complex, according to Otsego city staff.
Accurate Home Care provides comprehensive home health care services to patients of all ages and care requirements. Since its establishment in 2002, the privately-owned company has continued to work with clients’ levels of independence through nursing, therapy, PCA, homemaking and mental health services in clients’ homes and at its own day treatment facilities.
Accurate currently has six locations in Minnesota, as well as in North Dakota, Illinois and Iowa.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, close to 168,000 adults live with serious mental illness and about 56,000 children live with serious mental health conditions in Minnesota alone. Globe University and Minnesota School of Business will collaborate with the rapidly-growing and innovative company to attract, train and develop new Accurate Home Care employees to serve these populations.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates occupations in the health care industry are projected to add the most new jobs between 2012 and 2022, with total employment expected to increase 10.8 percent, or by 15.6 million jobs, during the decade. A portion of these jobs are related to mental health care.
“We are looking to give our current employees additional education and training, as well as find new, qualified, committed Mental Health Behavioral Aides to help provide superior care to our growing clientele in our Mental Health Division,” said Amy Nelson, founder and CEO of Accurate Home Care, and a Globe and MSB graduate. “Our unique partnership with Globe University and Minnesota School of Business is a perfect example of Accurate Home Care’s efforts to stay ahead of the curve in home health care, and more specifically, mental health services.”
The mental health technician certificate will prepare students to provide clinical support services to primary psychiatric staff and other health professionals. Credits earned in the program can also be laddered into the Globe and MSB medical assistant associate or health care management bachelor’s degree programs. Students who successfully complete the mental health technician certificate and have one year experience working at Accurate as a Mental Health Behavior Aide will be qualified to apply for the American Association of Psychiatric Technician’s level two certification.
“Our goal as a college is to help students continue their education and find employment in their chosen career fields,” Myhre said. “The Accurate Home Care Cooperative Training program provides opportunities for growth and success in an industry that will need trained professionals for many years to come.”
To learn more about the Accurate Home Care Cooperative Training program, visit Globe’s website.