One of the program foci of WICHE is Mental Health. This area of initiative focuses on finding answers that improve the mental health workforce in the West. Through WICHE-ICE, the interactive course exchange (ICE), graduate students have new opportunities to access high quality internet delivered courses and programs offered by members of WICHE. WICHE-ICE has created an infrastructure that organizes institutional resources to aid students with a more fully seamless access to program options and course selections. This delivery approach works within accreditation standards and best practices among the universities and has designated how students' services and applicable policies are in place for students using this system. Thus, students have access to a wider range of courses and academic programs and faculty expertise to support the learning. Additionally students have access to financial aid services because there are no constrictions for students across institutional borders. For students in rural regions of the West, internet courses bring more access for learning. 

 

Among the five social work schools, graduate students can now use WICHE-ICE to access a range of social work electives. Nationally, students may also enter these courses as "guest" registrants through distance education offices.  Many small social work programs have graduate concentrations in advanced generalist social work practice and are not able to provide multiple concentrations. Thus, through the WICHE-ICE infrastructure, the Division of Social Work at the University of Wyoming is able to offer two new certificate programs that use the on-line delivery strategy, particularly targeting post-graduate social workers. The Rural Behavioral/Mental Health Social Work Certificate is post-graduate program that allows social workers to build added knowledge and skills in the behavioral/ mental health area to be better prepared in mental health professional settings. The Health and Medical Social Work Certificate, also a post-graduate program, supports new knowledge and skills for social workers in a range of health and medical arenas both institutional and community settings. Both certificate areas respond to the serious social work workforce shortage in Wyoming.  For more information about these programs and how to register for these certificate programs, please go to the website at www.uwyo.edu/socialwork or phone the Division of Social Work at 307-766-4933.

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