Skip to content

Get the skills needed for an in-demand career in the behavioral and mental health fields with the Three Rivers College Associate of Applied Science degree in Behavioral Health Support (BHS).

This accelerated 18-month program provides graduates with a path to a care coordination or case management position in Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Behavioral Health contracted agencies. The 18-month program track is based on course availability and student schedules.

Graduates could expect to work in areas such as substance use treatment, mental healthcare, disability services, and educational settings.

Students in the program will complete two field practicums where they will gain hands-on experience to prepare them to support clients in a variety of behavioral and mental health settings. Graduates can expect to work in areas such as substance use treatment, mental healthcare, disability services, and educational settings.

This program includes a general education component, as well as a concentration in behavioral health. Class sizes are small, so students get individualized attention. Tuition is affordable, and financial aid is available to eligible students.

Students must complete an application and meet certain criteria to be admitted into the Three Rivers Behavioral Health Program. Prospective students must also complete a free Three Rivers application.

Program Application Deadline: December 1

The BHS program at Three Rivers College offers trauma-informed training in the areas of substance use, prevention, and mental health.

BHS Program Details

Instructor

The instructor and coordinator for the BHS program is Mr. Corey Reynolds. Before becoming a full-time member of the Three Rivers College faculty, Reynolds served in case management in the human service industry. He is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and promotes a positive message normalizing the conversation about mental health. He is involved in local and state initiatives advocating for mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and harm reduction. Reynolds enjoys taking any opportunity to share about the experiences that inspired his passion for mental health and behavioral health issues. Currently, he serves on the State Advisory Council (SAC) for the Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH), Division of Behavioral Health (DBH), and on the Partners in Prevention (PIP) Higher Education Student Mental Health Taskforce. Reynolds is also proud to be a Three Rivers College alumni and is honored to be able to serve at the institution where his success first began.

Organizational Structure

Dr. Wesley Payne, President of Three Rivers College
wpayne@trcc.edu
573-840-9689

Dr. Sherry Phelan, Dean of Instruction/Chief Academic Officer
sphelan@trcc.edu
573-840-9689

Will Cooper, Division Chair for Career Studies and Workforce Development
wcooper@trcc.edu
573-840-9682

Mr. Corey Reynolds, Behavioral Health Support Program Coordinator
creynolds@trcc.edu
573-840-9631, ext. 8361

Program Advisor

General advisor for the BHS program:

Gail Tinsley
gtinsley@trcc.edu
573-840-9712, ext. 8461

Advisory Board

The Behavioral Health Support program has an advisory board made up of local professionals and employers to ensure students receive the education they need to be successful in their future careers.

Rebeca Pacheco
Executive Director
Butler County Community Resource Council

Sarah French
Assistant Superintendent
Southeast Missouri Residential Services (SEMORS)

Rod Keown
Treatment Manager
Southeast Missouri Residential Services (SEMORS)

Janel Barber
Director of Rehabilitation Services
MERS Goodwill Career Center

Janice Ruesler
Director of Educational and Special Initiatives
Gibson Center for Behavioral Change

Jennifer Hartlein
Director of Fund Development and Public Relations
Bootheel Counseling Services

Julie Hanner
Chief Clinical Officer
FCC Behavioral Health

Kris Uselton, LPC
Clinical Officer Crisis Diversion and Outreach Services
FCC Behavioral Health

Chelsea Tanner
Mitigation Specialist
Missouri State Public Defender System

Carrie Booker
School Social Worker
Poplar Bluff R-1 Schools

Melissa Dowd
Chief Deputy Juvenile Officer
36th Judicial Circuit (Butler, Carter, Ripley)

Paula Shaw
Regional Administrator
Missouri Division of Youth Services, Southeast Regional Office

Program Description

Career and Technical Education. The Behavioral Health Support curriculum is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in state, county, and local human service agencies. Graduates will incorporate the learned skills and attributes in order to collaborate with mental health professionals and interact with clients with behavioral and mental health diagnoses.

To see specific requirements, an education plan, and course descriptions, please view our current College Catalog.

Program Purpose Statement

The Associate of Applied Science in Behavioral Health Support (BHS) program prepares students for entry-level employment in the behavioral healthcare field upon successful completion. The program curriculum is designed to develop and enhance the student’s cultural competency and ethical practice while promoting respect for others, appreciation of individual differences, and compassion. Students will learn about the interconnectedness of the helping fields as well as how to recognize the co-occurring risk factors of mental health and behavioral health while developing self-awareness, self-reliance, and self-confidence. The Behavioral Health Support Program prioritizes implementation of client-centered tailored treatment planning to support competent and ethical case management/care coordination.

Admission Requirements

  • Students are required to participate in agency background check process(es) for their practicum placement
  • Be in good academic standing
  • If applicable, students may be required to participate in agency TB testing process(es) for their practicum placement
  • Participate in a personal interview
  • Follow HIPPA guidelines and be ethical and professional in conduct

Program Outcomes

  • Practice culturally sensitive care with the appropriate standards of ethics within the helping fields.
  • Evaluate the interconnectedness of the helping fields to include mental healthcare, behavioral healthcare, and human services for the purpose of patient/client-centered advocacy.
  • Examine the relationship between behavioral health disorders and mental health disorders along with their risk factors.
  • Implement tailored treatment plans to include appropriate helping responses for individuals in mental health crisis and/or with suicidal ideation to bring about crisis stabilization.

Practicum Placement Sites

Students will complete their practicum requirements at placement sites where they will receive hands-on instruction from qualified professionals.

Bootheel Counseling Services 
FCC Behavioral Health
Gibson Center for Behavioral Change
Missouri Department of Social Services, Children’s Division, 36th Missouri Judicial Circuit 

Bachelor Completion Pathways

After completing your AAS degree in Behavioral Health Support, you can transfer to a four-year college or university to continue your education. To learn more about obtaining a bachelor’s degree and beyond, contact Gail Tinsley at gtinsley@trcc.edu or 573-840-9712. Or, visit our Transfer Pathways page.

Contact

Corey Reynolds

Corey Reynolds

Behavioral Health Support Program Coordinator

Faculty

573-840-9631

Three Rivers College Catalog

Contact

Get information about core courses, electives and concentrations in our current academic course catalog.

View College Catalog

Main Campus
2080 Three Rivers Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

P: (877) 879-8722 View all locations