Foundation To Success
Official didactic training plan delivered by Foundations Learning Institute in alignment with Virginia Board of Counseling standards and DBHDS requirements for behavioral health professionals.
Comprehensive training curriculum
Monday through Thursday schedule
Virtual cohort format
This comprehensive didactic training program is specifically designed for QMHP- trainees, Behavioral Health Technicians, Behavioral Health Technician Aides, and similar roles working in Virginia’s community-based behavioral health system. The
following schedule outlines the complete eight-week training plan, breaking down all 60 required didactic hours into structured learning modules that blend evidence-based instruction, real-world case studies, and interactive group
discussion to build competency and professional confidence.
Our curriculum covers six core competency areas essential for ethical, effective behavioral health practice in Virginia’s community-based treatment settings. Each module combines theoretical foundations with practical application to build real-world skills.
Ethics in Behavioral Health
Explore foundational ethical principles including beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, justice, and fidelity. Learn structured decision-making models to navigate ethical dilemmas, understand the distinction between legal and ethical obligations, and apply ethical frameworks through realistic case-based scenarios drawn from community behavioral health practice.
Boundaries & Dual Relationships
Examine professional role boundaries, power dynamics in therapeutic relationships, and the complexities of dual relationships in rural and urban settings. Address contemporary challenges including social media interactions, technology use, financial boundaries, gift-giving scenarios, and self-disclosure. Practice boundary decision-making through detailed case analysis.
Documentation & Recordkeeping
Master the purpose and legal foundations of clinical documentation, including progress notes, treatment plans, and service authorization forms. Learn to identify and correct common documentation errors, understand audit processes and quality assurance standards, and apply Medicaid/DMAS billing and documentation best practices for compliant, defensible records.
Confidentiality
Gain comprehensive understanding of HIPAA privacy rules and 42 CFR Part 2 substance use disorder confidentiality regulations. Navigate releases of information, minimum necessary standards, duty to warn/protect obligations, and mandatory reporting requirements while maintaining client privacy and trust in therapeutic relationships.
Cultural Competence
Develop cultural awareness and humility to provide inclusive, culturally responsive care. Identify personal biases, understand diverse cultural perspectives on mental health and substance use, and learn strategies for adapting treatment approaches to honor clients’ cultural identities, values, and lived experiences.
Human Services Coursework
Recognizing escalation, using de-escalation techniques, and following crisis protSurvey the history and structure of Virginia’s behavioral health system, levels of care, case management principles, crisis intervention techniques, trauma-informed care frameworks, recovery-oriented systems of care (ROSC), interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based client engagement strategies that support long-term wellness and recovery outcomes.ocols.
Ethics in Behavioral Health
12h
Documentation & Recordkeeping
8h
Cultural Competence
4h
Boundaries & Dual Relationships
12h
Confidentiality
4h
Human Services Coursework
20h
Total Didactic Hours
60
The following detailed schedule breaks down all 60 didactic hours across eight weeks of structured learning. Each week focuses on specific competency areas with clear learning objectives and cumulative hour tracking to ensure comprehensive coverage of all required content.
Begin your professional development journey with a deep exploration of ethical principles that guide behavioral health practice. This foundational week establishes the framework for ethical decision-making throughout your career.
| Date | Duration | Subject |
|---|---|---|
|
Feb 16 (Monday) |
2 hours |
Module 1 – Ethics: Ethical principles + decision model |
|
Feb 17 (Tuesday) |
2 hours |
Module 1 – Ethics: Codes of ethics; ethical conflicts |
|
Feb 18 (Wednesday) |
2 hours |
Module 1 – Ethics: Legal vs ethical duties (includes DBHDS licensing accountability expectations) |
|
Feb 19 (Thursday) |
2 hours |
Module 1 – Ethics – Case Studies & Ethical Decision-Making |
Complete your ethics training and transition into the critical topic of professional boundaries. Learn how confidentiality, informed consent, and risk management protect both clients and practitioners.
| Date | Duration | Subject |
|---|---|---|
|
Feb 23 (Monday) |
2 hours |
Module 1 – Ethics: Risk management; reporting concerns |
|
Feb 24 (Tuesday) |
2 hours |
Module 1 – Ethics: Professional conduct; supervision ethics |
|
Feb 25 (Wednesday) |
2 hours |
Module 2 – Boundaries: Scope of role; power dynamics |
|
Feb 26 (Thursday) |
2 hours |
Module 2 – Boundaries: Boundary setting language + scenarios |
Cumulative Progress: Ethics complete (12 hours) | Boundaries in progress (4 hours)
Dive deeper into the complexities of maintaining appropriate boundaries in therapeutic relationships. Examine dual relationships, technology challenges, and financial boundaries through case-based learning that prepares you for real-world ethical challenges.
| Date | Duration | Subject |
|---|---|---|
|
Mar 02 (Monday) |
2 hours |
Module 2 – Boundaries: Dual Relationships Defined |
|
Mar 03 (Tuesday) |
2 hours |
Module 2 – Boundaries: Social Media & Technology |
|
Mar 04 (Wednesday) |
2 hours |
Module 2 – Boundaries: Financial & Gift-Giving Issues |
|
Mar 05 (Thursday) |
2 hours |
Module 2 – Boundaries: Case Scenarios & Ethics Review |
Cumulative Progress: Ethics complete (12 hours) | Boundaries in progress (4 hours)
Master the essential skills of clinical documentation that support quality care, legal defensibility, and regulatory compliance. Learn industry-standard practices for progress notes, treatment planning, error correction, and Medicaid/DMAS documentation requirements.
| Date | Duration | Subject |
|---|---|---|
|
Mar 09 (Monday) |
2 hours |
Module 2 – Documentation: Purpose, service justification, timeliness |
|
Mar 10 (Tuesday) |
2 hours |
Module 2 – Documentation: Progress notes, treatment planning linkage |
|
Mar 12 (Wednesday) |
2 hours |
Module 2 – Documentation: Errors/corrections; late entries; internal audits |
|
Mar 13 (Thursday) |
2 hours |
Module 2 – Documentation: Record organization; retention basics; QA sampling |
Cumulative Progress: Ethics complete (12 hours) | Boundaries complete (12 hours) | Documentation complete (8 hours)
Navigate the complex landscape of privacy regulations while developing cultural awareness and humility. This week equips you to protect client confidentiality under HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 while providing culturally responsive, inclusive care that honors diverse perspectives and lived experiences.
| Date | Duration | Subject |
|---|---|---|
|
Mar 16 (Monday) |
2 hours |
Module 4 – Confidentiality: Confidentiality practices; access/disclosure controls |
|
Mar 17 (Tuesday) |
2 hours |
Module 4 – Confidentiality: ROI, minimum necessary, scenario drills |
|
Mar 18 (Wednesday) |
2 hours |
Module 5 – Cultural competence: Cultural humility + bias and decision-making |
|
Mar 19 (Thursday) |
2 hours |
Module 5 – Cultural competence: Inclusive engagement; language access; equity |
Cumulative Progress: Confidentiality complete (4 hours) | Cultural Competence complete (4 hours) | 40 total
Begin your comprehensive survey of Virginia’s behavioral health system. Explore the historical development of mental health and substance use disorder services, understand the continuum of care, and learn essential case management and crisis intervention skills that form the foundation of community-based practice.
| Date | Duration | Subject |
|---|---|---|
|
Mar 23 (Monday) |
2 hours |
Module (6-7) – Human services systems; roles; levels of care |
|
Mar 24 (Tuesday) |
2 hours |
Module (6-7) – Person-centered service basics; engagement |
|
Mar 25 (Wednesday) |
2 hours |
Module (6-7) – Crisis basics; de-escalation framework (policy crosswalk to required procedures) |
|
Mar 26 (Thursday) |
2 hours |
Module (6-7) – Human Services – Crisis Intervention |
Cumulative Progress: Human Services in progress (8 hours) | 48 total hours completed
Advance your understanding of evidence-based approaches that define modern behavioral health practice. Study trauma-informed care principles, recovery-oriented systems of care (ROSC), interdisciplinary team collaboration, and engagement strategies that empower clients and support sustainable recovery outcomes in community settings.
| Date | Duration | Subject |
|---|---|---|
|
Mar 30 (Monday) |
2 hours |
Module (6-7) – Human Services – Trauma-Informed Care |
|
Mar 31 (Tuesday) |
2 hours |
Module (6-7) – Human Services – Recovery-Oriented Systems |
|
April 01 (Wednesday) |
2 hours |
Module (6-7) – Human Services – Interdisciplinary Teams |
|
April 02 (Thursday) |
2 hours |
Module (6-7) – Collaboration; multidisciplinary teams; referrals |
Cumulative Progress: Human Services in progress (16 hours) | 56 total hours completed
Conclude your didactic training by integrating ethics, boundaries, documentation, confidentiality, cultural competence, and human services content into a unified framework for professional practice. Apply your learning to comprehensive case reviews that mirror the complexity of real-world behavioral health settings.
| Date | Duration | Subject |
|---|---|---|
|
April 6 (Wednesday) |
2 hours |
Module (6-7) – Human Services – Ethics Integration |
|
April 7 (Thursday) |
2 hours |
Module (6-7) – Human Services – Final Case Review |
Cumulative Progress: Human Services in progress (16 hours) | 56 total hours completed
Dan Carrera brings extensive experience in behavioral health education and curriculum development to this cohort. As a Senior Trainer with Foundations Learning Institute, he has designed and delivered didactic training programs that meet Virginia Board of Counseling and DBHDS standards, helping hundreds of behavioral health professionals build the competencies required for ethical, effective practice in community-based settings.
His teaching approach emphasizes practical application through case-based learning, fostering critical thinking and professional judgment that translate directly to workplace performance and client outcomes.
Dan Carrera
Senior Trainer
Joining this cohort is your next step toward building a rewarding career in Virginia’s behavioral health workforce. Whether you’re seeking more information about tuition, enrollment requirements, or upcoming cohort dates, our Education Team is ready to assist you. Request enrollment information, join our waiting list for future cohorts, or contact us directly to discuss how this training aligns with your professional development goals.
For questions or additional information, contact the Foundations Learning Institute Education Team at education@foundationstosuccess.com. Program details, schedules, and content are subject to change based on evolving DBHDS guidance and Virginia Board of Counseling regulations.
