Training / Policies & Programs

Training Policies and Programs

Training Policies

PURPOSE

While we realize scheduling conflicts occur, significant time, effort, and expense is required to organize courses. As soon as a course is confirmed, the policy regarding cancellation fees will apply. AMHSA’s cancellation fees cover up-front course delivery expenses (e.g., contracted trainer compensation, booked transportation, etc.). The cancellation policy applies to the courses detailed below.

DEFINITIONS

Scheduled Courses: These are courses scheduled and hosted by AMHSA and at an AMHSA facility or an off-site facility. Where a non-hosting municipality provides a facility for an AMHSA scheduled course, minimum course and cancellation fees are not applicable to the municipality. Cancellation fees are only applicable to individuals registered for the course.

Host Organization: Any organization that requests a course from AMHSA is considered the Host Organization and is responsible for the minimum course and cancellation fees.

Open Courses: Open courses are offered by a host organization who also offers open registration to external employees from other organizations. Open registration assists smaller organizations in covering the minimum course fee. For example, an organization requests a confined space entry course from AMHSA and allows employees from other organizations to attend. Organizations that offer Open Courses are still responsible for meeting the minimum course fee.

Closed Courses: These courses are only available to internal employees from the host organization who is responsible for the minimum course fee.

COURSE CANCELLATION FEE GUIDELINES

  • Course cancellations must be sent by email to the AMHSA office. AMHSA will acknowledge receipt of cancellation by email. Please retain this email as it is your proof of cancellation.
  • Associate Members are those who do not pay an AMHSA levy and are offered partial membership.
  • If a course is rescheduled at the time of cancellation, the cancellation fee is waived for members or associate members.
  • Upon receiving a course request from a non-member organization, AMHSA assesses the request particulars (e.g., location, custom specifications, etc.) and provides a quote as to the minimum course fee (deposit).
  • For non-members, the cancellation fee applies regardless of whether or not the course is rescheduled.
  • Cancellation periods indicated below are based on the course start date.

HOST ORGANIZATION COURSE CANCELLATION FEES

Member:

  • 10 business days or less; minimum course fee
  • 11 - 30 business days; 50% of the minimum course fee
  • 31 business days or more; cancellation fee is waived

Associate Membership:

  • 10 business days or less; minimum course fee
  • Within 11 - 30 business days; 50% of minimum course fee
  • 31 business days or more; cancellation fee is waived

Non-member:

  • 10 business days or less; maximum (20 participant) course fee
  • 11 – 30 days; 50% of maximum (20 participant) course fee

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE SPECIFICATIONS

AMHSA provides Mental Health First Aid through the Mental Health Commission of Canada, who mandates that 8 (eight) persons must be present for training or the training must be cancelled. As such;

  • Participant lists must be submitted to AMHSA no less than 11 days before the course date or the course will be cancelled with half the minimum course fee (10 participants) charged.
  • If 8 persons are not physically present either day of a two-day training course, the course is automatically canceled and the minimum course fee (10 participants) will be charged

INDIVIDUAL COURSE CANCELLATION FEES

Individual Registrants: Any person registering as an individual for an open AMHSA course.

  • 30 business days or more; cancellation fee does not apply
  • Within 29 business days or less; 50% of course fee
  • Within 48 hours, or does not show up for the course; the entire course fee is charged

AMHSA COURSE CANCELLATION

In the event that AMHSA cancels a scheduled course due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., instructor illness, inclement weather, etc.), AMHSA will waive cancellation fees and reschedule the course.

COURSE POSTPONEMENT, RESCHEDULING AND INCLEMENT WEATHER

Special consideration may be given for courses where a municipality may be required to cancel or postpone due to severe weather and/or road conditions or states of emergency.

Waiving or making exceptions to cancellation fees for extenuating circumstances (e.g., local emergency) is at the sole discretion of the Executive Director.

Course Equivalency Policy

AMHSA can grant course equivalencies that apply to AMHSA’s Program Certificates. Granting course equivalency will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The course must have been completed within the last three (3) years from the date of the Course Equivalency request.

Course Equivalency Request

  • Email [email protected] with the subject titled ‘Course Equivalency’
  • Include in the email, course information:
    • PDF of course certificate
    • AMHSA’s Program Certificate to which it will apply
    • Name of course
    • Name of the educational institution  
    • Date of completion
    • If available, the website of the educational institution that has the course description

AMHSA will contact you with the results of the assessment.

AMHSA Privacy Policy and Learner Records

Click here to view AMHSA’s Privacy Policy

Learner Records - Removal or access

AMHSA maintains learner training records originally collected in the LMS indefinitely.

Where a learner would like to request removal of their personal information or the full training record, the learner may request such removal via email to [email protected]. AMHSA will render the requested information and/or record(s) inaccessible within 48 -hours. Access to the archival system is limited to authorized AMHSA employees.

In cases where a learner is no longer employed with a municipality or organization transacting with AMHSA, AMHSA will work with all parties involved (previous employer, current employer, learner) to ensure privacy and confidentiality of personal information is maintained.

Individuals have a right to access their own personal information in a record that is in the custody or under the control of AMHSA, subject to some exceptions. For example, organizations are required under the Alberta’s PIPA to refuse to provide access to information that would reveal personal information about another individual.

The individual must provide sufficient information in the request to allow AMHSA to identify the information the individual is seeking. The individual may also request information about AMHSA’s use of the personal information and any disclosure of that information to persons outside the organization. The individual may request a correction of an error or omission in their personal information.

If AMHSA refuses a request in whole or in part, AMHSA will provide the reasons for the refusal. In some cases where exceptions to access apply, AMHSA may withhold that information and provide the individual with the remainder of the record.

AMHSA will respond to requests within 45-calendar days, unless an extension is granted.

AMHSA may charge a reasonable fee to provide information, but not to make a correction. AMHSA will not charge fees when the request is for personal employee information. AMHSA will advise the individual of any fees that may apply before beginning to process the request.

Transcript Requests

Individuals may request the release of their records to a third-party for the purpose of confirming course or program completion. Complete the below transcript request form, and submit to AMHSA’s office of Learning and Assurance at [email protected]. 

AMHSA Transcript Request Form

Disclosure of Interest

The high level of Interested Party support and respect that AMHSA enjoys results not only from recognition of its mission, vision and value statements, but from the high degree of integrity, objectivity, and professionalism of its employees, instructors, subject matter experts (SME’s), and others acting on behalf of AMHSA as an AMHSA Representative. AMHSA benefits from the expertise of individuals with a multiplicity of interests; however, those interests must not conflict with the interests of the AMHSA.

AMHSA is committed to ensuring the continuation of healthy and equitable relationships between the organization’s clients, employees, instructors, SME’s, and other providers working on behalf of AMHSA. There must be no undisclosed or unresolved conflict between the private interests and responsibilities of those working on behalf of AMHSA and AMHSA as an organization or AMHSA’s clients and public. Such conflicts can place the company’s reputation in jeopardy, and in certain cases, put an employee or AMHSA representative’s safety at risk. 

Conflicts of Interest are not necessarily negative; however, for the continuation of healthy and equitable relationships, AMHSA commits to full disclosure.

If you would like more information on AMHSA’s Disclosure of Interest Policy or have concerns that interest has not been disclosed by an AMHSA representative, please contact our privacy officer.