HSS 103 - Applied Skills for Human Services

Credits: 5
LEC hours per week: 5
Students will learn the specific skills and competencies required in human service professions and how to apply those skills in a variety of settings such as correctional facilities, group homes, crisis intervention, and rehabilitation centers. Focus is on clinical mental health counseling, community support, rehabilitation services, chemical dependency recovery, and motivational and evidence-based strategies for treatment and support. A range of assessment tools, methods of evaluation, and case plans will also be examined.
Course Outcomes:

Identify the specific job duties, skills, and competencies required in human services organizations and professions in the public and private sector.
Demonstrate the clinical skills, knowledge base, and personal characteristics required for working in the human services profession.
Demonstrate the ability to select appropriate strategies, services, and interventions, and assist in the evaluation of outcomes in a variety of settings.

Course Topics:

Assessing client factors: domestic violence; substance abuse; mental health issues; trauma; co-occurring disorders; developmental disabilities; and family dynamics
Barriers to client self-sufficiency
Establishing rapport with clients and key elements of an interview
Contemporary evidence-based helping strategies and methods
Working effectively with challenging clients
Addressing crises
Collaboration and working effectively with agencies to access community resources
Case management
Behavior modification, treatment care plans, forms of therapy, advocacy, and community integration
Current best practices