The Social Services program prepares students for entry-level work assisting professionals in social service agencies. A demanding yet rewarding field, social services exists to help people of all ages deal with a variety of challenges, traumas, concerns and dilemmas. Students interested in this program should possess the desire to help others and the inner strength to effectively intervene in crisis situations, make assessments, problem-solve, and effectively manage time, documentation and stress. Students will receive a solid foundation in the social behavioral sciences and complete 420 clock hours of internship experience. Graduates with a “C” or better in all course work will be qualified to seek application with the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board to become a state registered Social Work Assistant, which provides a legal scope of practice and may expand job opportunities. NOTE Graduates will not perform the same functions as professional social workers, counselors or therapists, but can expect to provide valuable and meaningful service in diverse social service setting, empowering individuals, families and communities.
Some possible careers include ►
advocate, case manager, chemical dependency technician, job coach, social work assistant, family service worker, residential assistant, mental health technician, outreach worker and case aid
Program Outcomes ►
The student will
►exhibit awareness of his/her personal value orientation, motivations, strengths and limitations and how such may impact thinking, behavior and relationships within a “helping professions” career;
►evaluate his/her level of commitment to the social work profession;
►demonstrate respect for individual worth and the rights of others;
►maintain professional relationships with consumers that encourage active participation, autonomy, personal empowerment, healthy boundaries and self-determination;
►demonstrate an understanding of human systems, their basic operational patterns at the individual (micro), group/family (mezzo) and community/organizational (macro) levels, and generalist social work practice and intervention methods associated with these levels;
►use effective interpersonal communication skills, demonstrating active listening, appropriate verbal/non-verbal responses and basic competency in written and spoken English;
►demonstrate basic problem solving skills, accurately assessing/prioritizing consumer needs and establishing appropriate intervention goals/objectives;
►utilize available community resources, making appropriate referrals, serving the consumer as advocate and broker;
►effectively participate in groups;
►understand the unique role, responsibilities and boundaries of the social worker or social service assistant vis-à-vis the “professional ” worker; and
►demonstrate ethical conduct, based on the “Code of Ethics” of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Standards of Ethical and Professional Conduct of the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board.
