Community Services Worker Training Program

This course provides an introduction to the Microsoft(R) Windows operating system, Internet Explorer browser, and Outlook information manager; word processing, and data processing applications. In addition, this course offers an introduction to applications and procedures specific to Herzing College.

In this course, students will be introduced to social welfare from a Canadian perspective. Students will cover topics that include a program overview, the service delivery system and meeting the needs of Canadians through programs and services. They will have the opportunity to review practice issues. Students will explore strategies used to promote change at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of the system.

In this course, students will look at the individual skills that are needed to work effectively in teams. They will discuss different types of teams and the roles of team members. Students will also look at group problem solving and decision-making. A team exercise will provide a practice opportunity. The role of a nurturing positive person and mentor/coach will also be topics of study.

Students will look at several examples of contemporary practice. This will allow them to understand the three precepts of community social work; 1) the local identification of need, 2) the local identification of solution, 3) the mobilization of collective response. Students will do a research project outlining the community resources that are available to them as Community Service workers. They will get to know their community through onsite visits, telephone calls, website surfing etc. The research project should outline what is available in the community and what is lacking in the community.

This course provides instruction in written English. Topics include grammar, word usage and types of business communication. Students will learn how to create formal and informal documents such as emails, memos, reports, and letters using proper grammar, sentence structure and writing techniques.

This course provides knowledge and skills to develop a career plan by exploring and evaluating career options. Students will define the stages of career development, and learn how to stand out at work, market personal skills, develop an effective career network, and communicate effectively. Students will prepare a resume and cover letter during this course. They will also be encouraged to develop a job search portfolio.

In this course students will be introduced to sociology and criminology. Students will understand how we are influenced by our society and the groups to which we belong. Students will learn how groups locally or in some far off part of the world allow us to gain insights into our own selves. Students will understand the basics of criminology, criminological theories, and the major forms of criminal behavior. These subject areas will be studied within the context of Canadian research and statistics.

This course presents and explores the features of Microsoft(R) Word. Various documents are created, edited and printed, using features such as spell checker, edit and tool commands, tables, mail merges and formatting tools.

In this course students will learn about high risk populations in Canadian society. They will look at social welfare programs for these specific target groups. They will learn how the Canadian “social safety net” has not addressed all people equally. This course will address both internal and external factors that contribute to creating populations at risk.

This course will introduce students to the World of Psychology. Students will examine topics such as biology and behaviour, learning, language, memory, motivation and emotion, personality theory and assessment, and social psychology.

This course students will look at psychological disorders and therapies. Topics will include: what abnormal is, anxiety disorders, somatoform and dissociative disorders, schizophrenia and mood disorders. Therapies such as insight therapies, behaviour therapy, cognitive therapies and biological therapies will be learned. Under the heading Social Psychology students will learn about social perception, attraction, conformity, obedience, and compliance as well as group influence.

In this course students will focus on themes of cultural diversity in contemporary Canadian society within a world perspective. Students will understand the dynamic structure and definition of the institution of the family and family issues. Students will be given the tools for an ongoing process of observation, understanding and analysis of marital and family relationships and organizations.

In this course students will study human development from infancy, childhood, adolescence, early, middle and late adulthood, and the end of life. Issues will be addressed such as legal protection for the fetus, discipline for children, gambling amongst youth and peoples right to die. Students will look at development from a Canadian perspective.

In this course students will look at addictions in today’s world. Drugs and their use present a social paradox, combining the potential for good and for bad. As a society and as individuals we can be the beneficiaries of drugs or their victims. Students will look at various drugs and their effects on individuals and society.

Professional Skills for the Service Worker provides a foundation for understanding social work practice and diversity competence. It looks at a brief history of social work as a profession, and examines how knowledge, values and skills are blended and introduces the change process and concept of intervention into human transactions. The course presents material on understanding oneself as a social worker, and understanding the client and the environment. It examines the change process, conceptualized as assessment, planning, action and evaluation and termination and how they are applied to the multiperson systems (families, groups, and organizations and communities), the settings that typically use generalist workers in serving clients.

In this course students will look at interviewing strategies in counselling from a Canadian perspective. Students will be introduced to basic concepts and models to help learners understand the theory and reasoning behind the use of interviewing/counselling skills. Students will see realistic examples that illustrate concepts in action. Students will also participate in challenging exercises that promote skill development, conceptual understanding and self-awareness. Students will learn about the Canadian Counselling Association and the Canadian Association of Social workers code of ethics as well as counselling within a culturally diverse setting.

This course will teach students how to develop knowledge skills and attitudes for effective interviewing and counseling in the helping field. Students will be introduced to basic concepts and models to help learners understand the theory and reasoning behind the use of skills. Students will be provided a range of realistic examples that illustrate concepts in action.

The practicum component of the program is the practical application of a student’s knowledge and skills in an industry environment. The industry shall be directly related to the student’s program of study. The internship requires full-time daily attendance working in suitable settings such as social service and government agencies, mental health agencies, group homes, shelters, substance abuse centres, school boards, correctional facilities and other establishments. The duration of the internship is eight weeks during which the student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 180 hours of work experience. An on-site visit by Herzing College Staff may take place anytime during the placement. The internship portion of the program is a course like any other; therefore, in order for a student to graduate, the internship must be successfully completed.