Creating Career Pathways for Human Service Workers

1. Creating Career Pathways for Human Service Workers Internal Program Review Human Services Program Spring 2001

2. Human Service Program at QCC • Began in 1986 with three “tracks” for an associates degree • Mental health generalist • Gerontology • Addictions Merged together in early 90’s • The Certificate Program has changed little

3. More on QCC HS • From 1995 –2000 the program enrolled 130-150 students per year • 30-35 students graduate each May • 50-60% of associates degree graduates continue on to local four-year colleges • The associates degree Practicum course requires 120 hours of community-based, supervised fieldwork • 60 different local agencies have accepted students from QCC

4. Employment Trends The Occupational Outlook Handbook: ·Social services, except child care, ranks among the fastest growing industries. ·Human service workers and assistants - the ninth fastest growing occupation - are concentrated in social services. (projections for 1998 - 2008) ·Opportunities for human service workers are expected to be excellent, particularly for applicants with appropriate postsecondary information. Mass Division of Employment: state projections ·Human Service Worker - 42% increase in jobs by 2008 ·Residential Counselor - 33% increase in jobs by 2008

5. Local Sources of Feedback about the HS Program • Interviews with 15 community-based agencies • Advisory Committee meeting • In-house Focus Group • Feedback from agencies who supervise QCC Practicum students • Current HS students

6. Factors Influencing Workforce Needs and Development • Tuition Remission for workers in state funded agencies • Development of skill standards for direct service workers • Emphasis of funders/employers on career ladders for workers lacking post secondary education • Starting pay low, but many opportunities for advancement for workers with experience and education

7. Concerns and Challenges Discovered through the IPR • More practicum hours required to meet CSHSE standards • Currently no supervised fieldwork experience in the Certificate program • No flexibility or choice in current curriculum • No coursework in developmental disabilities or mental retardation, but there is a strong demand for workers in this area • Need improvements in the curriculum that enhance transfer • Need improved tracking of students from inquiry to graduation, many HS students begin in General Studies and take the wrong classes for HS

8. Improving Program Currency • Revise curriculum to include a new course for additional practicum hours • Offering more elective options for students interested in a particular helping area • Include new coursework in group work and developmental disabilities • Integrate skill standards into all human service coursework • Explore alternative strategies for the delivery of learning: onsite, weekend and distance ed

9. Priority List of Needs • Curriculum revisions – • approved May, 2001, effective September 2001 • three new courses need to be developed by Spring 2002, three more for Fall 2002 • Fill vacant full time faculty position to teach new courses and coordinate increased practicum learning • More agencies will be needed to offer supervised practicum experiences • Appoint an additional full time faculty to teach new courses and meet the needs of increased enrollment