New Human Services Certificates Coming in Fall 2014

Aging Services and Substance Abuse Recovery Coach

These certificates are on the pulse of the areas of need and future growth in the field. As our population ages, we will need to have professionals prepared to serve that sector of our community. The same is true for professionals needed to assist in fighting the drug epidemic and to assist those with addiction problems in overcoming their addiction, stated Natalie Cooper, Human Services Program Coordinator.

Completion of the Aging Services certificate will prepare graduates to:

Manage the emotional, psychological, and physical challenges of the aging clients.
Manage issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act as it pertains to assessing community resources.
Identify processes for recognizing and reporting issues of neglect and abuse.
Analyze various assistive technologies and interventions available to geriatric clients.
Interpret family dynamic issues as they pertain to the geriatric clients.
Identify disease processes related to brain injury and mental illness.
Manage issues related to clients and the confidentiality of client information.

The new Substance Abuse Recovery Coach certificate will provide training for students to:

Understand the nature and progression of chemical abuse and dependency
Manage the emotional, psychological, and physical challenges of clients in substance abuse recovery.
Manage issues related to clients and the confidentiality of client information.
Analyze the etiology, progression and processes involved with change
Implement strategies for prevention, intervention and treatment.
Interpret family dynamic issues as they pertain to the clients in substance abuse recovery.
Understand addictions through the bio-social model.
Manage group dynamics as they pertain to counseling mental health clients.

We believe these credentials will work well as a complement for any health professional as well. It will give them added knowledge into these two important human needs, shared MCC s Chief Academic Affairs Officer Dr. Deborah Cox.

According to the recent report of Kentucky s Target Industry Sectors, rapid growth has been seen in the health care and social assistance sectors over the last several years. Significant growth is projected in areas such as nursing care facilities, psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, and services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Data released on projected growth shows 7,026 additional jobs in the field by 2018. From this same data, we see that there is a 25% deficit in the number of skilled professionals to fill those jobs, noted Cooper.

MCC implemented the online Human Services program in fall 2013 to prepare individuals for entry level positions in agencies and institutions which provide social, community, educational and mental health services. Upon program completion, graduates are prepared to seek employment in various areas such as child care facilities, mental health settings, chemical dependency settings, hospitals, educational institutions, correctional facilities, geriatric settings, child and youth centers, and social service agencies

For More Information

To learn more about Human Services, contact Aimee Wilkerson (aimee.wilkerson@kctcs.edu or 270/824-8696).