Curriculum Department Handbook Student Achievement Outcomes Learning Outcomes

 Human services assistants are involved in providing direct and indirect services in public and private agencies by assisting individuals, families and groups to meet human needs. Human needs may be social, emotional, behavioral, environmental, and vocational or health related.
These services generally require interaction with clients and are of a helping nature."

Graduates of this program will be trained to work in a variety of support service settings, such as senior citizen centers, correctional facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation programs, childcare development centers, departments of human services and non-profit agencies specializing in these services. The graduate will be trained to provide generic therapeutic, supportive and preventive services for people with emotional, developmental, social or physical problems in a variety of social or human service settings. These individuals will also be equipped to match clients with the appropriate services, advocate for clients, and provide administrative support to agencies.

The Human Services program is accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE), 3337 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA  22314-5219, phone:  (571) 257-3959, website: http://www.cshse.org.

DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE PROPOSED PROGRAM ARE:

• Health Information Technology
• Physical Therapist Assistant
• Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Practical Nursing
• Paramedic/Emergency Medical Services
• General Education
• Arkansas Tech University's Rehabilitation Sciences

NEED FOR THE PROGRAM

Health care providers and social services agencies are placing an increased emphasis on their search of employees holding degrees in human services. According to the Long Term Occupational Employment projections job opportunities for human services assistants are expected to increase by 23 percent through 2018 in Arkansas. One-hundred and seventy-four annual openings in Arkansas due to growth, and replacement are expected each year through 2018. The annual mean salary for human services assistants currently is $23,320.

Currently more than half of the professionals employed in the human services field work in the health care and social-assistance industries. Of those in this occupation more than one -third worked in state and local government, primarily in welfare agencies and in agencies offering aid to mentally and physically challenged individuals.

PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The following is required for admission to the proposed Associate of Applied Science in Human Services:

• Application for Admission to the University (if not already enrolled at Arkansas Tech-Ozark)
• Official High School Transcript with 2.0 or better GPA or GED
• Official transcripts from other colleges attended
• Test scores from ACT or COMPASS (no more than 5 years old)
• Minimum of 15 ACT or COMPASS equivalent (no more than 5 years old)

PLACEMENT SCORES

The following scores will be used for placement in English, Math, and, if required, Reading, courses:

ACT COMPASS COURSE19 ACT English (75 Writing) ENGL 1013 19 ACT Reading (82 Reading) READ 0103 19 ACT Mathematics (41 Algebra) MATH 1113

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Procedures

LEARNERS IN THE HUMAN SERVICES ASSISTANT PROGRAM MUST BE ABLE TO:

• Provide generic therapeutic, supportive and preventive services for people with emotional, developmental, social or physical problems in a variety of social or human service settings.
• Demonstrate knowledge of social and human services delivery systems and their role within the local, state and national community.
• Identify and link clients with resources and services provided by local human service agencies.
• Apply systematic procedures to identify problems.
• Provide basic individual and group counseling techniques to address identified problems.
• Develop a greater self understanding and self reflection to enhance professional behavior, promote students abilities to make life affirming choices and to make effective decisions in the field.
• Serve as a client advocate, facilitating movement of clients through social service systems.
• Maintain progress and case notes.
• Write objective and accurate reports.
• Listen actively to clients, colleagues and the community.
• Understand and respect cultural differences that affect behavior and beliefs.
• Understand and demonstrate strong ethical behavior and decision making consistent with the ethical guidelines and standards proposed by the National Organization for Human Service Education.