Human Services Paraprofessional Certificate

Program Description: The Human Services Paraprofessional Certificate prepares students for employment in entry-level paraprofessional positions in human services settings.  Coursework focuses on skill development around core competencies for basic practice, including: interpersonal communication, case notes/writing/documentation, and ethical & professional behavior.  This program is aligned with coursework for the Human Services Specialist Certificate and SWHS General AA degree, allowing students to continue forward in their career and educational pathways, if desired.

Career Opportunities:   Job titles include: Social and Human Service Assistants; Community Health Worker; Rehabilitation Assistant;  Social and Community Service Assistant; Peer Mentor

Prerequisite skills or enrollment limitations:  None

Program Student Learning Outcomes:   

• identify, describe, and perform the basic skills, duties and responsibilities of a human services paraprofessional.

• Identify  human service and welfare systems, policies, and programs

• accurately describe ethical standards for Human Services professionals and an ethical decision-making model 

• demonstrate appropriate interpersonal and social skills in interactions with a diverse populations

Local labor market data, a regional workforce needs assessment, and local employers all report a current supply gap of qualified paraprofessional human service workers.  O*Net OnLine projects job growth in these entry-level social services positions of 15% or higher over the next 10 years.  We anticipate that this market demand will drive increased enrollments in this program.

Given the needs of local area employers and students searching for self-sufficient wages, the department conservatively projects completers to start at 25-30 in the initial years, with continual growth as the certificate is promoted and recognized in the community.

The goal of this program is to meet the immediate occupational needs of employers in our community.  This new program was developed in collaboration with our sister community colleges and regional employers.

In the Fall of 2020, our SWHS Department at FLC started working with Julie Holt, the Regional Director for Employer Engagement for Health Programs for LRCCD on the Regional Behavioral Health Educational Pathway project.  As part of that project, we participated in a Mental/Behavioral Health Community of Practice ( MBH COP) that included faculty from all 4 LRCCD colleges, as well as industry partners from a variety of local social service agencies.  Industry partners identified the training/educational needs for entry-level paraprofessional employees.  Industry partners clearly stated their preference for hiring and promoting paraprofessionals with at least some college education, as an indicator of the employee’s dedication to educational achievement and commitment/intent to move up the career ladder within the field.

Our MCH COP discussed the potential for developing an apprenticeship program to meet employer needs, and/or the possibilities of expanding or enhancing current curriculum at each of the colleges.  During this past summer, it was agreed that ARC would take a lead in the development of an Apprenticeship program with their Human Service Department.   The Association of Behavioral Health Contractors of Sacramento is the employer working with ARC on the apprenticeship model.  

FLC is creating this new program, in part, to meet the needs of human services/behavioral health employers in our service area who are not participating in the ARC apprenticeship, but who expressed a need for skilled paraprofessionals.  We are revising our course curriculum to ensure we are meeting the basic employment skill needs identified by industry partners. 

The Human Services Paraprofessional Certificate prepares students for employment in entry-level paraprofessional positions in human services settings.  This program is  aligned with coursework for the Human Services Specialist Certificate and SWHS General AA degree, allowing students to continue forward in their career and educational pathways, if desired.  For those students seeking to transfer, FLC has articulation agreements with CSUs for Social Work BA programs.

FLC is creating this new program, in part, to meet the needs of human services/behavioral health employers in our service area who expressed a need for skilled paraprofessionals.  We are revising our course curriculum to ensure we are meeting the basic employment skill needs identified by industry partners.  There is sufficient evidence that local social service agencies would preferentially hire or promote graduates with this education.

This program fits the mission of the California Community College system by offering vocational instruction for both younger and older students, including those persons returning to school.   This program will help prepare students to enter the workforce and fulfill the unmet needs for employees in entry-level paraprofessional positions.

The Human Services Paraprofessional Certificate prepares students for employment in entry-level paraprofessional positions in human services settings.  Coursework focuses on skill development around core competencies for basic practice, including: interpersonal communication, case notes/writing/documentation, and ethical & professional behavior.   Students will complete a total of 18 units.  It is recommended that students complete SWHS 300, 302, & 350 in the fall term and SWHS 331, PSYC 300, and a 3-unit elective in the spring term. 

Year/Semester

 A minimum of 3 units from the following: