Public and Behavioral Health

This is an open admission program. Students who meet documentation and info session requirements are accepted.

Prerequisite Course: HPRS 1201 - Introduction to Health Professions

Completion of the HPRS 1201 course with a minimum grade of ‘C’ or proof of current enrollment. Completion within the first 9 credit hours of starting the program is required.

Houston City College supports, and the College is committed to, providing a learning and working environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an environment free of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity and gender expression, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ability Services at each College within the Houston City College System is responsible for arranging reasonable accommodations for all qualified students with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) to ensure equal access to all programs and activities at the College. Students who need to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact Ability Services at the College(s) (Central, Coleman, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest) the student plans to attend. Due to the high demand for services and the nature of certain disabilities, it is recommended that students meet with an ADA Counselor at least 60 days prior to the beginning of each term. Every effort will be made to arrange accommodations; however, failure to provide sufficient advance notice may impede service delivery.

The Essential Functions for the Human Service Technology AAS Program are those attributes and characteristics that involve cognition, skill, thoughts, and feelings. These functions are not used as part of the admission process. Rather, they are identified to provide students with the ability to determine if they may need some level of accommodation. Once identified, the student can be referred to the appropriate source for accommodation assistance.

HUMANSERVICE TECHNOLOGY-AAS PROGRAM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Human Service Skills
The skills listed in this skills catalog are considered basic human service generalist skills. However, it is clear that no entry-level human service associate has attained proficiency in all of these areas. In designing this catalog, we have taken into consideration many standards in the field of human services. We have tried to include the skills you will need to be successful in your chosen area.

A. Interviewing
1. Talk with people comfortably, productively, and effectively.
2. Relate to a wide range of client populations (i.e. the disadvantaged, aged, sick, handicapped, dying, children, addicted, retarded, minority groups etc.)
3. Listen and obtain information, "reading the feeling tones" of what people say and reporting the behaviors people exhibit in interviews.
4. Give and interpret information and appropriately respond to reactions.
5. Help people state and clarify their problems or concerns.
6. Provide positive feedback.
7. Provide negative feedback.
8. Acquire the ability to sense your own impact on the client.
9. Be able to identify areas where you cannot relate and accept your own limitations.

B. Observing and Recording
1. Observe and record behavior, emotions, social and physical characteristics of people and settings; recordings should be done in simple descriptive forms according to your agency’s format.
2. Be able to adapt to different recording procedures.
3. Acquire skill in reporting interpretations of observations.
4. Write a client progress report based on care plan and observation.
5. Gather information about your agency’s policies and procedures.

C. Interpersonal Skills
1. Be able to come across as genuine without jeopardizing your ability to be professional.
2. Be able to establish accurate empathy, the ability to "hear" and "feel" the other person.
3. Be able to establish non-possessive warmth, the ability to establish a caring but not
consuming relationship with the client.
4. Be able to say "no" and help clients and reinterpret their demands into realistic needs.
5. Acquires skill in dealing with other social welfare and mental health professionals in various role relationships.

D. Group Work
1. Be a member of a group where interaction takes place.
2. Acquire basic skill in leading a group.
3. Organize and develop a group as a process facilitator rather than as a group leader.
4. Acquire basic skills in group counseling (giving information, exploring alternatives to effect behavior change).
5. Be able to help a group establish and clarify goals.
6. Facilitate group problem solving.

E. Instructional Methods
1. Teach daily living skills and knowledge to individuals (i.e. budgeting, grooming, home management, minor maintenance of home or car, birth control, AIDS prevention, etc.)
2. Teach a small group.
3. Be able to prepare a simple lesson plan with goals, common visual aids, etc.
4. Teach some new material to staff members.
F. Exercise of Authority
1. Be honest, firm, and yet supportive when exercising control (i.e., sending clients to their rooms, back to prison, taking away privileges, etc.)
2. Be able to say “NO” and still be able to keep communication channels open.
3. Be able to relate openly and honestly to persons in authority (supervisors, teachers, agency staff, administrators, etc.)

G. Consultation
1. Be able to consult without assuming the problem yourself.
2. Consult with other workers about individuals
3. Be able to recognize when you need to consult about your own clients.

H. Community Process
1. Be involved with a community self-help group (i.e. clean up project, crime watch, elder check- up etc.)
2. Organize a community service project.
3. Be able to identify community issues and needs.
4. Activate community resources on behalf of clients.

I. Assessment
1. Be able to take a complete social history.
2. Be able to make some recommendations from the information gathered.
3. Practice using a genogram.
4. Be familiar with DSM-4 criteria for substance disorders and other mental health issues.
5. Demonstrate a familiarity with currently used assessment tests.

J. Screening
1. Determine the client's needs.
2. Determine eligibility and appropriateness for admission to your agency.
3. Be familiar with the services offered by your agency.

K. Intake
1. Be knowledgeable about your agency’s intake procedures.
2. Be knowledgeable about the intake procedures of at least one other type of care provider.
3. Know the legal forms that must be signed (if any) during an intake.

L. Orienting the Client
1. Explain basic expectations of your service.
2. Explain clients’ rights.
3. Explain the schedule to the client.
4. Relate to the client's behavioral expectations and limitations.

M. Treatment Planning
1. Be able to identify problems according to the order they will be dealt with.
2. Know a basic care plan format.
3. Be able to identify short and long-term goals with the client.
4. Select the best treatment modality, one that will meet the client’s needs.

N. Case Management
1. Be able to monitor a care plan for accuracy and progress.
2. Provide for the coordination of additional services where needed (i.e. medical, legal, job training etc.)

O. Referral
1. Have a complete set of referral sources.
2. Understand the referral process and demonstrate its use.

P. Crisis Intervention
1. Demonstrate ability to identify a crisis.
2. Have an understanding of the effects of a crisis on a client.
3. Know legal issues involved with crisis intervention.
4. Use basic intervention skills.
5. Attend basic crisis intervention class, course etc.

Q. Counseling
1. Show skill in being able to choose a proper counseling method for your clients.
2. Demonstrate ability to be eclectic.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the currently accepted counseling methods for use with your particular clients.

This is an open admission program. Students who meet documentation and info session requirements are accepted.

Prerequisite Course: HPRS 1201 - Introduction to Health Professions

Completion of the HPRS 1201 course with a minimum grade of ‘C’ or proof of current enrollment. Completion within the first 9 credit hours of starting the program is required.

All Human Services Occupational Skills Awards (OSAs) and Level 1 Certificates are stackable into the Human Services Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree.

• Completion of the AAS requires three practicum courses, which must be taken one at a time. To avoid delays, it is important to follow your degree plan carefully so that practicums are not left until the end of your program. Students must apply and be approved for practicum placement before enrolling in a Practicum course.
  
• If you have concerns about your eligibility for licensure in the State of Texas due to your criminal background history, it is recommended that you request a Criminal Background Evaluation through the LCDC Texas website prior to applying for the LCDC certificate. The evaluation fee is $50.
• Register for classes and attend practicum orientation. The student must apply and be approved for the practicum.
• Schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor to set up a degree plan.

This is an open admission program. Students who meet documentation and info session requirements are accepted.

All Human Services Occupational Skills Awards (OSAs) and Level 1 Certificates are stackable into the Human Services Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree.

• Completion of the AAS requires three practicum courses, which must be taken one at a time. To avoid delays, it is important to follow your degree plan carefully so that practicums are not left until the end of your program. Students must apply and be approved for practicum placement before enrolling in a Practicum course.
  
• If you have concerns about your eligibility for licensure in the State of Texas due to your criminal background history, it is recommended that you request a Criminal Background Evaluation through the LCDC Texas website prior to applying for the LCDC certificate. The evaluation fee is $50.
• Register for classes and attend practicum orientation. The student must apply and be approved for the practicum.
• Schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor to set up a degree plan.

This is an open admission program. Students who meet documentation and info session requirements are accepted.

All Human Services Occupational Skills Awards (OSAs) and Level 1 Certificates are stackable into the Human Services Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree.

• Completion of the AAS requires three practicum courses, which must be taken one at a time. To avoid delays, it is important to follow your degree plan carefully so that practicums are not left until the end of your program. Students must apply and be approved for practicum placement before enrolling in a Practicum course.
  
• If you have concerns about your eligibility for licensure in the State of Texas due to your criminal background history, it is recommended that you request a Criminal Background Evaluation through the LCDC Texas website prior to applying for the LCDC certificate. The evaluation fee is $50.
• Register for classes and attend practicum orientation. The student must apply and be approved for the practicum.
• Schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor to set up a degree plan.