Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies, AAS

Major Code: 3305

Program Description

Note: Students enrolled in this program MUST submit to and pass drug screening tests- one prior to beginning any practicums or clinical, and one random test during the same semester as practicum/ clinical placement. Students will sign an agreement for this requirement, which will outline the details.  Additionally, a background screening will be completed and used for placement purposes only.

Today, in a community where addiction and overdose have become normalized, it is essential to disseminate knowledge and skills for improved community behavioral health services including those for Serious Mental Illness (SMIs) and Serious Emotional Disturbances (SEDs) in youth and adults.  The Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies degree programs (formerly known as Community Behavioral Health Technology) have been operational and educating competent behavioral health practitioners since 1996. Through the HSRS Department, students will receive training in behavioral health topics such as:  addictions, psychiatric rehabilitation, intellectual developmental disabilities, peer mentoring, and adverse childhood experiences.  Skill development and experiential training includes but is not limited to, Person-centered Therapy, Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Recovery Coaching, Motivational Interviewing, assessment, treatment planning, prevention, and entry-level counseling skills. The Associate in Applied Science in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies offers emphasis in addictions and youth development and provides cross-training in mental illness and Family Systems Theory.

The HSRS Department prepares students to work in a multitude of human service agencies from non-profit organizations, public entities,  or private/ for profit practices such as licensed behavioral health facilities, psychiatric and addiction-specific rehabilitation centers, homeless shelters, intermediate care facilities, local hospitals/ behavioral health units, recovery residences, private practices, and transitional (corrections-based) facilities.  The objectives of the Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies degree programs, in regards to the state of West Virginia, is to provide postsecondary educational opportunities to the behavioral health population, which is underrepresented and disadvantaged.

Program Goals:

• Combine interdisciplinary knowledge and skills regarding appropriate interventions in service delivery for adolescents, adults, and families.
• Integrate humanistic principles, values, and attitudes for serving individuals impacted by SMIs, SUDs, and SEDs including trauma and/or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
• Synthesize primary and secondary information, including data gathered from individuals, environmental characteristics, and appropriate literature sources.
• Prepare a recovery-oriented system of care through applying the best practices of Psychiatric Rehabilitation.
• Specify knowledge of human service roles, systems. and programs.
• Propose a shift towards the recovery model in local and state laws, facilities, and communities by promoting choice, societal change, access to resources and holistic approaches, and optimal community-based supports for diverse, underrepresented, and disadvantaged populations.

Program Assessment

Program outcomes are assessed systematically and comprehensively by didactic course reviews, externally assessed by clinical supervisor evaluations, employer feedback, student/graduate surveys, and faculty evaluation. Students will be assessed on their knowledge, understanding, and ability to apply acquired skills and techniques through examinations, research projects, oral presentations, practicum/clinical portfolios and evaluations from site supervisors.  General education outcomes are assessed through General Education Portfolio

Other Information

www.bridgevalley.edu

Careers

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 23 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth is expected as addiction and mental health counseling services are increasingly covered by insurance policies. The demand for rehabilitation, substance abuse, and behavioral disorder counselors is particularly strong due to the increasingly high rate of recidivism. Additionally, individuals with substance abuse related charges are being court ordered into residential treatment facilities rather than into the adult and youth correctional system.  Graduates can expect to find employment in:

• Private and Non-profit Treatment Facilities
• Licensed Behavioral Health Centers
• Correctional Institutions
• Hospitals
• Local and State governments
• Outpatient care centers
• Family services organizations
• Residential facilities (youth or adults)
• Juvenile detention centers
• Programs affiliated with the judicial system such as drug courts and reporting centers
• Special Education Programs including afterschool programs for at-risk youth

Salary

$25,410 - $60,000
Median annual wage: $38, 520