EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY

The Human Services Program of Midlands Technical College supports the philosophy of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department and of the College.

We believe in the importance of working to eliminate any discrimination based upon race, sex, class, age, physical ability, sexual orientation, religion, education, intelligence, size appearance and all other forms of oppression.

We acknowledge responsibility for ensuring that students placed in field education possess basic communication skills and demonstrate values consistent with established ethical standards.

We believe that field education is most valuable when it commences early in the educational program.  We value direct supervision of beginning students with increasing levels of independent practice as the student progresses and is capable of more self-direction.

We believe that demonstration of  responsibility and dependability is the cornerstone upon which all other skills are built.

We believe in the importance of cooperation and the extending of good will to others, including clients, fellow students, faculty and field education site staff.

We are committed to the correlation of theory with practice and believe that all classroom content be applicable in the direct service to those people with problems in living.

Although the Human Services Program is committed to self-growth, it is not a treatment program nor are the faculty counselors for student’s personal problems.  We believe that those students in need of personal counseling should seek such counseling from resources within the Counseling office or the community.

We are committed to high level wellness of the body, mind and spirit.  We believe that all individuals are capable of intrapersonal and interpersonal growth.

The Human Services Program has adopted an eclectic approach to intervention.  We believe that active listening, accurate empathy, non-judgment acceptance of others, and problem-solving skills are the keys to successfully working with people. 

STUDENT OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of this associate degree program, graduates should be able to:

1. Demonstrate oral and written communication skills and listening skills.
    
2. Display qualities of self-awareness, including the ability to identify needs for improvement, strengths, values, and biases and demonstrate the ability to set personal goals and objectives.
    
3. Demonstrate critical thinking skills and operationalize a problem-solving process by collecting information, identifying problems, developing and implementing intervention goals and strategies, and evaluating outcomes.
    
4. Demonstrate knowledge of human behavior and diversity, including the identification of life stages and life tasks and recognition of the impact of human diversity on behavior.
    
5. Demonstrate an understanding of major social science theories.
    
6. Demonstrate basic college mathematics skills, including algebra.
    
7. Demonstrate computer literacy.
    
8. Demonstrate case management skills, including the ability to make referrals, advocate for clients, demonstrate negotiation and team-playing skills, and assess and document in the case management process.

These are the Program Capstone Competencies, which will be demonstrated in the student portfolio and evaluated in the Supervised Field Placement.

PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES

Professional values and attitudes are affirmed and reinforced throughout course work, field experiences, student-advisor relationships, and the Program’s emphasis on personal development.

Students who enter Field Work are expected to demonstrate the following values in their field practice

1. Acceptance/Respect

Maintaining an attitude of warm goodwill towards clients, whether or not his/her behavior is socially acceptable. To accept the client as he/she is and where he/she is, to respect the personal values of the client.

2. Tolerance

The ability to avoid making evaluations of good or bad. To help a client plan for the future, rather than judge and punish him or her for the past. The client has the potential to change. He or she has the capacity for change as part of his/her intrinsic worth.

3. Sensitivity

The empathic approach, the ability to look at problems from the client’s point of view and meaning.

4. Individuality

The recognition that each person is different in his or her life styles, feelings, and problems.

5. Self-determination

The ability to see worth, value in each individual.

6. Intrinsic Worth

The ability to see worth, value in each individual.

7. Growth and Development

The belief that each client is characterized by a need to grow and develop towards the realization of his/her unique potential. The belief that a client can change.

8. Holism

The belief that no one part of a client’s life, personality, etc. can be affected without affecting the rest of the parts. Likewise, the belief that no one human being can be affected without affecting those who surround him or her.

9. The Welfare of the Individual and Society

The belief that the welfare of the individual and of the group cannot be considered a part from each other.

10. Quality of Life

The belief that improvements in the quality of life for clients can be gained.

11. System Change

The belief that social and service systems can change.

12. Confidentiality

The belief that a client’s personal situation will not be discussed in public. The belief in privacy, the maintenance of a client’s dignity.

13. Least intrusive & Least Restrictive Environment

The belief in the value of choosing the least intrusive intervention in the least restrictive environment.

14. Working with Others to Help Clients

The belief in the value of collaboration on behalf of the client.

15. Personal Commitment

The personal commitment, conscientiousness, and willingness to fulfill all aspects of the job including working at inconvenient times, and working with “undesirable” clients.