Mental Health

Social Service/Mental Health

Department Overview
The Social Service/Mental Health Program prepares students for service and employment in the human services. Human service professionals help clients meet their diverse human social needs. Their work routinely involves interviewing, counseling, crisis intervention, assessment, outreach, coordination and community development. Pierce College offers these program degrees in the field of Social Service/Mental Health: Associate in Social Service/Mental Health Associate of Arts Degree and Certificate in Social Service/Mental Health Social Service/Mental Health Certificate These programs prepare students for service and employment in human services. The work is demanding, but rewarding. Work involves interviewing, counseling, crisis intervention, assessment, outreach, coordination and community development. The programs in the field of Social Service/Mental Health are designed to prepare students for entry-level positions and to enhance the skills of persons working in the social services. Graduates may find employment in these areas: Counselor Residential Counselor Client Advocate Case Manager Youth Counselor Human Service Worker Students who intend to transfer to a four-year institution should work closely with an advisor.

Unique Program Text
SSMH 201, 202, and 203 include a fee for medical malpractice insurance. The policy period for this insurance is 1 year (September 1 to September 1). For students registering for more than one of these classes (SSMH 201/202/203) during this time period, please contact the Cashiers Office regarding the fee.

Program Outcomes
Associate in Social Service Mental Health

Students will:
1. Examine self and field to identify and match appropriate strengths and weaknesses for successful/ meaningful education and/or career path.
2. Integrate self-awareness to cope and manage with stress in the field for self and others.
3. Incorporate an ethic of care in all aspects of practice to insure humane treatment for clients/consumers/patients, regardless of race, creed, diagnosis, wealth, age (develop appreciation social justice).
4. Maintain the integrity of the client/consumer/patient in order to establish trust.
5. Access community resources to provide for life and home maintenance stability.
6. Develop basic interpersonal skills as a foundation to counseling.
7. Know applicable laws and codes as they relate to counseling and client care.
8. Integrate an understanding of the broad spectrum of human services.

Certificate in Social Service Mental Health

Students will:
1. Examine self and field to identify and match appropriate strengths and weaknesses for successful/ meaningful education and/or career path.
2. Integrate self-awareness to cope and manage with stress in the field for self and others.
3. Incorporate an ethic of care in all aspects of practice to insure humane treatment for clients/consumers/patients, regardless of race, creed, diagnosis, wealth, age (develop appreciation social justice).
4. Maintain the integrity of the client/consumer/patient in order to establish trust.
5. Access community resources to provide for life and home maintenance stability.
6. Develop basic interpersonal skills as a foundation to counseling.
7. Know applicable laws and codes as they relate to counseling and client care.
8. Integrate an understanding of the broad spectrum of human services.

Course Listing

Course Listings for Social Service/Mental Health
HSSA& 101 - Intro to Chemical Dependency -formerly ALCDA 111-CCN	Intro to Chemical Dependency -formerly ALCDA 111-CCN An orientation to chemical dependency and psychoactive drug abuse, including etiological theories of chemical dependency; history of alcohol and other psychoactive drugs; and basic principles of prevention, intervention, and treatment.
SSMH 100 - INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN SERVICES	INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN SERVICES A survey of social service field history, philosophy, theory, and exploration of career paths, values, education, and skills needed.
SSMH 170 - MENTAL HEALTH INTERVIEWING AND ASSESSMENT	MENTAL HEALTH INTERVIEWING AND ASSESSMENT Introduction to helping skills and interpersonal communication as used in community mental health settings. Students will learn basic communications, interviewing, & assessment skills as used in community mental health settings.
SSMH 185 - IDENTITY AND THE FAMILY	IDENTITY AND THE FAMILY Exploration of the formation of identity, values, and self-concept in a family context including exploration of personal family history, cultural, and attitudinal factors.
SSMH 201 - SOCIAL SERVICE-MENTAL HEALTH FIELD EXPERIENCE	SOCIAL SERVICE-MENTAL HEALTH FIELD EXPERIENCE A career-related work experience, under qualified supervision, introducing the student in application of professional/technical knowledge, values, and skills as preparation for employment in the social service-mental health field.
SSMH 202 - SOCIAL SERVICE-MENTAL HEALTH FIELD EXPERIENCE	SOCIAL SERVICE-MENTAL HEALTH FIELD EXPERIENCE A career-related work experience, under qualified supervision, developing the student’s skills in applying professional/technical knowledge, values, and skills as preparation for employment in the social service-mental health field.
SSMH 203 - SOCIAL SERVICE-MENTAL HEALTH FIELD EXPERIENCE	SOCIAL SERVICE-MENTAL HEALTH FIELD EXPERIENCE A career-related work experience, under qualified supervision, further developing the student to apply competent entry-level professional/technical knowledge, values, and skills as preparation for employment in the social service-mental health field
SSMH 210 - SELF-CARE FOR CARE GIVERS	SELF-CARE FOR CARE GIVERS This course helps the professional care provider master personal self-care techniques. The student will learn to identify and plan strategies to cope with the multiple stresses inherent when giving care.
SSMH 215 - LAW AND ETHICS IN SOCIAL SERVICES	LAW AND ETHICS IN SOCIAL SERVICES This course explores the legal and ethical issues in social services and includes: counselor regulation, confidentiality, client rights, involuntary commitment, rights and responsibilities of mental health professionals, mandatory reporting, child welfare, case law, and standards of conduct.
SSMH 230 - ABUSE IN THE FAMILY	ABUSE IN THE FAMILY A course designed to familiarize students with problems of abuse in the family. Examines types of abuse, definitions, frequency, views of causation, as well as approaches to intervention and prevention.