Human Services

Focus on gaining knowledge of psycho-social aspects of addiction. Historic and behavioral approaches, disease concept and current trends relating to addiction are presented. Twelve-step and self-help approaches explored.

This course provides students an opportunity to apply knowledge in a workplace experience. Students spend 40 hours per credit hour working in human services setting and under the supervision of both a qualified professional and a faculty advisor. Students will submit a written report evaluating their experience and grade will be pass/fail

Concepts and techniques of working with small groups, including establishing group goals, effective group interaction, termination, and evaluation. Development of therapeutic group activities presented.

Helping people in crisis from a theoretical and experiential perspective. Understanding how people feel, think, and behave during periods of crisis and grieving. Suicide, violence, life transitions and AIDS explored.

This course covers treatment modalities specific to chemical dependency such as twelve-step programs as well as individual, group, and family therapies. Skills covered in this course are assessment, treatment planning, documentation of client progress and facilitating an intervention. The mandates of State of Alaska and Federal laws are emphasized.

This course will examine significant historical force, events, and consequences related to alcohol and other drug use in Alaska. Topics include the impact of: Russian and American traders; miners; missionaries; disease; U.S. Military rule; Federal/Territorial/State legislation; the transition from Territory to Statehood; health and safety issues; prevention and treatment, and recent history and trends.

This course examines ethical issues such as confidentiality, rights of clients, privileged communications, privacy, and duty to warn. Federal and State of Alaska laws regarding substance abuse counseling and mental health counseling are explored. Ethical decision-making and the identification of unethical behavior are also discussed. Oral presentations are required.