Human Service Associate Program Achieves Initial Accreditation

Congratulations to the Human Services Associate degree program at Blackhawk Technical College for receiving initial accreditation by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE). The program initially launched during the 2018-19 academic year.

Throughout the review process, the CSHSE noted various program strengths, including the fact that the program has moved to assessing students through skill-based courses and mastery of competencies connected to the material. “Our program is very hands-on using real-world experiences to enhance course content,” explained BTC human services instructor Ann-Margaret Young. “The curriculum meets a high standard.”

The program was also commended for its attention to cultural competence. It demonstrated a dedication to racial and diversity course requirements embedded throughout the curriculum, as well as a focus on victimology and persons with disabilities. Students in the human service field are on the front lines of providing help and hope for the most vulnerable people in our communities. These cultural competencies are vital to every future employee’s success.

Accreditation raises the profile of any program that successfully engages in the process. It is a stamp that the institution is staying abreast of the most current practices and employing instructors who can train students to be the best up-and-comers in the field.

Upon completion of the BTC accredited program, students will now have met the criteria to sit for the HS-BCP (Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner) exam, the only nationally recognized credential for Human Services professionals at this time. Graduating from an accredited program waives the 350 hours of paid work experience required for non-accredited program graduates. This waiver allows students to focus on finding a career that will suit their new skills and experiences upon graduation.

Congratulations, Ann-Margaret Young and the entire Health and Human Services department, on this accomplishment.

Learn more about the Human Services Associate program here.

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