Family & Community Counselling Program
The Family and Community Counselling program offers specialized training for delivering social services within the cultural values and beliefs of the Aboriginal community. Students are encouraged to understand their history, and to integrate traditional knowledge and skills into their professional practice. The program has two levels leading to a certificate and a diploma.
The Family and Community Counselling (FCC) certificate program addresses issues of power and issues of discrimination based on age, race, gender, sexual orientation, class and culture. The educational objective of the certificate is to provide students with the knowledge, values and skills necessary for an initial level of professional practice focusing on the relationship between client problems and public issues. Critical thinking and structural analysis are central to the learning experience and to the promotion of social justice and human well-being.
The FCC diploma program is designed to further increase the skills and knowledge of certificate graduates working in Aboriginal community agencies or other social service agencies. The FCC diploma program offers a university transfer option for students interested in becoming social workers. Special areas of interest are Aboriginal child welfare, recovery from substance abuse and intervening in traumatic situations that affect Aboriginal families. The program consists of eight courses delivered by Native Education College instructors and two university transfer courses taken at another local college.
Options for Credit Transfer:
The certificate program offers a 30-credit block transfer to Langara College. This transfer plus an additional 30 credits earned from Langara College will enable the student to obtain a Coordinated Diploma in Arts and Sciences from Langara College.
NOTE: The 30 block credit transfer is only transferable to Langara College.
The Native Education College’s two-year diploma program consists of 27 transferable credits to the University College of the Fraser Valley’s Bachelor of Social Work Degree.
FCC 220 and FCC 210 in the diploma program have been accepted for transfer by the University of British Columbia.
Family and Community Counselling
Certificate Program Content
| Semester I | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| COM 105 | Communications for the Human Services | 3 |
| FCC 105 | Basic Counselling Skills | 3 |
| FCC 110 | Human Development I | 3 |
| FCC 115 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| SOC 110 | Traditional Aboriginal Parenting | 3 |
| Semester II | Credits | |
| FCC 120 | Human Development II | 3 |
| FCC 135 | Community Development | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 120 | Aboriginal Health Practices | 3 |
| PSY 140 | Introduction to Trauma Counselling Techniques | 6 |
| Semester III | Credits | |
| FCC 150 | FCC Practicum I | 6 |
| Total Certificate Credits = 39 |
Family and Community Counselling
Diploma Program Content
| Semester I | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| COM 205 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| FCC 235 | Aboriginal Recovery and Rehabilitation |
3 |
| FCC 240 | Aboriginal Child Welfare | 3 |
| FCC 210 | Social Work Practice | 3 |
| FCC 265 | Mental Health | 3 |
| Semester II | Credits | |
| FCC 225 | Issues in Counselling | 3 |
| FCC 220 | Introduction to Social Welfare | 3 |
| FCC 230 | Aboriginal Social Work and the Law | 3 |
| FCC 260 | Ableism/Disability | 3 |
| FCC 245 | Aboriginal Crisis Support and Intervention | 3 |
| Semester III | Credits | |
| FCC 250 | FCC Practicum II | 6 |
| Total Diploma Credits = 36 |
COMMUNICATIONS COURSES
COM 105
Communications for the Human Services
Credits: 3
This is a college level composition course that has been designed to meet the writing needs of counselling students. Both the process and the product of writing are emphasized. Students will learn about sentence and paragraph structure, essay writing, and grammar and punctuation for effective writing. Learning activities will help develop observation skills and objective analysis. Students will refine their technical writing skills with emphasis on exercises and essays.
COM 205
Academic Writing and Research
Credits: 3
This course will take the student through the steps involved in writing a research paper. Students will discover how to do a literature review and annotated bibliography by researching academic writing and journal articles. The student will also write a proposal about a research project and conduct literary research for a final research essay. Particular attention will be paid to the student using and enhancing skills they have learned in COM 105.
Prerequisite: COM 105
FAMILY & COMMUNITY COUNSELLING COURSES
FCC 105
Basic Counselling Skills
Credits: 3
This course provides students with the knowledge and skills fundamental to basic counseling. Students are encouraged to begin to develop their own model of practice through discussion and critically analyzing the helping model of Gerard Egan and other models of helping. A primary focus is on students learning and practicing basic communication skills: attending, listening, paraphrasing, summarizing, empathy, and probing.
FCC 110
Human Development I
Credits: 3
This course is an in depth study of child development from pre-birth through age 12 years. Aboriginal child development is studied in depth. Historical perspectives, theories and methods give students an understanding about early childhood studies, ethical issues and approaches to child study. Influences upon the developing child are studied and students are able to establish guidelines for the role of the counsellor.
FCC 115
Interpersonal Communication
Credits: 3
This course is about a basic life skill. The course focuses on what to do about communicating rather than what to think about it. The philosophy is that the only way to learn a skill is experientially. You have to do it. Students have to perform the exercises, follow the suggestions both in the textbook and the exercise activities and make these skills their own through practice.
FCC 120
Human Development II
Credits: 3
The focus for this course is on adolescence and the adult years. Understanding human development is basic to therapeutic practice and is essential for all work with clients. Topics include pubert y, independence, coupling, aging and death and dying.
Prerequisite: FCC 110
FCC 135
Community Development
Credits: 3
This course will focus on the role of the worker engaged in making change at the community level. The student will learn the theory and practice of building sustainable communities. Beginning with an understanding of community and social change, students will develop a theoretical and practical perspective on immersing the community into the process of collective problem-solving. Students will discover what community development is, why it is needed and how it can be carried out effectively. Students will gain understanding of the connection between human relationships, personal, political, economic, social and cultural ways of working together to promote influence and community action.
Prerequisite: FCC 115
FCC 150
FCC Practicum I
Credits: 6
The practicum placement offers students a supervised opportunity to begin using skills that they have acquired in the areas of individual counselling. These include listening, assessing, planning, evaluating and recording skills. Student can build further upon their skills in community planning and development. Students are expected to assume greater responsibility in their duties while working under regular supervision.
FCC 210
Social Work Practice
Credits: 3
A critical analysis of social work techniques and client needs. Students will examine the role of the professional in the service delivery system and methods for supporting individuals, families and communities in transition.
FCC 220
Introduction to Social Welfare
Credits: 3
This course will focus on the roles of social service workers. Students will learn about the policies and laws that affect Aboriginal children and families. Case studies and simulation exercises will develop professional skills in family intervention, child protection and the appropriate disclosure of information.
Prerequisite: FCC 210
FCC 225
Issues in Counselling
Credits: 3
This course introduces students to resources, career opportunities and the different agencies in the Vancouver area. Guest speakers from various agencies present their experience and perspectives to the students. The students are introduced to topics including specialized techniques, codes of ethics, counsellor self-care, and professional fulfillment of the human services field.
FCC 230
Aboriginal Social Work and the Law
Credits: 3
This course is designed to provide the student with a basic knowledge base in areas of law relevant to social work. Specific areas of law that affect Aboriginal people will cover primarily family law, civil liberties, the accountability and liability of social services staff and legal issues. The family life cycle is used as an organizing principle which connects legal procedures to the life of the family as it moves through marriage, parenthood, normal events and specific crises along the continuum from birth to old age.
FCC 235
Aboriginal Recovery & Rehabilitation
Credits: 3
This course is an introduction to substance abuse counselling. There is an emphasis on comparing and critically evaluating diverse counselling approaches. The psychological, physiological, and sociological effects of substance abuse are examined as they pertain to First Nations people. Students will learn culturally appropriate assessment, diagnosis, treatment (individual and group), intervention and prevention methods. Research projects will examine contemporary issues in recovery and rehabilitation.
FCC 240
Aboriginal Child Welfare
Credits: 3
This course explores the changing context of child and family policies. Students examine federal and provincial jurisdictional issues concerning Aboriginal child and family services, child poverty in Canada, single parenthood and Aboriginal self government. The students participate in simulated child welfare scenarios. These case studies will assist the student in understanding the Child, Family and Community Service Act, rights of children in care, child protection measures, confidentiality and the disclosure of information.
FCC 245
Aboriginal Crisis Support and Intervention
Credits: 3
This course will introduce students to the empowerment model of assisting clients and communities to lessen the impact of trauma. The student will be introduced to the after-effects of trauma and restorative techniques in working with clients and communities. Knowledge of metal health issues will assist students in identifying and assessing the impact of the trauma on the individual. Student will learn to manage clients’ symptoms of traumatic stress in a creative life-affirming way.
FCC 250
FCC Practicum II
Credits: 6
The practicum placement is to give students a supervised opportunity to enhance their skills learned in the areas of individual and group counseling. The students might, for example, work individually with clients under supervision, or as a co-counsellor or co-facilitator. Student develop an increased level of competence in the areas of workshop presentations, crisis support and intervention or Aboriginal recovery and rehabilitation. Students are expected to assume greater responsibility in their duties while working under regular supervision.
FCC 260
Ableism/Disability
Credits: 3
This course will combine theory, policy and practice issues related to disability. Overall it will have an empowerment/advocacy/rights orientation underlying the specific issues addressed. It will be “pan-disability” in that it will not specifically focus on one type of disability but will draw from the complex of disability related impairments. The aim of the course is to give students a broad understanding of how disability is constructed, the past and current responses to disability and how social workers can work to support the empowerment of people with disabilities. Format for the course will be primarily lecture based. Seminars, guest speakers, site visits and videos will supplement this.
FCC 265
Mental Health
Credits: 3
This course is designed to provide students with a background in the theory, policy, practice and issues central to mental health issues. Students will learn about factors, situations and conditions that cause mental disorders and discuss and learn how the disorders may be best treated. Specific attention will be paid to the role of understanding behaviours that cause suffering to the individual and others around him or her, and that interfere with functioning. Different approaches to treatment and current research on psychological disorders will also be reviewed.
Prerequisites: FCC 110, FCC 120
PSYCHOLOGY COURSES
PSY 120
Aboriginal Health Practices
Credits: 3
This is an introductory course focusing on holistic healing practices and spiritual traditions. The students have the opportunity to explore a number of cultural practices that have been used by Aboriginal peoples since time immemorial to maintain good health and to promote holistic healing. Various Aboriginal beliefs and philosophies around relationships to the land, the earth ’s healing energy and the interconnectedness of all life are explored.
PSY 101
Introduction to Psychology
Credits: 3
Psychology emphasizes the scientific method in the study of human behaviour. The course focuses on the history and methods of psychological enquiry, the phenomena of sensation and perception and the fundamentals of conditioning and learning. Other topics, including human development, physiology, and the properties of language, thinking and states of awareness, will be selected at the discretion of the instructor.
PSY 140
Introduction to Trauma Counselling Techniques
Credits: 6
This course will provide an overview of trauma and trauma theory, people’s responses to trauma and an introduction to a variety of therapeutic strategies including dialogical, experiential, and cultural. Discussions will include a historical overview of the impact of genocide on First Nations people and generational trauma.
SOCIOLOGY COURSES
SOC 110
Traditional Aboriginal Parenting
Credits: 3
Students share their parenting histories and how these experiences affect how we deal with children today. The course looks at ways to heal ourselves, live effectively in two cultures, maintain a balance in our lives, express feelings and treat others with self-assured respect. The course will center on the responsibilities of parents and the specific topics of determining values and role modeling. Attention is given to developing an understanding of children’s behavior. The effect of First Nations history on parenting is also discussed in depth.
