CAREER CONNECTIONS

With three great urban areas of Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio has plenty of regions that are in need of well-trained human services workers. Whether you work in a hospital in Cleveland as child life specialist, or in Columbus as a professor of social work there are many opportunities for human services workers to give back to their community. You can find employment at the many hospitals, universities, private practices, non-profits and government agencies that need human services workers.

In a field that offers the kind of job satisfaction that can only come from using your natural talents to help people, for many, a job in human services is the only kind of career that speaks to them.

Even with more than 715,000 social workers serving US communities from coast to coast as of 2020, there continues to be a need for a bigger workforce of capable, caring and properly trained social workers. In fact, over the ten-year period leading up to 2030, it’s expected that another 89,000 will be joining social services agencies around the country. That’s a 12% job growth rate over ten years, which is faster than average for the US job market.

Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education

Project AWARE Ohio (click on image above for more info) was a partnership between the Ohio Department of Education, the Center for School Based-Mental Health Programs at Miami University and the educational service centers within three pilot communities: Cuyahoga County, Warren County and Wood County. Funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Project AWARE Ohio supported schools and communities in:

• Raising awareness of behavioral health issues among school-aged youth;
• Providing training to detect and respond to mental health challenges and crisis in children and young adults; and
• Increasing access to behavioral health supports for children, youth and families.

In 1983, leaders from the Ohio State Bar Association, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio Foundation, and Ohio Attorney General Anthony Celebrezze came together to explore creation of educational programs designed to fill a significant void in law-related education for Ohio’s high school students. This alliance strongly believed partnerships between the educational and legal communities could effectively educate students about their constitutional rights and responsibilities and together founded Ohio Mock Trial. The Supreme Court of Ohio, another significant proponent of civics and law-related education, joined the partnership as a program sponsor in 1988.

From its inception, the Ohio Mock Trial program has maintained a three-pronged focus—original case materials created annually based on pertinent constitutional issues created annually, generation of professional development designed to prepare Ohio’s teachers to effectively engage students, and administration of the statewide Ohio Mock Trial competition.

With steady growth following its inception, Ohio Mock Trial continues to be the largest non-athletic competition in Ohio, and among the largest in the country—hosting nearly 3,500 student participants from schools throughout the state each year. More than 1,000 teachers and legal professionals volunteer their time and expertise to make this program possible by serving as team legal advisors, case and competition committee members, competition judges and site coordinators. The state champion team represents Ohio at the national competition.

As student participation in Ohio Mock Trial continued to expand, schools, lawyers, and judges sought additional opportunities for students to enhance critical thinking, public speaking, advocacy, research, and writing skills. Sponsors of Ohio Mock Trial formally supported the expansion of educational programs and in 1989 established the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (OCLRE).

With this expansion, OCLRE became part of a national law-related education network and quickly developed critical programs and services including publication of a newsletter with a circulation of 10,000, creation of professional development programs and resource opportunities for educators, and development of new original and authentic learning experiences for Ohio’s students.

Today, with participation of teachers and students from more than 70 Ohio counties, and more than 1,500 volunteers annually, OCLRE is among the largest state law-related education programs in the United States, and continues to provide critical programs focused on civics and law-related education.

OCLRE is proud to provide unique professional development for educators, hands-on learning programs for students, and statewide opportunities for positive community engagement.

Steps to Take Advantage of the Tuition Freedom Scholarship for FALL 2022

1. Graduate High School in 2022.
2. Complete 8-9 Credits as a North Central State College CCP Student.
   1. Students must complete 8 credit hours except those seeking direct admission into a health program who will need 9 credits to qualify.
3. Achieve a 2.75 grade point average in all North Central State College CCP classes. Career Tech students must have achieved a 2.75 GPA in their articulated technical course work and all students must have a 2.75 high school cumulative GPA.
4. Apply to the college using the NC State General Application, opens in a new window.
   You must declare a major. Undeclared/Undecided majors will not qualify for the scholarship.
5. Complete the Tuition Freedom Scholarship Application, opens in a new window between October 1, 2021 – June 3, 2022.
   This is in addition to the college application completed in step 4
6. Complete the FAFSA, opens in a new window.
   The 2022-2023 FAFSA Application must be completed between October 1, 2021 and July 1, 2022. Submit any additional information requested from financial aid by July 15, 2022.
7. Attend a Connect to College New Student Orientation program (offered April to August) and take NC State’s First Year Experience course in the first term of enrollment. The only exception to the FYEX course are direct admits to competitive health programs.
8. Maintain Full-Time Student status (12-18 Credit Hours per semester).
   You must enroll full-time Fall-Spring terms until your degree or certificate is completed. Summer after the first year is optional. Maintain full-time status for the duration of the semester. Earn 30 semester hours per year.
9. Maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA.

Health and human services focuses on the most basic needs of our communities, including the health and well being of individuals and families, assistance with social services as needed, help with preventing and solving problems and striving to provide the highest quality of life possible.

Those interested in a health and human services career must keep in mind that this field is a very broad one, with numerous professions that fall under the human services umbrella. Just as the possible career options are widely varied, so is the education required in order to move into those positions. For instance, those who intend to work as a marriage and family therapist or a mental health counselor must typically hold a master’s degree, yet those who intend to work as a human services assistant might be able to enter a job with only a high school diploma. It is generally accepted that those who have some higher education, especially in a field that is closely related to their career goals, might have an edge in a competitive job market.

Beth Gaubatz

tesc_bgaubatz@tccsa.net

Ann Hendershot

tesc_ahendershot@tccsa.net

Website: http://www.youresc.k12.oh.us/
Location: 741 Winkler Drive, Wooster, OH, USA
Phone: 330-345-6771
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareerConnectionsTESC