CLASSROOM & COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKER (CCSW)

selkirk.ca/ccsw

Important Dates

WINTER 2016
— January 4—Winter semester instruction begins
— April 8 —Winter semester instruction ends

— April 11-22 —Winter semester exams (consult
your program for details)

SPRING PRACTICUM 2016
— TBA

FALL 2016

— September 6 — Get Connected (Campus
Orientation Day)

— September 7 — Fall Semester instruction begins
— December 1 — Fall Semester instruction ends

— December 12-21 Fall semester exams (consult
your program for details)

Careers

The Certificate program prepares students to work
with individuals across the lifespan in a variety of
multi-disciplinary settings. Students become certified
as educational assistants in schools or as support
workers in residential, supported employment and
recreational settings. Graduates of this program have
a very high rate of employment following program
completion. Students are prepared to continue their
studies in diploma and degree programs.

This certificate serves as a prerequisite for entry
into the Human Services Diploma. Completion of
the Human Services Diploma provides students
with sufficient credit to enter third year of a Child
and Youth Care, or a Bachelor of Community
Rehabilitation, depending on the selection of
elective courses.

Application Information

Download the Classroom and Community Support
Worker Application Package at http://selkirk.ca/
program/ccsw/application-information

STEPS TO APPLY

— Please make sure you meet all admission
requirements, including the general admission
requirements.

— International Students (students who are
applying to Selkirk College from locations outside
of Canada) should follow the application steps
required by Selkirk International.

42 Selkirk College Academic Calendar 2016-17

Program Courses

CCSW 155 - FOUNDATIONS OF PRACTICE

This course introduces students to the theory and
philosophical perspectives necessary for working
with individuals who are challenged by a disabling
condition. Values regarding service delivery are
explored through an historical review of the disability
movement and an examination of new initiatives

and trends. This course also explores the impact of
specific challenging conditions on the individual, the
family and the service providers’ practice. Through
personal reflection and research, the roots of person
centred support will be explored and students

will develop their own personal and professional
philosophy of support work.

CCSW 156 — SUPPORT STRATEGIES

This course focuses on support strategies used

with individuals who have disabilities. The analysis
and understanding of behaviour as a means of
communication is explored. Strategies are learned
and practised in context to support individuals with
the development of pro-social skills, life, vocational,
and academic skills. An awareness of issues related
to healthy sexuality and the ethics of touch are
explored. Emphasis is placed on the ethics of support
work and effective implementation of strategies

to support individuals with disabilities to be as
independent as possible.

CCSW 160 - CLASSROOM
SUPPORT STRATEGIES

This course focuses on integration of children into
inclusive school situations with an emphasis on
guidance approaches, teaching strategies, curriculum
adaptation and the interrelationship of assessment
and curriculum. Child development principles provide
the basis for program planning and implementation.
The importance of cultural diversity and the role of
the educational assistant are stressed.

CCSW 161 - PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING

This course focuses on the need for planning,
advantages and disadvantages of planning and the
key elements of the planning process. The course
examines how to identify and obtain information
relevant to planning, formulation of long and
short-term objectives, prioritization of objectives,
and translation of objectives into action. Emphasis is
placed on viewing planning as a dynamic process and
analysis of human interaction as part of the planning
process. Models for structuring positive interaction of
all planning team members are reviewed.

CCSW 165 - HEALTH AND WELLNESS

This course is designed to introduce the essential
concepts of health and wellness with emphasis on
six dimensions of wellness including: emotional,
intellectual, spiritual, occupational, social and
physical. Students will examine health and wellness
from two perspectives: from the perspective of the
students’ lives and also the lives of individuals with
disabilities. The course will emphasize the importance
of lifestyle changes being self-directed and on
understanding ways in which we can support change
in others and ourselves. Topics include: stress
management, diet and nutrition, aging, intimacy and
relationships, immunity, safety, lifestyle, developing
relationships and quality of life.

CCSW 170 - AUGMENTATIVE
COMMUNICATION

This course explores alternative forms of
communication for people with little or no speech.
Non-speech communication programming is
examined through review of normal and disordered
language and the strengths and weaknesses of
various augmentative communication systems.
Communication systems studied include sign
language and other manual systems, pictogram/
ideogram communication and electronic systems.

CCSW 179 — APPLICATION OF
THEORY TO PRACTICE

This course provides an overview of the role of the
Special Education Assistant and of the Community
Support Worker. Codes of ethics, standards of
practice, relevant policies and their application to
practice are discussed as well as the practice of
working as part of a multidisciplinary team. Content
focuses on integration of relevant theory from other
CCSW courses into practice to enhance theoretical
learning. Students will develop short- and long-term
professional goals and objectives and develop a
professional portfolio in preparation for employment
or continuing education.

CCSW 195 — PRACTICUM I

This course provides students with an opportunity
to work and observe in an educational or community
living setting under the direction of college
instructors and on-site staff. The focus of this
practicum is to provide students with an opportunity
to interact with children or adults with challenging
conditions, to develop objective documentation skills
and to observe the techniques and procedures used
by on-site staff. This is a 17-day practicum beginning
with two preparation days. A seminar, CCSW 179,
will allow students time for integration of their work
experience and peer support.

selkirk.ca/programs