Career and Job Market Information

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

The certificate and Associate in Arts degree with an emphasis on the Psychosocial Rehabilitation model are designed to qualify the graduate to enter the workforce as a paraprofessional in Community-Based Mental Health Programs.  The graduates of these programs will be able to work with mentally ill individuals.  In partnership with the individual and other paraprofessionals and professionals, the graduate will create a plan for the client to take care of finances, find employment and housing, use community resources, and possibly help with participation in substance-abuse programs.

JOB MARKET INFORMATION

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of social and human service assistants is projected to grow 16 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is a faster rate than other occupations (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-and-human-service-assistants.htm). Due to the growing elderly population with an increased need for mental health options, there is an increased demand for human services, and job outlook is projected to be very good. In addition to social and human service assistants, employment of mental health counselors is also expected to grow by 23 percent from 2016 to 2023 as people continue to seek out mental health help. (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm)