Child & Family Studies

AAS-T, Certificate

The Child and Family Studies Certificate is part of the offerings under the Social and Human Services program. This certificate provides training and preparation for students who are interested in a wide range of employment opportunities working with children and their families in settings such as: school-age/youth care and education, social services or childcare. Through this program, students gain the knowledge base that will help them to provide a wide variety of services, support and resources for families.

Students can choose to take a single class that interests them or complete a Child & Family Studies Certificate.

The following specialization areas reflect many of the settings where you can work with children and families:

Working with Children and Families

Preparation for work with children (birth-12 years) and their families in child care centers, homes, and various social service settings.

School-Age Children, Youth and Families

Preparation for working in school settings or out-of-school time programs for children, youth and their families.

Program Development and Management

Preparation for school-age care, youth programs or social service management careers.

Career Opportunities

This certificate program offers courses that meet licensing requirements for child care providers and program supervisors, and Child Development Associate (CDA) Educational clock hour requirements. It is the student's responsibility to always clarify specific requirements with the agency.

This program provides a foundation and excellent starting place for students interested in a variety of occupations such as: trainer or director; parent educator; child legislative advocate; art educator; resource and referral specialist; camp counselors; child care teacher; family center staff or director; as well as school-age, youth program staff or director.

Entrance Requirements

  • A high school diploma or GED equivalent in the U.S.
  • Test requirements: Writing and reading comprehension components of the college admissions test (must be eligible for ENG 101) and the math placement test (must be eligible for MAT 084).
  • Entrance into the CFS certificate option is on a first-come, first-served basis after prerequisite testing has been completed. Students may enter the program any quarter.

How To Get Started

  • Complete the Standard Procedure for Admission to the College
  • After matriculation by Admissions, call the division counselor's office at 206 587-4186 for an appointment/interview to determine eligibility to enter the program. Bring a copy of your transcripts and test results with you when you meet with the counselor.
    Counselor: Kimberly McRae, KMcRae@sccd.ctc.edu

Estimated Training Costs

Curriculum

Human Services Core (13 Credits)Cr
SHS 103 SURVEY OF INSTITUTIONS 5
Intro to social welfare institutions. Explores common social problems such as poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, racism, sexism. Emphasis on social systems set up to solve these problems. use critical thinking skills in analysis of issues, presentation of quantitative information and interpretations of statistics on local community issues and concerns.
SHS 106 PRINCIPLES OF INTERVIEWING AND COUNSELING 5
Intro to interviewing and basic counseling skills. Exploration of personal values, motivations, biases and needs. Development of beginning-level counseling skills and awareness of unique qualities each brings into the helping profession. Foundation for advanced counseling courses.
SHS 108 GROUP DYNAMICS & COUNSELING 5
Intro to group work, including group processes, communication patterns, group and individual goal-setting, leadership and decision-making. Includes group participation, role-playing and simulations.
SHS 197 FIELD PLACEMENT: SOCIAL AND HUMAN SERVICES 5
Work experience in human services agencies, with individual and group supervision provided by agency professionals to share experiences and further develop work-related skills.
Related Instruction (20 Credits)Cr
ENGL&101 ENGLISH COMPOSITION 5
(Formerly ENG 101) Intro to the writing process. Writing assignments focus on non-fiction prose, with subject matter drawn from firsthand experience and observation.
HUM 105 INTERCULTURE COMMUNICATION 5
Interdisciplinary focus on the role of languages and culture in effective intercultural communication including values, patterns, history, and attitudes that create and sustain cultures. Emphasis on skills and empathy gained from the study of diverse cultures through literature, theory and guest lecturers.
PSYC&200 LIFESPAN PSYCHOLOGY 5
(Formerly PSY 206 [150](–) Developmental Psychology) Survey of human physical, psychological, and social development from conception through death. Emphasis on major developmental theories, research and research methods of studying life-span development.
SOC& 101 OR INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY 5
(Formerly SOC 110 [150](–) Survey of Sociology) Covers human social interaction with emphasis on group aspects of human behavior. Includes culture, socialization, family, education, urbanization, gender roles, social class, deviance, race, sexuality, demography and social change.
SOC 250 MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS 5
Child & Family Specialization (12 Credits)Cr
CFS 110 * PLANNING AGE APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES & ENVIRONMEN 3
Intro to working with children and their families to design safe, healthy, inviting, culturally relevant and anti-bias learning environments for children and family members.
CFS 120 * SUPPORTING YOUNG CHILDREN'S PHYSICAL & INTELLECT 3
Examines physical, cognitive, creative and linguistic developmental needs and stages of children birth through twelve, and methods and strategies for planning for holistic development.
CFS 130 * GUIDING/SUPPORTING YOUNG CHILDREN'S SOCIAL & EMO 3
Covers the social, emotional, self-esteem and cultural identity developmental needs and stages of children birth through twelve, and methods and strategies for planning for holistic development. Addresses guidance and managing difficult behavior.
CFS 245 * BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH DIVERSE FAMILIES 3
Focuses on strategies, conceptual frameworks and culturally relevant approaches to parent education and parenting support. Explores methods of building partnerships with parents. Emphasis on cultural relevancy and anti-bias strategies for parents and issues facing urban families.
School-Age Children, Youth & FamiliesCr
CFS 145 ACTIVITIES TO FOSTER DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL AGE YEAR 3
Examines physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and moral development of school-age children (ages 5-14) within social and cultural contexts including the family, peer group, and community. Covers individual differences, typical issues, and areas of concern. Includes roles of practitioners serving school-age children and the history and philosophies of various program models.
CFS 155 DEVELOPMENT DURING THE ADOLESCENT YEARS 3
Examines early, middle and late adolescent (ages 12-21) development within social and cultural contexts including family, peer group, and community. Explores issues youth face, youth culture and values, cultural responses to coming of age, and rites of passage. Includes roles of practitioners serving youth and the history and philosophy of various program models.
CFS 180 GUIDING BEHAVIOR & SOCIAL DEV SCHOOL AGE AND AD 3
Examines theories of social-emotional development (ages 5-18), learning styles and application to diverse guidance strategies. Explores self-esteem, sense of group belonging, cultural identity and understanding of diverse familial patterns. Examines both typical development and challenges youth face which may affect their development and behaviors.
CFS 208 PLANNING & SPACE DESIGN FOR SCHOOL-AGE & YOUTH 3
A theoretical framework and practical examination of successful, diverse, culturally relevant and anti-bias environments. Includes facility design, appropriate materials, family involvement, programming and activities. Applicable to recreation, tutoring, health, education, social services, cultural arts and before/after school environments. Incorporates at least three on-site visits to programs.
CFS 215 MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE METHODS WITH YOUNG CHILD 3
Overview of strategies for incorporating science and math curriculums and multimedia technology into school-age and youth programs. Emphasis on promoting youth cognitive development and future career opportunities, family involvement, and overcoming traditional biases, which have been barriers for girls and people of color in science, math and technology learning.
CFS 223 PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN SCHOOL AGE/YOUTH PROGRAM 2
Explores strategies and methods for incorporating cooperative games, sports, dance, creative movement, and leadership development into youth programs. Examines and expands movement repertoire, coaching and mentoring skills, and culturally diverse approaches.
CFS 228 CHILDHOOD/ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY & EDUCATION 3
Explores biological sexual development and culturally specific responses to myths and misinformation common among children, youth and families. Covers strategies for incorporating accurate, culturally sensitive information with families and their school-age children and youth. Explores issues of sexual identity such as gender roles, heterosexuality and homosexuality, sexual stereotypes and the impact of the media. Examines responses to teen pregnancy and sexual abuse.
CFS 252 VIOLENCE PREVENTION 3
Examines the nature of violence in our community, including exploration of institutionalized violence, media violence, domestic violence, and gangs. Covers impact of prevention programs, strategies and curriculums, and methods for community building and empowerment.
Program Development & ManagementCr
CFS 290 BUDGET AND FINANCE 4
Covers budget design and monitoring; money, credit and financial statements; bookkeeping and financial planning; taxes and other legal requirements; computer applications; fees and other revenue sources, grant writing and fund raising; the budget/quality link.
CFS 296
Additional CoursesCr
CFS 225 ASSESSMENT/PROGRAMMING 3
Covers the process of assessing the needs of a particular child, family, agency, or community, then developing a program addressing these needs. Use of Portfolio Assessment. Gain understanding of how the needs identified relate to a larger societal context. Covers Participatory Action Research as a model (AACCTF) for assessing needs, as well as culturally relevant assessing and programming.
CFS 263 WORKING WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES 3
Focuses on the social, emotional, physical, legal, historical and environmental issues which may affect children and youth with disabilities and their families.
CFS 270 CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH 3
Includes impacts of environmental stresses and toxins, access to health care, preventative health, safety issues in childhood, violence in society, childcare issues, nutrition, impact of bias and other issues impacting families. Focuses on ways families, agencies and communities can work together to resolve these issues. Meets Washington state requirements for HIV/AIDS training, CPR/First Aid and Children's Health and Immunization recordkeeping.
CFS 280 METHODS CULTURAL RELV/ANTI-BIAS:CHILD & FAMILIES 3
Specific strategies for working with both European American families and families of color, and the impact of racial, cultural, homophobic, gender, age and economic class bias on children and families. Covers teaching children to resist bias and understand and deal with rejection.
CFS 284 LITERACY DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES 3
Covers practical strategies for literacy development, early literacy development, continued literacy and adult literacy development. Discussion on models of family literacy and literacy development for children who are non-native English speakers.
CFS 299 S.T.A.R.S. SEMINAR 2
Meets the new 20-hour State requirement and learning outcomes for Washington State Training and Registry System (S.T.A.R.S.). This course will cover child growth and development, child guidance, health and safety; and professionalism based on the Adult-Size Guide to Child-Sized Environments. The Child Care Licensing Handbook.

* These four courses may be used to meet the educational requirements needed for a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, which is administered by the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition. All classes provide appropriate education that can apply towards these requirements.

Total Program Credits: 45

Note: In order to successfully complete the certificate, a 2.0 grade or better is required in all child and family studies specialization, human services core, and related instruction courses. Students wishing to take selected courses in the social and human services specialization area should meet with the division counselor.

Students may choose to graduate either under the program of study requirements stated in the college catalog at the time they first enter this program, or under the requirements listed in the catalog in effect at the time they apply for graduation-unless more than five years have elapsed since the student entered the program, and providing that the courses required for completion are still offered.

For Further Information:

Child & Family Studies
Seattle Central Community College
1701 Broadway, Room 2BE3212A
Seattle, WA 98122
PHONE: 206) 587-6900
FAX: (206) 344-4390

Program Contact:
 hssrequests@sccd.ctc.edu 206.587.4165