The award winning Social Services Competency-based Training Program is offered jointly by the Early Childhood Training Center (Portland State University) and Tennessee State University. Originally developed in 1982, the goal of the SSCBT program is to provide staff with the attitudes, skills, and knowledge to deliver effective social services and family support—particularly for those staff with little or no systematic formal training in social services. The Region X SSCBT program was selected as the Outstanding Credit Program by the Region VII University Continuing Education Association in 1998.

There have been over 850 SSCBT interns from the Pacific Northwest since 1996 (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska) and over 3,000 interns nationwide. The content of this credential program consists of 41 competency areas that are the focus of three modules of classroom instruction, portfolio development, field mentor observations, and a final oral board review. Successful participants receive the SSCBT credential. The SSCBT curriculum has been updated and expanded to address the priority areas outlined in the Head Start Family Worker Training Initiative and to address core skills necessary for working in a variety of family support and community services settings.

The three basic modules are:

• Skills: Working with People (creating a working relationship, intervening, supporting and problem solving, recording and tracking)
  
• Attitudes: Motivation through Use of Self (motivating self, motivating co-workers, and motivating customers)
  
• Knowledge: Systems and Human Behavior (working with social systems, human growth and development, coping and adapting)
  

The structure and delivery of the SSCBT program can be individualized to meet the needs of specific programs or communities. Please contact us to develop customized training options.