NORTH COAST, Calif. – Mendocino College has received grant funding to cover the expense of earning a certificate of achievement as a human service worker.

All registration fees, books and other material fees for students will be paid for by the grant.

The program is two semesters in length and involves an internship.

All classes will be held in the evenings to accommodate working adults, and some will be “live-streamed” to the college centers, providing easy access to students.

The program will prepare students to work in nonprofit and public health, social service and/or behavioral health organizations that provide prevention, clinical intervention and treatment services for at-risk children, youth and families.

Those who earn a certificate can be employed as a community health worker, outreach worker, social services aide, mental health worker, substance abuse/addictions worker, youth worker, promotora or peer paraprofessional. 

The goal of the grant is to develop and expand the paraprofessional mental health and substance abuse workforce focusing on children, adolescents, and transition-age youth at risk for developing or who have developed a behavioral health disorder.

Mendocino College has been offering Human Services courses since the early 1980s, and has offered Alcohol and Other Drug Studies certificate and degree programs since 1990.

In addition, courses in human service work have been offered since 2001, and Human Services Paraprofessional certificate and degree programs since 2012.

Through the years, the college has had many students earn degrees who have gone on to become knowledgeable and skilled counselors and human service paraprofessionals. 

Mendocino College has also developed many mutually supportive relationships with local human service agencies.

In addition to providing financial support to students, this grant will help the college develop alternative course delivery models (to provide greater access to current employees) and aid the college in developing additional courses focusing on youth and their families, especially in Native American, Latino and other underserved populations.

The college is particularly interested in increasing the number of American Indian and Latino graduates who are able to effectively work with Native American and Latino transition-age youth (16-25 years old) and their families in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.

Applications for the program are now being accepted.

For more information contact Dan Jenkins at 707-468-3020 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or get more information at www.mendocino.edu/hus .