CCAC. Delivering High Demand Skills for our Future.

Backdrop

We've seen recently how global supply chains are unreliable and what happens when global corporate elites conspire with global political elites to ship jobs overseas. Steel used to be made in Pittsburgh, and tires used to be made in Akron, etc. Moreover, West Virginia had a robust source of raw materials with a solid industrial and energy base. Still, it fell among the bottom three in poverty and other social pathologies when the globalization experiment.

When anchor industries like steel, tires, and manufacturing exit cities and relocate overseas, Allegheny County and other parts of the USA (Appalachia, Midwest, SW, etc.) experience many negative consequences. These consequences include:

• Increased poverty: When the industry goes it takes jobs with it. This leads to increased poverty, as people can no longer find work to support themselves and their families.

• Increased crime: Poverty often leads to crime, as people turn to illegal activities to make money. We see an increase in crime in cities that lose industry.

• Depopulation: As people lose jobs and move away, cities that lost industry also lose population. This leads to a decline in the tax base, making it difficult to provide essential services such as education, policing, social work, EMT and healthcare.

• Increased social problems: The loss of industry leads to increased social problems such as alcoholism, drug addiction, juvenile delinquency, gun violence and mental illness. These problems are often caused by the stress of poverty and unemployment.

When industry leaves, it can have a devastating impact on the city and its residents. We don't have to look very far (e.g. Mon Valley) This also leads to a decline in the quality of life for residents of those cities. This can include things like:

• Deteriorating infrastructure: When businesses leave, they often take their investment in infrastructure with them. This can lead to things like crumbling roads, bridges, and schools.

• Loss of community: When people lose their jobs and move away, it can lead to a loss of community. This can be a harrowing experience for people who have lived in a community for many years and have built strong relationships with their neighbors.

It's not all Doom and Gloom. We can Solve Problems Together. Many of us are developing curricula and strategies, figuring out ways to work with economic development partnerships to reinforce the importance of industry to Pittsburgh and the need to find ways to prevent the loss of industry from happening.

Pittsburgh is blessed for having the following:

- Access to energy (coal, gas, and remember the world's first oil was discovered here)

- Westinghouse recently announced having the first mobile nuclear plant that can fit on the back of a truck and is ready for market in 2024.

- Pittsburgh is near lots of water, lumber, and farmland.

- Pittsburgh was prominent in the past because the waterways provided valuable trade routes, and so did the railroads.

-So, when you combine raw materials, energy, manufacturing, shipping, and labor there, you have integrated the main components of a robust economy.

This article aims to discuss the necessary training for a productive labor force.

Let's admit that we all get caught up in ranking material goods in an unhealthy way.

Sometimes we think Nike shoes are better than off-brand. We do this with our cars, shoes, clothes, purses, and mobile phones. This chase for prestige becomes an unproductive social condition whereby people chase after prestigious brands (Look at the new iPhone!!) because skilled P.R. firms and advertising agencies have created a stratified and phony sense of self. Filling our lives with Gucci, Dior and Calvin Klein will never fill some void in our human condition.

We often do the same when considering higher education. There is no evidence to suggest Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Notre Dame, Rice, Brown, Dartmouth, etc, prepare people any better than your local community college; let's look at a regional case study.

Two weeks ago, we announced a community-based initiative called R.A.D.A.R. that will leverage formal or informal connections between school districts, churches, mosques, synagogues, civic groups and community college academic programs such as:

• student social workers

• student police/security

• student teaching

• student psychologists

• and other social and behavioral sciences

photo snipped from CCAC website

CCAC - SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES PROGRAMS

Community College of Allegheny County

Social and Behavioral Sciences / Social Work

The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) prepares social workers for their professional life by providing a comprehensive education with theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), ensuring it meets the highest quality standards.

CCAC's social work program is designed to help students develop the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in a variety of settings, including:

• Direct practice: This involves working directly with individuals, families, and groups to help them address their social, emotional, and economic challenges.

• Administration: This involves managing social service agencies and programs.

• Policy analysis: This involves researching and analyzing social policy issues.

• Research: This involves conducting social research to identify and address social problems.

In addition to the academic coursework, CCAC's social work program also includes a variety of field experiences. These experiences allow students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world settings. Field experiences can be completed in a variety of settings, such as:

• Nonprofit organizations: These organizations provide social services to individuals, families, and communities.

• Government agencies: These agencies provide social services to the public.

• Schools: These schools provide social services to students and their families.

• Mental health: Clinics offer mental health services to individuals and families.

The field experiences are an essential part of CCAC's social work program. They allow students to gain hands-on experience, develop their skills, and build their professional network.

CCAC's social work program is an excellent option for students interested in a career in social work. The program is rigorous, but it is also rewarding. Graduates of the program are well-prepared to make a difference in the world.

Here are some of the specific ways in which CCAC prepares social workers for their professional life:

• The program emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving. Social workers need to be able to think critically about social problems and develop solutions that are effective and ethical.

• The program teaches students how to assess and intervene in complex situations. Social workers often work with clients facing multiple challenges, and they need to be able to determine the problem and develop an appropriate intervention plan.

• The program emphasizes the importance of cultural competence. Social workers need to be able to understand and respect the cultural values of their clients.

• The program provides students with opportunities to gain hands-on experience. Students complete field practicums in various settings, allowing them to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world situations.

CCAC's social work program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to succeed professionally.

Here are some additional details about how CCAC prepares social workers for their professional life:

• The program focuses on developing students' communication and interpersonal skills. Social workers need to be able to communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, and other professionals. They also need to build relationships with clients and develop trust.

• The program teaches students about social work practice's ethical and legal aspects. Social workers act in their client's best interests and uphold the profession's ethical standards.

• The program prepares students for the challenges of working in a multicultural society. Social workers need to be able to understand and respect the cultural values of their clients.

• The program provides students with opportunities to network with other social workers. Networking can help students find jobs and get advice from experienced professionals.

CCAC.'s social work program is comprehensive and rigorous, preparing students for a successful career in social work.

Here are some ways that Community College of Allegheny County prepares students of criminal justice for jobs in the real world:

• Accreditation: CCAC's Criminal Justice program is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), ensuring that the program meets high standards.

• Curriculum: The curriculum covers various topics, including criminal law, criminology, police procedures, and corrections.

• Experiential learning: Students can gain hands-on experience through internships and field experiences.

• Professional development: CCAC offers a variety of professional development opportunities for students, such as workshops and conferences.

• Career services: CCAC's Career Services department can help students with job search strategies, resume writing, and interviewing skills.

CCAC's Criminal Justice program prepares students for a variety of careers in the criminal justice field, including:

• Law enforcement: Police officers, detectives, and other law enforcement professionals

• Corrections: Correctional officers, probation officers, and parole officers

• Legal services: Lawyers, paralegals, and legal assistants

• Security: Security guards, private investigators, and loss prevention specialists

• Government: Criminal justice professionals who work for federal, state, or local governments

CCAC's Criminal Justice program is an excellent option for students interested in a criminal justice career. The program is rigorous, but it is also rewarding. Graduates of the program are well-prepared to make a difference in their communities.

Here are some additional details about how CCAC prepares students for jobs in the real world:

• The program emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving. Criminal justice professionals need to be able to think critically about situations and develop solutions that are effective and ethical.

• The program teaches students how to assess and intervene in complex situations. Criminal justice professionals often work with people facing multiple challenges, and they need to be able to evaluate the situation and develop an appropriate intervention plan.

• The program emphasizes the importance of cultural competence. Criminal justice professionals must understand and respect the cultural values of the people they serve.

• The program provides students with opportunities to gain hands-on experience. Students complete field practicums in various settings, allowing them to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world situations.

Here are some ways that Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) prepares student teachers for a career in education and being a good teacher in real-world settings:

• Accreditation: CCAC's teacher education program is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), ensuring the program meets high-quality standards.

• Curriculum: The curriculum covers various topics, including child development, educational psychology, instructional methods, and assessment.

• Experiential learning: Students can gain hands-on experience through internships and field experiences.

• Professional development: CCAC offers a variety of professional development opportunities for students, such as workshops and conferences.

• Career services: CCAC's Career Services department can help students with job search strategies, resume writing, and interviewing skills.

CCAC's teacher education program prepares students for a variety of careers in education, including:

• Early childhood education: Teachers who work with children from birth to age five.

• Elementary education: Teachers who work with children from kindergarten to fifth grade.

• Middle school education: Teachers who work with students in grades six through eight.

• High school education: Teachers who work with students in grades nine through twelve.

• Special education: Teachers who work with students with disabilities.

CCAC's teacher education program is an excellent option for students interested in a career in education. The program is rigorous, but it is also rewarding. Graduates of the program are well-prepared to make a difference in the lives of their students.

Here are some additional details about how CCAC prepares student teachers for a career in education:

• The program emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving. Teachers need to be able to think critically about educational problems and develop solutions that are effective and ethical.

• The program teaches students how to assess and intervene in complex situations. Teachers often work with students facing multiple challenges, and they need to be able to determine the situation and develop an appropriate intervention plan.

• The program emphasizes the importance of cultural competence. Teachers need to be able to understand and respect the cultural values of their students.

• The program provides students with opportunities to gain hands-on experience. Students complete field practicums in various settings, allowing them to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world situations.

Overall, CCAC's teacher education program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to be successful in a career in education.

Here are some additional tips for being a good teacher in real-world settings:

• Be organized and prepared. Students learn best when their teachers are organized and prepared. This means having a clear lesson plan, knowing the material, and delivering the lesson clearly and engagingly.

• Be patient and understanding. Students learn at different rates and in different ways. It is essential to be patient and understanding with students and willing to provide them with the support they need to succeed.

• Be positive and enthusiastic. Students are more likely to be engaged in learning when their teachers are upbeat and energetic. This means being excited about the material and willing to share your enthusiasm with your students.

• Be fair and consistent. Students need to know what is expected of them, and they need to know that they will be treated fairly. This means setting clear expectations and being consistent in enforcing those expectations.

• Be a role model. Students learn by watching the adults in their lives. This means being a positive role model for your students and modeling the behavior that you want to see in them.