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The Case Management for Individuals and Families concentration prepares students to complete assessments, advocacy work, and case management in a variety of social service agencies, such as county departments of Job and Family Services, rehabilitation centers, juvenile courts, and agencies serving older adults.

Case managers provide assistance to individuals and families by coordinating services and access to resources. Students in this concentration will learn the skills necessary to understand clients' needs and goals, and develop a plan to achieve these goals with the resources and services available to them. Case managers build strong relationships with community agencies at an individual and organizational level in order to best serve their clients' needs. Case managers form long and short term relationships with clients based on their individual or family needs.

Potential candidates for this concentration are resourceful, have good decision making skills, strong communication and interpersonal skills, and a strong desire to improve the quality of life of others and the community in which they live.

For more information contact Dr. Kelly Cichy.

The Child and Youth Development Concentration prepares students to work with children and adolescents in non-school settings, such as residential treatment, community youth services, foster care, after-school programs and juvenile justice system.

Upon completion of the program students become eligible for certification as a Child and Youth Care Worker from the  (after two years of relevant work experience). This certification allows students to demonstrate their commitment to higher standards and professional practice when working with youth. Child and Youth Care Practitioners comprise the largest human service profession in the world, and an optimistic career outlook. 

This concentration provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to promote positive development in children and adolescents from a variety of diverse backgrounds.  Good candidates for this concentration have a passion for working with children and adolescents, strong communication skills, organization, good social skills, creativity and leadership.

For more information contact Dr. Emily Mupinga at emupinga@kent.edu.

The Family Life Education Concentration prepares students to provide educational programming to parents, couples, and families in settings such as domestic violence and homeless shelters, social services agencies, Head Start and Help Me Grow programs, faith-based organizations and military bases among others.

The program focuses on promoting healthy family development by teaching positive coping skills to individuals, couples, families and caregivers as a proactive approach to promote positive family development. Family Life Educators teach individuals and families effective communication skills, positive self-esteem, parenting skills and healthy interpersonal skills. This concentration leads to provisional  (CFLE) from the  (NCFR). 

For more information contact Dr. Maureen Blankemeyer at mblankem@kent.edu.

The Gerontology Concentration in Human Development and Family Science emphasizes a multidisciplinary perspective on aging. This concentration examines changes typical of the aging process, along with atypical problems that can arise as an individual ages.

Embedded within the concentration are opportunities for students to apply knowledge from coursework and research to their work with older adults. It is estimated that in the year 2020, one in five persons will be sixty-five or older. The increasing numbers of older adults persons will mean an increasing demand for professionals with the skills and insight gained from training in gerontology. Because of this increased demand, Gerontology graduates have a higher than average job placement rate. Within six months of graduation approximately  of students are employed full time in professional jobs within the field of aging. The study of aging can also inform individuals who have concerns about the aging of a loved one.  The study of Gerontology helps individuals understand their own aging process and gain an understanding of how to age successfully.

For more information contact Dr. Kelly Cichy at kcichy@kent.edu

Graduates of this concentration have found rewarding careers in long term care facilities, Area Agencies on Aging, and nonprofit agencies.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Students are strongly encouraged to apply for the following scholarships:

1. Outstanding Human Development Student Scholarship
2. Dorothy and James Fruit Gerontology Scholarship
3. John and Alicia Pieper Scholarship
4. Area Agency on Aging Scholarship (contact Tim Martin at tmartin@services4aging.org for an application)

For more information on available scholarships in the College of Education, Health and Human Services and eligibility requirements, visit the Scholarships page

The Human Services concentration is designed for students who have completed the Associate's Degree in Human Science and wish to earn their Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Studies. This concentration is available at the Salem Campus.

The Human Services concentration focuses on the prevention and remediation of problems for individuals, families and communities such as homelessness, hunger, family crises, parenting skills, and building stronger communities to benefit all people.

This concentration prepares students for careers in a variety of careers in the social service field, such as county social service agencies, shelters for the homeless, youth homes, and domestic violence shelters. Careers in Human Services are as diverse as the people they serve!

For more information contact Dr. Kim Steele at ksteele6@kent.edu.

Good candidates for this field are caring, compassionate, empathetic, resourceful, creative, motivating and have a strong desire to help others.