The Certificate in Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CCPI) is a 20-credit program designed to advance undergraduate students in becoming skilled professionals who have the potential to respond to, manage and intervene with people in crisis. The CCPI is non-licensing and structured around courses that address fundamental aspects of how crises, disasters, and emergencies affect individuals, families, and communities, while examining the assessment, referral systems, and resilience-building interventions. The CCPI incorporates a five-course curriculum that focuses on equipping students with fundamental skills through primarily advanced-level undergraduate courses. 

The CCPI includes a set of required courses that all students must take, as well as one of two electives that students should select to address their professional or personal goals.   Students must take the required courses and complete all other academic requirements in order to be eligible to receive a the certificate.  The required courses for programs in the CCPI can be found on the “Program Details” tab.   Academic mentors will be available to guide students when selecting electives, and to help students identify opportunities to pursue possible transfer credits, and course equivalencies.    

The program is guided by the competencies model from the US Department of Health and Human Service and features a curriculum focused on equipping students with fundamental skills through core courses. Students will have the option of completing the certificate through various delivery modes such as online, independent study, blended, and/or face-to-face study.

While the CCPI is designed for non-degree seeking students working in human services or related fields and/or degree-seeking students currently working towards an associate or bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a related field, students from any profession or academic discipline may enroll in the certificate program. The CCPI will be available to both degree-seeking students in other concentrations as well as non-degree seeking students wishing to acquire the CCPI.   

Crisis intervention is a specific training and set of skills that is different than traditional mental health, clinical social work, and counseling assessment and treatment services.  Crisis intervention is an evidence-based and evidence-informed specialty that enables practitioners to assess individuals and families during crises and disasters, utilizes specific techniques to triage and stabilize individuals and families, and creates crisis assessment and intervention plans. 

Within the field of human services, crisis intervention training has broad applicability for both practitioners and administrators.  Health and human service personnel often work in hospital, clinic, and community-based settings with an array of client populations.  Work environments are dynamic, fast-paced, and highly interactive and include a diverse client population such as homeless, immigrants and refugees, people with disabilities, mental illness, at-risk youth and aging.  In addition to human services, there is strong demand for professionals trained in crises across other disciplines including psychology and social work, community service workers, healthcare, law enforcement and first responders, educators, and risk managers at large corporations. 

Program Details

The Certificate in Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CCPI) includes the following required courses. 

Since this is a certificate, the sequencing is critical.  Students need to take Crisis Intervention: Theory and Practice first, and Crisis Intervention: Skills and Models second.  Students can then take the elective followed by Secondary Trauma in Human Service Workers and Bereavement Counseling.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
HUSV 2020	Crisis Intervention: Theory & Practice	4
HUSV 3022	Crisis Intervention II: Counseling Skills and Models	4
HUSV 4045	Secondary Trauma in Human Service Workers	4
HUSV 4005	Bereavement Counseling	4
HUSV 3142	Disaster Mental Health Theory & Practice	4
or HUSV 3122	Conflict Management & Resolution in Human Services
or CHFS 3065	Supporting Active Military Veterans & their Families
Total Credits		20

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the certificate program, students will be able to demonstrate an enhanced understanding of:

• Crisis Behavior Theory: The student will be able to analyze crisis related behavior within the context of various social, developmental, global, economic, political, biological, and/or environmental systems.
• Service Delivery Skills in Crisis: The student will be able to acquire skills in crisis assessment, intervention and evaluation with individuals, families, groups and/or communities.
• Diversity Values: The student will be able to integrate an understanding, respect for and commitment to autonomy, confidentiality, self-determination and the basic rights of individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds in crisis intervention.