Management & Supervision in Human Services
Certificate Program
The Management and Supervision in Human Services Certificate program is geared toward professionals who find themselves in a management or supervisory role at an agency or organization, yet have not had formal management training or leadership experience. Participants will gain an overview of managing in human services and the HR process, managing staff and teams, diversity considerations in clinical supervision, financial management and grant writing, as well as legal and ethical considerations for both the workplace and clients.
Target Audience: Intended for the experienced clinician.
Asynchronous Courses - Pre-Recorded
- Online participants are required to have a computer with video and audio capability.
- The courses below are pre-recorded, comprising approximately four 1.5-hour sessions each.
- Participants will have 120 days from the date of registration to complete the courses.
Online via Canvas Catalog • 3 hours
Instructor: Claire Donohue, MSW, JD
Topic: Clients and Service Delivery
In Clients and Service Delivery, which will be taught over the course of two 1.5-hour recorded sessions, we will consider the legal and ethical implications of client care. We will discuss the issue of disclosure, including but not limited to mandated reporting and client-counselor privilege. This portion of the training will also review the social work ethical best interest standard as it differs from that standard at law (i.e., best interest of the child; a Guardian Ad Litem representing the best interest). We will also explore legal and ethical dimensions of vulnerabilities or challenges commonly faced by our client populations; for example, housing or domestic violence.
Online via Canvas Catalog • 3 hours
Instructor: Claire Donohue, MSW, JD
Topic: Workplace and Staff
In Workplace and Staff, which will be taught over the course of two 1.5-hour recorded sessions, we will consider the legal and ethical implications of staff management and the workplace. We will explore the legal difference between employee and independent contractor, and will review the legal risks of unhealthy work environments. This portion of the training will also consider how ethical standards of consent, competence, and conflict of interest will direct operations and commitments in the workplace.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will identify cultural humility as a foundational principle for working with and for people.
- Participants will gain familiarity with the NASW Code of Ethics.
- Participants will gain an understanding of the various sources of legal obligations or directives.
- Participants will recognize the connection between ethics and legal obligations and directives.
- Participants will recognize how the challenges and tension in practice settings often have legal and ethical implications such that, in turn, we should look to the law and to our ethics when engaging in problem-solving.
- Participants will accept that our legal and ethical commitments should inform choices about how to organize a practice setting.
Six Hours
Course Fee: $150
CEUs: 6
Online via Canvas Catalog • 3 hours
Instructor: Aaron Katz, MPP
Topic: Managing Staff
In Managing Staff, we will explore the fundamental concepts and techniques for managing staff at all levels of an organization. An effective manager must understand aspects of staff motivation, autonomy, and organizational culture to manage others. We will focus on Self Determination Theory and various types of motivators to help participants develop their management skills. This portion of the training will include specific tools and exercises focused on supervision and management in clinical environments. Participants will self-reflect on the managerial process, focusing on how to be a good coach when managing staff. We will reflect on the values and biases we bring to the process of motivating and managing others, giving special attention to the challenges of managing different types of staff members within human services.
Online via Canvas Catalog • 3 hours
Instructor: Aaron Katz, MPP
Topic: Managing Teams
In Managing Teams, participants will be provided with an introduction to the tools necessary to manage teams in the human services field. Participants will gain insight into their own leadership and management style by completing the Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness (DISC) assessment. We will utilize the DISC assessment to set individual management goals to address real world issues in the field: from developing team motivation, to creating a problem solving culture, to increasing team efficiency. In addition to the DISC, participants will learn process improvement techniques focused upon balancing each team member’s strengths, overall team functioning, and the influence of funders.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will understand the importance of Self Determination Theory.
- Participants will understand various types of motivators and when to utilize them.
- Participants will develop a framework to coach staff members within the human services field.
- Participants will explore problem solving approaches to managing staff.
- Each participant will learn their management style and techniques to focus on the strengths of their style.
- Participants will receive an introduction to team management tools.
- Participants will develop an individual plan to utilize for the future management of their teams.
Six Hours
Course Fee: $150
CEUs: 6
Online via Canvas Catalog • 3 hours
Instructor: Patrick J. McCabe, MBA, MSW, LICSW
Topic: Financial Management
Management requires being able to design a program's budget and understand how to manage a budget. The session will first provide an introduction to budgeting, the purpose of budgeting, the budget process, and how to work with a budget variance. The second half of the session will cover compensation, benefits, and understanding key financial statements. The course will utilize lectures and activities to help you learn the skills to develop and manage a budget, and understand the finances of a non-profit organization.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will learn how non-profit organizations use, develop, and manage budgets, along with adjusting for variances.
- Participants will learn basic compensation concepts.
- Participants will be introduced to the five basic financial statements used in non-profit organizations.
Online via Canvas Catalog • 3 hours
Instructor: Sandy Saenbounmy, MSW
Topic: Grant Writing
In Grant Writing, which will be taught over the course of two 1.5-hour recorded sessions, we will discuss what elements make a grant that funders want to fund, finding the “right” funder for your agency, determining your “sweet-spot” for funders, and leveraging that knowledge to win grants. The session will also explore ways to sustain funding after the grant expires, and how to write grants for various funders including philanthropists, private and family foundations, state and local governments, and federal grants, all of which require very different and varied components. We will also review how the new dynamic of grant writing caused by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic has changed what foundations are looking for. By the end of the session, participants will be able to understand and identify the most receptive funder for their cause.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will gain a foundation on the entire grants process (prospect research, stewardship, grant writing, grant submission, and follow-up).
- Participants will review how to draft a competitive grant proposal (standard vs. COVID-19).
- Participants will determine ways to increase institutional giving at their organization.
Six Hours
Course Fee: $150
CEUs: 6
Online via Canvas Catalog • 4 hours
Instructors: Daniela Thermora, MEd, LMHC
Topic: DEI Considerations in Clinical Supervision
In this module, we will discuss how supervision and management relations have cultural, racial-ethnic, and other aspects that shape core assumptions, attitudes, and values of the persons involved and that may enhance or impede supervision and/or management effectiveness. Participants will be offered tools for establishing a culture of inclusion and cultural responsiveness in supervision, management, and the workplace. The course addresses the value of having a diverse workplace and the steps leaders in an organization can take to encourage and leverage differences. We will explore the concepts of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for strategic change in a non-profit organization. Today an effective manager must understand the business case for fundamentally making DEI concepts the core work of any forward-thinking organization. We will focus on DEI Principles, Dr. Ken Hardy’s VCR work - which is Validate, Challenge, and Request - when oppression, bias, or any “ism” shows up in communication.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will identify practices of culturally sensitive supervision and/or management.
- Participants will understand the dynamics of power and privilege as a supervisor and/or manager, and within a diverse workplace.
- Participants will describe how diversity goes beyond age, race, and gender, and will understand the value of a diverse workplace.
- Participants will adopt a management style that encourages diversity and inclusion.
- Participants will understand Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion vocabulary and safe/brave space concepts.
- Participants will practice Courageous Conversations around difficult topics of Oppression.
- Participants will learn the negative effects of White Fragility and the importance of understanding Privilege.
Online via Canvas Catalog • 2 hours
Instructors: Daniela Thermora, MEd, LMHC
Topic: DEI Considerations in Staff Retention
In this module, we will discuss how to build and support an inclusive environment in order to recruit, hire, and retain your staff. When staff feel valued, comfortable, and safe in their workplace, they perform better. We will learn and talk about DEI focused recruitment, career development, and retention practices that help organizations not just say they are interested in supporting their staff as whole people, but actually do it.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will learn how to build an inclusive culture.
- Participants will learn to create professional pathways that have an equity lens.
- Participants will develop tools to implement and advance DEI initiatives.
- Participants will learn ways to develop a sense of “having a seat at the table” and belonging for their staff.
Six Hours
Course Fee: $150
CEUs: 6
Asynchronous Course - In Development
Online via Canvas Catalog • 3 hours
Instructor: Aaron Katz, MPP
Topic: Managing in Human Services
We will focus on the opportunities and challenges of managing in the human services, specifically as human service differs from more conventional and known business models. We will review the key components of human service organizations and the various ways funding impacts decision making and management. Additional discussion will focus on some of the current policy issues facing human service workplaces and the essential work of workforce development.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will learn the current understanding of funding mechanisms for the vast majority of human services organizations.
- Participants will review the impact of how funding processes impact management structures of human services organizations.
- Participants will review current challenges facing human services managers and various techniques to address these challenges.
Online via Canvas Catalog • 3 hours
Instructor: Aaron Katz, MPP
Topic: Human Resources
We will discuss the challenges of recruitment and on-boarding of staff in the current competitive environment with a focus on approaches to recruitment and retention. Tools for staff assessment and performance management will be discussed. Attention will be paid to creating pathways for upward mobility and diverse experience to maximize employee satisfaction and capitalize on strengths to find the right fit. Discussion will focus both on recognizing the rising star and managing the challenging employee. There will be a review of progressive discipline, writing performance improvement plans, and developing the skills needed to address performance concerns and termination.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will learn the history and growth of Human Resources.
- Participants will develop an understanding of the key elements of Human Resources including recruitment, retention, compliance, and supporting operations in human services.
- Participants will develop a framework to create an environment in collaboration with Human Resources to support upward mobility.
- Participants will learn ways to develop meaningful supervision and motivation techniques that surpass compliance driven requirements.
Registration Coming Soon
Six Hours
Course Fee: $150
CEUs: 6
Management & Supervision in Human Services Instructors
Certificate Information:
To receive the certificate, participants must complete the five courses in the program within three years of initial registration.
Each asynchronous/pre-recorded course will be offered year-round. Asynchronous/pre-recorded courses offer six hours of self-paced instruction and must be completed within 120 days from the date of registration.
General Information:
You must be at least 18 years old to participate in the Management and Supervision in Human Services courses. All sales are final; we are not able to offer refunds. Registrations may not be transferred to another person or to another course, workshop, or program.
Online registration is required to participate in a course. Tuition for each certificate course is $150 to be paid by debit or credit card. Registrations will be processed upon receipt of payment. Payment is due in full in order to enroll.
These courses are approved for CEUs for Social Workers in MA, CT, RI, and VT. They meet the requirements for Continuing Education Hours established by the State Board of Social Worker Licensure in ME. If your state is not listed, please check with your local state licensing board to ensure the course meets state requirements prior to registering.
Boston College Continuing Education is required to ensure attendance to award CEUs. Participants must attend the complete program(s) they register for to receive CEUs; we are not able to award partial CEUs. Those who do not complete an entire course will be unable to receive CEUs.
Getting to Campus
Parking is available at the nearby Beacon Street and Commonwealth Avenue Garages. Discounted parking passes are available upon registration.
Boston College is also accessible via public transportation (MBTA B Line - Boston College).