Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Provides a foundation for information and resource specialists and case managers working with diverse populations in health and
human services fields. Required for the Gerontology: End of Life Care and Advanced Behavioral and Cognitive Care Certificates.

1. Establish empowering and supportive relationships with older adults, persons with disabilities and their families
2. Facilitate coordination with service providers and advocate for access to resources in a broad range of health and human services for older adults, persons with disabilities, and their families
3. Perform the responsibilities of information and resource coordinators, geriatric case managers or related professions in accordance with professional and ethical standards.
4. Make informed choices about certifications with professional associations appropriate to the student’s field of focus, experience, and education.
 

• Lecture, presentations, discussion, and readings on key concepts, issues, laws, and skills in care and service coordination
• Preparation for Alliance of Information and Resource Specialists (AIRS) certification, the National Association of Geriatric Case Managers (affiliate membership), and other tests and certifications required for work particular fields or agencies
• Case studies, scenarios, role play and other active learning approaches to acquire care and service coordination skills

• A variety of assignments will be used to facilitate skills and knowledge acquisition on professional standards and practice
• Assessments in the form of quizzes, essays and other types of objective tests on regulations, relevant laws, documentation and certification requirements
• Case studies, scenarios, role-play and other active learning approaches involving assessments, interventions, care plans and conferences, and other practices in care and service coordination

1. The roles of information and referral specialists, case managers, care and service coordinator in a range of service agencies, in public and private sectors
2. Overview of care and service coordination practice: assessment, care planning, resource management and accountability
3. Building relationships: team communication and collaboration, person-centered, multi-cultural care principles and practice, and interviewing
4. Care and service skills: empathy, active listening, authenticity
5. Communicating with and assessing the needs and strengths of diverse populations
6. Ethical standards: confidentiality, procedural and legal issues
7. Professional boundaries
8. Effective collaboration and coordination among public and private agencies and financial resources
9. National, state, and county regulations and expectations
10. Professional development and certification options