The Community-Based Block Program
Southern California has become one of the most diverse,
multicultural/multilingual areas in the United States. This development
has occurred rather rapidly and consequently schools, colleges,
business, industry and government are being challenged to evolve new
patterns more consistent with the world views of a multiethnic people
and/or people with different life orientations. The Community-Based
Block (CBB) program, which has been in existence for almost 40 years,
is a pioneer in the training of counselors that are multiculturally
competent.
The program is called “community-based” because it has always
been held off campus, in the heart of two of San Diego's multiethnic
neighborhoods and because it creates a learning community in which a
team of faculty and a carefully selected group of students “partner” in
the learning process, each cohort of students helping to structure its
learning experience. It is a “block” program because all classes are
required of all students, who stay together as a group (or “block) for
the entire year.
The Community-Based Block program seeks to develop the
counseling skills of relationship building, process and therapeutic
intervention; the academic skills of critical thinking, systematic
inquiry, program evaluation and effective written and oral
communication; and the personal growth experiences necessary to enable
graduates to use their skills for the benefit of clients. The CBB
program also seeks to adapt counseling skills to the needs of different
populations so as to train truly competent multicultural counselors.
The students are able to gain a unique experience of becoming
counselors through live supervision at the Center for Community
Counseling in City Heights, one of the most diverse communities in San
Diego. The responsibility students assume for their own education helps
them develop the proficiencies they will need to become effective
change agents in schools, colleges and/or social service agencies.
