Bow Valley College

LIFE SKILLS COACH PROGRAM

The Skills Coach Program is an experiential program based on the Saskatchewan NewStart model of Life Skills. The program is competency based with an adherence to the principles of adult education. The goal of the program is to provide direction and instruction to participants to become leaders/facilitators (Coaches) of experiential learning groups. Participants are equipped to deal effectively with student issues and gain competence in their ability to guide students through the stages of self-discovery, behavior identification, acquisition of knowledge in an experiential environment and transferability and application of skills. The Life Skills Coach program is intended for mature adults who have experience in the community and human service field. The program is designed to involve participants actively in their own education with an emphasis on experiential and creative aspects of learning, based on a solid foundation of behavioral skills and theoretical understanding.

The Life Skills Coach program consists of 8 months of intensive training offered on an evening/weekend schedule to accommodate working professionals. The 8-month program is designated as a full time program of studies which consists of 540 hours of core programming. Upon completion of the core program, successful graduates will receive a program certificate and may exit directly to employment, may be recommended to pursue their “Internship for Group Certification”(a 105 hour elective course) or graduates may exit into Year Two, the post Certificate, Career Development Coach Diploma program.

LENGTH OF PROGRAM · Core Program 540 Hrs · Post Program, Internship & Certification 105 Hrs · Total 645 Hrs ADMISSION PRE-REQUISITES · Three to five years experience in community and/or human service field · Ability to work at a post-secondary level with grade 12 or equivalent, computer literacy with reliable email address · Willingness to apply one’s self with energy and commitment to achieve the level of competence necessary to function as a Life Skills Coach · Evidence of the application of successful life skills to the applicant’s own life for the past 3 to 5 years · Willingness to accept exposure to self exploration as well as coaching theory and skill development TUITION AND COSTS Tuition $ 4140 Materials Fees $ 135 - Mandatory Smart Card (Student ID) $ 5 - Mandatory Internship Fee $ 384 Total $ 4664 Books (approximate) $ 200 – Book Store Application Fee $ 40 – Non-refundable PROGRAM COURSES Foundations and Coaching Theory 10Credits Focus on the acquisition of coaching competencies, theoretical understanding of group dynamics, personal coaching orientation, primary evaluation skills and advanced facilitation skills in a living lab environment Peer Coaching/Peer Evaluation 6 Credits Focus on lesson delivery to a peer group, peer evaluation skills, processing skills, and competencies required to create and maintain an optimum experiential learning environment

Lesson Plan Development 6 Credits Focus on preparation of lesson content for experiential delivery; the creation of visual aid supports, acquisition of platform skills, and development of examples/analogies to underpin theoretical concepts Managing a Life Skills Program 3 Credits Focus on administrative responsibilities, organizational skills, proposal writing, and program development Career Development Facilitation 3 Credits Focus on tools and strategies of career development, and the integration of life skills competencies into employment groups Professional Development 3 Credits Focus on current knowledge in the field of addictions, brain function and dominance profiling, development of a cross cultural perspective, and introduction to the Alberta Association of Professional Life Skills Coaches Observation, Assessment & Evaluation 3 Credits Focus on learning objectives, performance indicators, reporting and writing evaluations in court admissible language Performance Centred Counselling 2 Credits Focus on the development of specific coaching/counseling techniques used in client focused and solution based one to one counseling. Internship for Group Certification 7Credits Focus on the management, delivery and evaluation of a student based life skills course of a minimum of 105 hours. The designation “Certified” Life Skills Coach is awarded to Interns who successfully complete the Internship experience and evaluation documentation.

Most Frequently Asked Questions

	What employment opportunities are available to graduates of the program?	A wide range of employment opportunities exists. Graduates, depending on additional credentials, may look forward to positions as: Life Skills Coach, Group Facilitator, Social and Community Service Worker, Employment Counselor, Group Home Worker, Rehabilitation Counselor, Various Administrative Positions, One to One Support Worker, Instructor in Adult Education and Career Development Facilitator. Life Skills Coaches are sought after to work in agencies where inter-personal, communication and problem solving skills are required in a team environment.
Does everyone have to complete the Internship for Group Certification when they graduate?		Many people take Life Skills Coach training for Professional Development purposes and then choose not to undertake the Internship for Group Certification to gain the designation “Certified” Life Skills Coach. They gain a Life Skills Coach program certificate upon graduation and may choose to enter year two of the Life Skills and Career Development Coach Diploma program. These graduates qualify for membership in the Alberta Association of Professional Life Skills Coaches.
Does the government recognize Life Skills programming?		Alberta Learning recognizes Life Skills or personal management skills as a component of basic education. Life Skills Coach is registered in the National Occupations Classification directory. Additionally, the Life Skills Coach and Career Development Coach programs are both recognized by Alberta Learning as Credit Transferable programs.
What financial assistance is available for participants?		Working professionals may qualify for support from their employer. The program is also loan approved by the Alberta Student Finance Board. Others may qualify through their First Nations Band, Treaty Organization or Métis Association, while others have been sponsored by Employment Insurance or Workers Compensation. Individuals have also approached their own financial institutions for student loan support.
Is this program professional development or vocational training?		The program is designed for both professionals already working in a related field, and is structured to provide extensive vocational preparation to qualified applicants of the program.
What are the exit options of the program?		Upon completion of the core program, successful graduates will earn a program certificate as a Life Skills Coach and may exit directly to employment, may be recommended to pursue their Internship for Group Certification (to gain a Certified Life Skills Coach designation) or graduates may also exit into year two of the Life Skills and Career Development Coach Diploma program.