The community management program consists of 24 modules designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of community program managers. There are 21 core courses and three electives for participants from different program areas – Health Management, Social Development, and Community Wellness. Students are encouraged to complete assignments which will benefit their individual programs. This professional development program is beneficial to participants, fellow employees and the communities served. Yellowquill College feels that participants learn from the facilitator, the materials provided, and the interaction with other participants. Many of the assignments require participants to have computer skills, therefore, participants are introduced to computer skills during the orientation course.

Benefits of on-site delivery:

1. Increased interaction with facilitator
2. Increased interaction with other participants
3. Greater opportunity for team building and networking
4. Enhanced sharing of ideas and issues

Orientation - 3 credits
The student will review stress and time management strategies to use in both their personal and work environments. The student will have an opportunity to learn and apply skills in effective study and review techniques, and complete an assessment of personal management skill levels and learning styles. The student will also be introduced to the basic operations of computer systems and the application of computer software used by managers and staff as well as Internet research techniques.

Interpersonal Communications - 3 credits
Effective communication involves speaking clearly, listening for understanding, reading effectively, fostering an open communications climate and resolving conflict effectively. In this course we will look at each of each of these communication factors and provide the participant with opportunities to practice effective interpersonal skills and techniques. Participants will look at their own behavioral style and the implications of working with other styles of behavior. The “Fish” philosophy for building more effective work environments is introduced for students to practice throughout the program.

Communications I - 3 credits
Effective communication is the key to any successful organization - especially where "teamwork" is essential for providing effective programs and services. It is critical that managers have good written communication skills in order to carry out their functions. Students will practice skills in a variety of written communication mediums – letters, memorandums, reports, and e-mail. Writing documents that look professional and grammatically correct will be emphasized.

Contemporary First Nation Issues - 3 credits
In order for Managers to develop and manage effective programs, they must be aware of the changes globally, nationally, provincially, and locally that impact First nation people. This course provides the students with current information on issues and the skills for analyzing the short and long term impact of events taking place in the world, across Canada and within the Province on the health of their community members. Students are introduced to writing briefing notes. In this course we bring a number of presenters on topics relating to current First Nation issues.

Presentations - 3 credits
This course provides the students with information and practical experiences in facilitating and presenting oral presentations in a clear, understandable, persuasive and professional manner. Students will be practice making a presentation on using PowerPoint.

Community Program Planning I - 3 credits
In order to develop and implement community programs and services, it is important that time be taken to initially develop a strategic plan as to how the necessary information and resources required for the planning phase will be collected, utilized, and interpreted to ensure that the programs and services meet the identified priority issues. This course takes the student through the steps involved in the pre-planning phase of program planning and includes practical experience in the design, implementation, and interpretation of need assessments, work plans, and project management techniques. Students will be encouraged to study the wide range of statistical information that affects planning.

Community Program Planning II - 3 credits
(Community Health Planning I is a pre-requisite for this module,)
When all the necessary information and resources have been collected in the preplanning phase, the next step is the actual development of a community program or service. This course emphasizes the importance of a team approach to the program planning phase and will provide the student with practical experience in the design, of an actual program work plan required by funding agencies.

Communications II - 3 credits
Students will practice skills in writing annual reports, and program work plans required for program employees to deliver effective services. Students will look a developing program goals and objectives and will be introduced to desktop publishing.

Proposal Writing - 3 credits
Managers need to learn skills in writing proposals that are effective and persuasive in order to receive additional financial support. This course provides the student with the techniques for writing proposals. The student will be involved in preparing an actual program proposal to a point of being ready for submission. Follow-up steps to the proposal submission will be reviewed as well as a review of possible funding sources.Case Management I 3 credits

Case Management II - 3 credits
The goal of Case Management is to provide students with an overview of the function within a controlled environment. Students learn the goals and principles of case management, case management skills such as interviewing and communication as well as documentation and record keeping. Ethical issues are discussed as well as privacy information regulations. Effective and accountable case management practices form an essential part of the capacity building for communities.

Financial Planning I - 3 credits
It is important that program managers have basic knowledge and skills in the process involved when financial transactions take place within their departmental area. This knowledge must then be transferred to the budget making process for health programs. This course teaches the student the terminology and the steps involved for journalizing and posting transactions; completing, analyzing, and interpreting the financial statements; and completing bank reconciliations.

Financial Planning II - 3 credits
(Financial Planning I is a pre-requisite for this module.)
With self-government, it is essential managers have a good understanding of the processes involved in the management of the finances for programs and services. This will require the manager to work jointly with the Financial Administrator in making decisions for financial management planning. This course is unique as it provides the student with insight and knowledge as to the various funding sources, formula calculations, policies, government restraints, audits, and other issues that impact the financial management planning process of First Nation communities. Students will be involved in developing a budget and cash flow, and a financial plan. Managers must also understand what is needed for auditing purposes and what value there is an audit report.

Management Studies I - 3 credits
Issues surrounding the service areas of the First Nation people are constantly changing. In order to effectively manage ongoing changes, managers must learn the roles and skills required to efficiently plan, organize, lead, and control the activities of their health departments. This course is designed to provide the students with the opportunity to study and practice effective leadership, management of change, problem solving, and decision-making skills necessary to address their community issues.

Management Studies II - 3 credits
This course emphasizes the management functions at they relate to meeting preparation and conducting meetings. Students will be provided with suggestions for selecting and hiring researchers and consultants from outside the community and the design and the legal responsibilities involved in contract agreements.

Management Studies III - 3 credits
This course deals with developing and maintaining effective teams. Students will be introduced to techniques for dealing with difficult people whether clients 0r coworkers and effective strategies for conflict management and negotiation.

Policies and Procedures - 3 credits
Policies and procedures are an essential element of any organization. From a management viewpoint, they can be considered the guidelines that not only ensure consistency and standards of conduct and practice within the organization, but they are a key ingredient to protecting the organization from potential lawsuits and continuous employee relation problems. This course makes the student aware of the components required in a Policy and Procedures Manual and experience in the design, writing, and revising of policies and procedures.

Human Resource Management I - 3 credits
Managers must understand and carry out some of the most basic and important tasks and functions. This module studies the management functions of directing and controlling First Nations communities. The focus is on the skills needed to become a "good" leader and develop well functioning teams. It is important for managers to cultivate skills that will enable them to select and supervise employees with confidence and knowledge. Students will learn the process of planning for future staffing needs by developing a personnel plan that includes recruitment strategies and job descriptions.

Human Resource Management II - 3 credits
What do you do after you have hired an employee? A well thought out employee orientation will not only familiarize the employee with their new environment, it will ensure that as a manager you have not neglected to inform your new employee of all of the needed information. Too often, performance appraisals are either poorly done, incomplete, or have not been conducted at all. Performance appraisals are essential management communication tools that ensure the goals and objectives of both the employee and the organization are met. Performance appraisals can also be tools to support management decisions regarding the dismissal of an employee may need to be made. The students will be involved in the design of and the conducting of an employee performance appraisal.

Human Resource Management III - 3 credits
The downfall to any successful organization is the inability of a manager to assign specific tasks to the staff team. A manager needs to have the skills and strategies to give both written and aural instructions in enough detail for employee understanding. Managers of any organization also need to pay close attention to the laws that must be followed in the hiring and firing processes. Students will learn the importance of careful planning and documentation involved in the hiring and dismissal of staff and review current Labour laws. Students will have the opportunity to work through the steps of the disciplinary process and conduct an employee exit interview.

Networking and Marketing - 3 credits
The student will examine a variety of effective networking and marketing techniques that can be applied to the planning and promotion of community programs and services. Students will gain the knowledge and practical experience of designing the marketing plan for a community program.

Medical Terminology I (optional course) - 3 credits
Medical Terminology II (optional course) - 3 credits
These courses will familiarize students with the basic understanding of medical terminology, and how the parts of the terms are put together to build terms for the various health conditions. Students will become familiar with some of the medical language commonly used for a variety of health conditions, to better understand the needs of their clients and to understand medical reports.

Counseling (optional course) - 3 credits
This module teaches students the importance of understanding the difference between the counseling function and "giving advice" or "being a good listener". Students will review communication skills in perception checks and paraphrasing and describing and labeling feelings. Students will be able to demonstrate appropriate counselor communication skills to work clients through the problem-solving process. Documentation and completing record of service in a client file will be reviewed.

Addictions (optional course) - 3 credits
This course is an overview of alcohol and drug issues facing communities. Students will learn to identify and become aware of the signs of experimental, harmful, and dependent use of drugs and alcohol. Students will explore strategies for intervention and referral and implementing stages for change in individual clients.

Database (optional course) - 3 credits
Students will work with Microsoft access for information management to track client information and develop statistical reports.

Delivering Workshop (optional course) - 3 credits
Knowledge from previous course will be integrated into this course. Students will plan and deliver a three-hour workshop that will include advertising, development of participant materials, design of audio visual aids, room set up and evaluation.

Family Violence (optional course) - 3 credits
Family violence is a community issue and affects everyone. It may be a factor in daily activities and it may be affecting life in a community. The course will provide participants with an introduction to family violence, defining what family violence is, types of family violence, services needed and factors contributing to family violence.