Updated February 2023

A Community Support Worker (CSW) diploma is a quick, efficient way to start a career in social services.

If you want to do front-line work in your community, but don’t want to earn a university degree in social work, a CSW diploma is a good alternative. It takes just 12 months to complete the program. 

We have been delivering CSW training for several years.

Students always say their favourite part of the program is the hands-on training in counselling, plus the real experience they get on internship at a local community organization.Most students are excited to get out there and start working with people in need. They’re not interested in spending years studying social work history and theory.  

So, exactly what topics and skills are covered in a CSW diploma? How does it prepare you for the challenges of supporting at-risk people?

Read on for a good preview of what you’ll be learning in class.

Photo: Chika Modozie (far left) standing with local community members (Source: cbc.ca)

Chika Modozie started out with a degree in Business Administration, but she always knew business wasn’t her true calling. She wanted a career where she could help people in need.

After immigrating to Canada almost 10 years ago, Chika found herself looking at new training options. She landed in Herzing’s Community Support Worker (CSW) program, which completely changed the course of her life.

Photo: Community outreach workers distributing Naloxone kits to homeless people

Updated December 2022

Are you drawn to a career in social services, but don't know what types of jobs are available in this field? Or maybe you’re interested in becoming a community outreach worker, but need to know more about what the position involves.

You've come to the right place.

In this post, we'll break down exactly what a community outreach worker does, including the training, career options, and skills required for this position.

We'll also look at some recent job postings and salaries from the Ottawa area, so you can explore descriptions, employers, and typical pay for this work.

Get a complete overview of the profession, and see if becoming a community outreach worker is right for you.

Image: Volunteering and hands-on training are core components of a quality CSW course

Updated December 2022

Planning to become a community support worker (CSW)? You're on track to a rewarding career with many different job options.

Community services is a challenging, diverse, and quickly growing field. CSWs work in front-line roles, supporting vulnerable populations and helping people lead healthier more independent lives.

So how do  you get started?

Your first step is find a quality community support worker course. There are quite a few colleges across Manitoba that offer this program. How do you know which one to choose?

While you should certainly take the time to do your own research, there are a few key factors that every good community support worker course should offer.

In this post, we outline all the features you should look for when researching CSW training options.

After reading, you will be much better prepared to find a great program to launch your career.

Photo: Community Services Worker students and instructor at Herzing College Ottawa (2019)

Community services workers (CSWs) play a very important role in society.

They work directly with vulnerable people who need immediate support, including at-risk youth, survivors of domestic abuse, refugees, and people suffering from addiction and mental health issues.

Community services workers connect people with resources, provide counselling, and arrange treatment programs depending on each person’s needs.

It can be an incredibly rewarding career path for anyone looking to work with others and help address social issues. Without the support of community services workers, many at-risk people would have nowhere to turn for help. CSWs make a real difference in the community.

Interested in this career?

In this post, we’ll show you six examples of community services worker jobs along with descriptions of each position.

These are the jobs our own CSW graduates are often hired to fill.