Herzing Blog

Updated December 2022

Working with at-risk populations is central to community service work.

CSWs are trained to support people dealing with serious life challenges, which may include addictions, mental health disorders, cases of domestic violence, and other, high-stress situations that sometimes lead to acute crises.

When we experience a crisis, our ability to cope and make decisions is seriously impaired. We need specialized support to regain control and find an effective solution to the problem at hand.

CSWs are trained to provide that support, and stop individuals in crisis from harming themselves or others. No easy task!

Non-violent crisis intervention training typically introduces students to a step-by-step model—a guide they can follow to help others get through traumatic experiences in the safest, most effective way possible.

In this post, we walk current (and prospective) CSW students through the seven-step approach many social workers use.

Updated March 2023

You’ve landed on this page because you’re interested in a career in healthcare. You’re drawn to roles where you can really help people and make a meaningful difference in their lives, but you don’t want to spend years at university earning a degree. 

Community support worker (CSW) and health care aide (HCA) are two excellent alternatives. Both are front-line roles with positive impact. Both are in demand in Manitoba. And you can train for either career in less than 12 months. 

Which path should you choose? Which role suits you best? 

In this post, we’ll walk you through the main differences between community support workers and health care aides. You will learn how training, job responsibilities, skills, and career options vary between these two roles. By the end, you’ll know which path is right for you and exactly how to get started.