Gary Michael Zager, M.S.

Welcome

As the Chair of the Human Services Department I welcome you in your exploration of the exciting and rewarding world of Human Services. I have the good fortune of being a full-time instructor here at Cypress College, working alongside Mr. Virgil Adams and Mr. James Tapia, as well as being the Chair in the Human Services Dept. which is part of the Social Sciences Division. In the past I have taught adjunct (part-time) for Cypress College as well as for the University of La Verne in the Psychology Dept.

My Education

Following High School (Loara in Anaheim), I started at Cypress College in 1971 (how fast can you do the math). After spending a fair amount of time away from school I finally figured out what I really wanted out of a college education and returned back to school in 1980. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (1983) from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) as well as, my Masters of Science in Counseling (1985) from CSUF.

Clinical License

I am licensed as a Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) in the State of California. (previously titled MFCC). This license is governed and regulated by the Dept. of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Service is the rent you pay for room on this earth — Shirley Chisholm

Chair & Professor
Human Services Dept.
Cypress College
2008 – Present

Assistant Professor
Human Services Dept.
Cypress College
1999 – 2008

Clinical Director
Casa Youth Shelter
Los Alamitos, California
1991 – 2001, 2003 – Present

Adjunct Instructor
Human Services Dept.
Cypress College
1996 – 1999

Adjunct Instructor
Dept. of Psychology
University of La Verne
Satellite Campus, Fountain Valley, CA.
1994 –1999

Program Director
Child Abuse Prevention, Intervention & Treatment Program & MFCC Internship Program
Family Service Assoc. of Western Riverside Co.
Riverside, California
1989 – 1991

Program Director
Juvenile Diversion Project
Turning Point Family Services
Santa Ana, California
1987 – 1989

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Private Practice
Fullerton, California
1986 – 1999

Senior Counselor
Amparo Youth Shelter
Turning Point Family Services
Garden Grove, California
1986 – 1987

Family Counselor (MFCC Intern)
Drug Suppression Program
Turning Point Family Services
Garden Grove, California
1985 – 1986

Community Service & Restitution Counselor
Turning Point Family Services
Garden Grove, California
1984 – 1985

Psychiatric Aide
Brea Neuro-Psychiatric Institute
Brea, California
1979 – 1984

Reserve Police Officer
Brea Police Department
Brea, California
1974 – 1976

If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.
. . . Benjamin Franklin

After an illustrious 17-year Navy career where she was one of the first WAVES, Myldred retired as a Lieutenant Commander. She chose to live in Los Alamitos, California. As a consultant to then California Governor Ronald Reagan, she conducted an 18-month study of youth problems in the state and in 1968 she founded the first adolescent hotline, which has since become a model throughout the U.S. and internationally as well.

It was through this work that she realized the need for a runaway and homeless youth shelter in Orange County. In 1977, she sold her home to purchase two side-by-side lots nearby, where she opened the Casa de Bienvenidos Youth Shelter in 1978. Myldred recalls that the shelter—with a very limited budget and only one paid staff member—managed to survive that first year in part due to her bountiful zucchini garden! Since those first days, over 10,000 youths have spent more than 91,000 nights at Casa with 273,000 meals served and over 43,000 family members have been helped through her love and caring.

Myldred’s commendations, awards, and honors:

• U.S. Navy Relief Society Meritorious Award, 1960
• Humanitarian of the Year, American Red Cross, 1968
• Woman of the Year, Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce, 1974
• Distinguished Citizen Award, Cypress College, 1983
• Clara Polz Award for Distinguished Service, California Law Auxiliary D, 1986
• Alexis de Tocqueville Society of Orange County Award, 1987
• Woman of the Year Recognition, California State Legislature
• Presidential Recognition Award for Community Service awarded by President Ronald Reagan, 1988
• Senior Citizen Award, Long Beach City College, 1992
• National PTA Honorary Service Award, 1989
• Diocese of Orange, Catholic Volunteer Women of the Year, 1993
• SERTOMA Recipient, Orange County Volunteer Recognition and Pacific Southwest Region, 1994
• Pope John XXIII Award, 1995
• Americana Woman of the Year, Cypress College Foundation, 1998
• Honorary Doctorate in Public Service, Santa Clara University, 1998
• Children’s Friend Award,- Childhelp USA, Orange County Chapter – For Outstanding Humanitarian Contributions over a lifetime. 2001>
• Community Service Award,  Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, CA. 2001

Commendations, Proclamations, Celebratory Greetings – Occasion of 90th Birthday, Received from:

Sec. Gen. United Nations, President Wm. Clinton, Former Presidents Bush, Carter, Ford and Reagan, Secretaries of Defense, Wm. Cohen and Navy, R. Danzig, Senators Boxer and Feinstein, Representatives Horn, Royce and Sanchez, Gov. G. Davis, Generals Powell and Schwartzkoph, Adm. L. Edney, State Senators Dun and Johnson, Assemblyman S. Baugh, Supervisor J. Silva, President, NAACP, K. Mufume, Wittenberg U. President, Dr. B. Tipson, Mayors of Cypress, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach, CA, Presidents of Orange County American Red Cross and United Way and many other public, private and military individuals. 1999

Myldred’s other nonprofit involvement:

• Founder, in 1968, of first adolescent hotline, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, California
• Founder, in 1975, and past director of West Orange County Hotline, which handles over 1,000 calls per month from people in crisis situations
• Founder and Vice President of Creative Listeners Guild (with Carl Rogers)
• Founder, in 1978, and Executive Board Member of Casa Youth Shelter
• Founder and Executive Board Member of WE CARE, a nonprofit corporation for the homeless and near homeless in West Orange County, California
• Board Member of Precious Life Shelter, a shelter for pregnant women with nowhere else to turn

Other Jobs & Careers that Myldred has held over the years:

• Teacher
• Social Worker
• Juvenile Probation Officer
• Navy Officer
• United Nations Liaison
• Civil Rights Activist
• Social Activist

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.
— A Chinese Proverb

HUSR 200 C Introduction to Human Services

This is the first course that many students will want to start their HUSR educational journey with. This course covers the needs of our communities as well as the opportunities to work in non-profit and for-profit agencies.

• Social Science Division Website
• Human Services Department Website
• Casa Youth Shelter
  This is a good example of a nonprofit human services agency in our community.

Catalog Course Description:

This course covers the history and philosophy of the human services; function and orientation of human service agencies and institutions; human services as careers; opportunities and qualifications at various entry levels of human services employment.

Textbook

Burger, William R., Human Services in Contemporary America, 7^th Edition, 2008, BROOKS/COLE Publishing Company, Pacific Grove California ISBN-10: 0-495-11524-X (I will also accept students using the 6th edition)

Activities

Learning experiences will consist of assigned readings, lectures, class discussions, videos, student and guest lecturer presentations.

Evidence of Learning Objectives and Class Assignments

Exams

There will be two tests. Each test will be comprised of fifty multiple-choice questions each worth 2 points. In addition the midterm exam will have an essay question worth 50 points. The midterm test will be worth a total of 150 points. The final exam will be worth 100 points. Exams will test knowledge and understanding of information presented during lectures, readings and class presentations. Exam #2 will be a final exam in the traditional sense. It will be cumulative, and will cover material presented over the entire course of the semester. Students will be permitted to take an exam late if, in the Instructor’s opinion, there was a very good reason for missing the original exam date. There will be a 10% Late Penalty, no exceptions. Students will need a Scantron Form #886-E for each exam. Scantron forms can be purchased in the bookstore.

Reaction Paper

There will be one reaction paper worth a maximum of 50 points. This paper is to be at least four pages long, double spaced, and are to be the student’s reactions to a guest speaker presentation. There will be a 10% late penalty, no exceptions. Please follow the outline in the back of the syllabus.

Site Visit Project & Presentation

Each student will be required to complete a site visit project and presentation. Each student is to visit a human services agency site and interview an agency professional. Students are not to pick a site where they have or do work or have received services. The student is to write up their findings utilizing the outline in the back of the syllabus. The student will also present their findings in a five-minute class presentation. Students are encouraged to, but are not required, to team up in pairs and when they do so presentation time will be extended to 10 minutes. Even though site visits and presentations may be done in pairs, papers are to be written individually. This class project and presentation will be worth a maximum of 150 points (100 for the paper and 50 for the presentation). There will be a 10% late penalty, no exceptions.

Life is an adventure to be lived and not a problem to be solved.
—Unknown

Catalog Course Description

This course offers students the opportunity to work and learn in a human services agency. Students will document 125 hours of supervised field study per semester and will attend one lecture per week.

Course Description:

Human Services Fieldwork classes (Introduction and Advanced) offer opportunities for students to develop a personal understanding of service learning through active participation in a community-based human service agency. Through practical experience, and critical self-reflections, you will be able to apply academic knowledge and skills to the “real” world while also being able to explore career interests and develop networking relationships. Students will also be able to develop a sensitivity and compassion for diverse social groups.

HUSR 210 / 211 gives an opportunity to work, volunteer or paid, at a human services agency.  There are thousands of acceptable agencies to choose from in the Orange County / Greater Long Beach Metropolitan area.

Activities

Learning experiences will consist of on-site work at a human services agency, assigned readings, lectures, class discussions, videos and student presentations

Evidence of Learning Objectives and Class Assignments

Class Attendance: 100 points ** INTRODUCTION TO FIELDWORK (HUSR 210) & ADVANCED FIELDWORK (HUSR 211) **

Class attendance is an important part of course curriculum. In an effort to encourage consistent class attendance 5.56 points will be awarded for each class session attended. A total of 100 points will be available in this section. Any student missing three (3) classes in a row will be dropped from the class. Any student missing three classes without notifying the instructor of the “good” reason (from the instructor’s perspective) for the absences may be dropped.

Resume: 50 points ** INTRODUCTION TO FIELDWORK (HUSR 210) & ADVANCED FIELDWORK (HUSR 211) **

Students are to write a resume that lists their qualifications and talents. Feel free to use the blank MS Work form on myGateway or a template that is available in most word processing programs on readily available on the web. See the outline that follows later in this syllabus.

Fieldwork Site Presentation: 50 points  ** INTRODUCTION TO FIELDWORK (HUSR 210) & ADVANCED FIELDWORK (HUSR 211) **

Each student will be required to complete a Fieldwork Site presentation. The student will present their site in a five-minute class presentation. Site presentations may be done in pairs. This class presentation will be worth a maximum of 50 points. Please use the outline that follows in this syllabus. There will be a 10% Late Penalty, no exceptions. There is no guarantee that there will be an opportunity to present late. Schedule accordingly.

Fieldwork Forms: 100 points ** INTRODUCTION TO FIELDWORK (HUSR 210) & ADVANCED FIELDWORK (HUSR 211) **

The following Fieldwork Forms must be turned in for credit during the course of the semester. Fieldwork Learning Contract – 25 points, Fieldwork Site Information Form – 25 points, Student Evaluation of Fieldwork Agency and Supervisor – 25 points, Agency Evaluation of Fieldwork Student – 25 points, Fieldwork Hours Log Form (this form tells your instructor that you actually worked your  hours). Please note the due dates for these forms vary and see the class calendar for the specific due date for each form.

Site Journal: 100 points *INTRODUCTION TO FIELDWORK (HUSR 210) &  ADVANCED FIELDWORK (HUSR 211)*

This paper is worth 100 points. Once per week you are to make an entry in your internship journal that describes some significant event (s) at your fieldwork site. Please use the outline in the syllabus.

Service Hours: 250 points ** INTRODUCTION TO FIELDWORK (HUSR 210) & ADVANCED FIELDWORK (HUSR 211) **

Students are required to work a minimum of 125 hours of service at their fieldwork site.  Students who do not log at least 125 hours will receive an “F” in the class. Students will receive two points for each hour worked. Students must track their hours using the Fieldwork Hours Log Form that follows in the syllabus. Prior to being turned in on the final class session the Fieldwork Hours Log Form must be signed off by the agency supervisor. In addition the Fieldwork Student Evaluation Form and the Fieldwork Site Evaluation Form must be turned in for class credit.

It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. In this life we get nothing save by effort.

      —Theodore Roosevelt

Catalog Course Description

This course introduces techniques for beginning crisis counseling, including recognition of crisis, assessment of crisis and referral to the appropriate crisis agency. Special attention will be given to the process of intervention and to the recording of information regarding problems with alcohol and other drugs. Participants will implement a variety of crisis skills through and experiential format.

Textbook

Kanel, Kristi A Guide to Crisis Intervention, 3rd  Edition, 2007, Brooks/Cole Thompson Learning, Pacific Grove, California ISBN: 0-495-00776-S

Activities

Learning experiences will consist of assigned readings, lectures, class discussions, role plays, videos, peer presentations and guest lecturer presentations.

Evidence of Learning Objectives and Class Assignments

Exams

There will be two tests, both of equal weight. Each test will be comprised of fifty multiple-choice questions each worth 2 points. In addition there will be essay questions, based on each chapter, worth 50 points. Each test will be worth a total of 150 points. Exams will test knowledge and understanding of information presented during lectures, readings and class presentations. Exam #2 will be a final exam in the traditional sense. It will be cumulative, and will cover material presented over the entire course of the semester. Students will be permitted to take an exam late if, in the Instructor’s opinion, there was a very good reason for missing the original exam date. There will be a 10% late penalty, no exceptions. Students will need a Scantron Form # 886-E for each exam. Scantron forms can be purchased in the bookstore.

Reaction/Book Report Paper

There will be one reaction/book report paper. This paper is to be at least five pages long, double-spaced, and is to be the student’s reactions as well as a book report of a book found in the Cypress College Library on the topic of Crisis Intervention. Please follow the outline in the back of the syllabus. Each reaction/book report paper will be worth a maximum of 100 Points.

Crisis Intervention Clinical Site Visit Observation Experience

This requirement involves identifying a crisis intervention facility, making a appointment to interview a crisis intervention worker, tour the facilities and ideally, observe the interactions of the staff and those they serve. Sites could include but are not limited to: A Hotline (rape, suicide, etc) A fire or police station, a trauma center (County-USC or UCI Medical Centers, etc), A battered women’s or adolescent runaway shelter. You will then write a paper describing your experience using the outline that is latter in this syllabus. This project is worth 100 points.

Role-Plays and Classroom Participation

There will be several times in class where each student will be given the opportunity to role play and demonstrate understanding of crisis intervention techniques. A total of 100 points are available in this section.

“When written in Chinese the word
‘crisis’ is composed of 2 characters.
One represents danger,
and the other represents opportunity.”
—John Fitzgerald Kennedy
(35th US president, 1917-63)