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    Allied Health and Public Safety

    Community Social Services & Substance Abuse

    COSER image 1

    The Merritt College Community Social Services program prepares students for employment in entry-level positions in the social services and other human services professions. The Substance Abuse program is designed to prepare students for employment in entry-level paraprofessional positions providing counseling, case management, crisis management, and relapse prevention services to substance abuse clients.

    Department Overview

    The Community Social Services program prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions, offer further training for persons already employed, and provide students the opportunity to explore vocational choices within the social services field.

    The COSER program is vocational, academic, and clinical in nature. COSER trains students in the practice dimensions and core competencies of SUD counseling while providing a theoretical foundation in the behavioral sciences and human service professions. COSER provides education and training for career opportunities in paraprofessional human services positions, substance use disorder counseling, case management, crisis management, and relapse prevention services.

    The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) ensures quality treatment with the substance use disorder (SUD) treatment field by enforcing the Counselor Certification Regulations, Title 9, Division 4, Chapter 8. The COSER Substance Use Disorder Counseling Program meets all of the DHCS Regulations required to become a California Certified SUD Counselor.

     

    Street Scholars

    Merritt Love-Moss Center

     

    What is the Street Scholars Program?

    The Love-Moss Center for Re-Entry & Empowerment: Home of the Street Scholars

    Street Scholars serves people enrolled at Merritt College (or one of the other three Peralta Colleges) who have been impacted by systems either through their own police contact or due to a loved one’s ongoing involvement with the justice system and are facing challenges achieving long-term stability in their community. There is no minimum term or length of time that a person must have negative involvement with the justice system to get support.

    Another population that the Street Scholars serves are older, non-traditional re-entry students that have not been in an academic setting for 5 or more years.

    Founded by the late COSER Professor Ron Moss, the Street Scholars continue to advocate for people who historically have been disregarded.

     

    Street Scholars Services

    collage of photos showing Merritt College Street Scholars students

    The Street Scholars peer mentoring program is ran BY justice impacted individuals FOR justice impacted individuals. We are committed to supporting our people by providing the following services:

    • Academic Tutoring
    • Peer Mentoring
    • Individual Check-Ins
    • Group Check-Ins
    • Clean & Sober Social Events
    • Internet Access & Printing
    • Access to School Supplies
    • Homework Space
    • Hot Food, Snacks & Coffee
    • Employment readiness workshops
    • Assistance with applying and transferring to a 4-year University
    • Connection to other Formerly Incarcerated/Systems Impacted groups at 4-year University
    • On-campus referrals to student services
    • Referrals to community-based organizations
    • Support with Record Expungement

    To refer yourself or your student for services, go to www.tinyurl.com/streetscholar

     

    Location
    The Love-Moss Center for Re-entry & Empowerment
    Home of the Street Scholars
    in Room P-112

    Street Scholars Services Hours Flyer 2025

    Street Scholars Staff Information

    To ask questions, please email StreetScholars@peralta.edu.

    To schedule an appointment or request presentations at your facility, please go to www.calendly.com/streetscholars

    Follow us on Facebook and on Instagram!

    IG: @the_streetscholars

    FB: @the.street.scholars

     

    Program Director
    Biancca Parazo
    mparazo@peralta.edu
    341-208-8070

    Street Scholars Student Peer Mentors

    Al-Pierre El
    510-467-9765

    Ruben Collins
    510-434-3700

    Mila Rampola
    510-467-5165

    Marlo Ornelas

    Outreach Services / Transition Liaison
    Marlo Ornelas-O’Neill
    510- 723-4229

     

    To ask questions, please email StreetScholars@peralta.edu.

    To schedule an appointment or request presentations at your facility, please go to www.calendly.com/streetscholars

    Follow us on Facebook and on Instagram!

    IG: @the_streetscholars

    FB: @the.street.scholars

     

    Contact Information

    Faculty Instructor
    Program Coordinator
    Department Chair
    Professor Biancca Parazo
    mparazo@peralta.edu
    (341) 208-8070

    Instructional Assistant
    Anna Jackson
    annajackson@peralta.edu
    (510) 564-7885

     Diane Chang

    Interim Dean of Math, Science, Technology & Allied Health
    Diane Chang
    Bldg. S-441
    dtchang@peralta.edu
    (510) 436-2426

    Staff Assistant
    Danielle Black
    danielleblack@peralta.edu
    (510) 436-2409

    Degree & Certificate

    COSER class image 1 Community Social Services/Substance Abuse – A.A. Degree

    The Community Social Services/Substance Abuse program is designed to prepare students for employment in entry-level paraprofessional positions providing counseling, case management, crisis management, and relapse prevention services to substance abuse clients. 

    More Info
    Street Scholars image 5 Community Social Services/Substance Abuse – Certificate of Achievement

    The Community Social Services/Substance Abuse program is designed to prepare students for employment in entry-level paraprofessional positions providing counseling, case management, crisis management, and relapse prevention services to substance abuse clients. 

    More Info

    Faculty & Staff

    Biancca Parazo

     

     

     

     

    Professor Biancca Parazo
    Faculty Instructor, Department Chair
    mparazo@peralta.edu
    341-208-8070

    Richard Santana

     

     

     

     

    Professor Richard Santana
    Faculty Instructor
    rsantana@peralta.edu

    Professor Vince Garrett
    Faculty Instructor
    vgarrett@peralta.edu

    Melvin Newton

     

     

     

    Professor Melvin Newton, MSW

    		    

     

    Merritt-College-Campus-2

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