Spotlight on ECC’s Social and Human Services Program and its Growing Impact

Monasha Howell

Edgecombe Community College’s Social and Human Services program prepares students for careers in counseling, rehabilitation and community‑based support.

The program is highlighted by graduates such as Monasha Howell, who says her path into human services began in childhood while accompanying her mother, a certified nursing assistant, to work.

“I was always with her on weekends when she went to work,” Howell said. “Watching how she interacted with patients and staff, I always knew that’s the kind of environment I wanted to be in.”

Howell initially pursued nursing and worked as a CNA at Vidant Hospital. She said the experience broadened her understanding of how many ways people can be supported through human services.

“There are so many different things you can do to help people in human service,” she said.

At ECC, Howell discovered a passion for working with individuals navigating substance use recovery.

“I see the progress,” she said. “They become totally different people. They’re happier, motivated, and they finally feel heard.”

She credits former instructor Renee Pearson for preparing her for the field through hands‑on communication exercises.

“Ms. Pearson taught us how to communicate, listen, and be empathetic,” Howell said. “Those one‑on‑one exercises, where all eyes were on you, taught me how to hold my composure and do my job effectively.”

ECC’s Social and Human Services program prepares students like Howell to assist in drug and alcohol counseling, prevention‑oriented education, rehabilitation with recovering clients, community program management, residential counseling and more. Coursework includes chemical dependency, psychological and sociological processes, intervention techniques and follow‑up strategies.

Takisha Jones, Social and Human Services instructor at ECC and a graduate of the college, says the program is rewarding, and the skills gained may be used with several different populations.

“The Social and Human Services program at Edgecombe Community College prepares students for meaningful careers serving individuals, families, and communities across North Carolina,” said Jones. “This type of degree gives you a foundation. It opens you up to anywhere you want to go.”

Howell now works for Monarch Behavioral Health in Rocky Mount, assisting patients through the call center.

“You deal with different personalities and walks of life,” she said. “You have to treat everybody the same and be the best version of yourself every day.”

For prospective students considering the program at ECC, Howell said it is normal to be uncertain.

“Life changes you, and you’ll find your passion when the time is right,” she said. “Once you find where you fit–once you’re happy and comfortable–you’ll know this is more than a job. It’s your purpose.”

Graduates of ECC’s Social and Human Services program also qualify for positions such as substance abuse counselors, mental health technicians, DWI counselors, group home workers, residential facility employees and substance education specialists. With additional educational and clinical experience, graduates may pursue certification through the North Carolina Addiction Specialist Professional Practice Board.

Jones also notes, “with emerging changes to North Carolina’s Qualified Professional (QP) requirements, graduates of the Associate in Applied Science in Social and Human Services may have an expanded pathway toward QP-level employment.” This means once these graduates gain the necessary experience, they could have more opportunities to be hired in QP-level jobs, gaining a higher level of pay.

For more information about ECC’s Social and Human Services program, visit edgecombe.edu/human-services. Scholarships are available for qualified applicants.