The verbal helping skills of trained and untrained human service paraprofessionals.
The verbal helping skills of human service paraprofessionals in a youth service agency were studied. Workers who had previously completed a 10-week systematic training program in basic helping skills were compared to untrained volunteer staff. Using simulated helping interviews, it was found that training made a significant impact on trainees' verbal helping responses. Skill level was maintained at a 2-month follow-up for certain responses whereas others returned to pretraining levels. Trainees were found to use significantly more "helpful" responses than volunteers. The need for training even carefully selected paraprofessionals is discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D002648:Child; D002660:Child Guidance / Q000193:education; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D014838:Volunteers