Welcome to About Human Services

People working in human services have specialized training as helping paraprofessionals.  There are human services positions in a variety of settings that include:

• residential care
• correctional facilities
• homeless shelters
• food banks
• substance abuse programs
• organizations dedicated to children and families
• poverty and employment services
• child and elder care operations
• mental health agencies
• domestic violence efforts

The role of a human service specialist may include:

• helping others obtain services
• monitoring and keeping records
• oganizing or leading group activities
• assisting clients in mastering everyday living skills
• role models for healthy behaviors for residents or clients
• helping social workers, health care workers and other professional to provide services to people
• providing services to clients to help them improve the quality of life
• assessing clients' needs, investigating their eligibility for benefits and services such as food stamps, Medicaid, or welfare, and help to obtain them
• arranging for transportation and escorts
• providing emotional support
• monitoring and keeping case records on clients
• reporting progress of clients to supervisors and case managers
• assisting clients in need of counseling or crisis intervention
• administering food banks or emergency fuel programs
• reviewing clients' records, ensuring they take their medication
• talking with family members and conferring with medical personnel and other caregivers to provide insight into clients' needs
• helping clients become involved in community recreation programs and other activities

In psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation programs and outpatient clinics, social and human specialists work with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and others to help clients master:

• everyday living skills
• communicate more effectively
• live well with others
• support the client's participation in treatment plans such as individual or group counseling or occupational therapy

Human service jobs are usually paraprofessional, which means they are not clinical or medical.  Human services paraprofessionals are usually part of a team that includes professional social workers, nursing staff, rehabilitative or physical therapy professionals, psychiatrists or doctors, and licensed counselors.  Job titles depends upon the setting, organization and population served.  Job titles also vary greatly and include:

• human service worker
• case management aide
• social work assistant
• community support worker
• mental health aide
• community outreach worker
• life skills counselor
• gerontology aide

The amount of responsibility and supervison human service workers are given varies a great deal and sometimes depends upon the facility.   Some may work in environments with very little supervision, for example, they may run a group home.  Other human services workers work under close direction and supervision.

The work environment of human service specialists include:

• offices
• clinics
• hospitals
• group homes
• shelters
• workshops
• day programs
• mental health hospitals

Training and qualifcations include:

• employers increasingly seek individuals with relevant work experience or education beyond high school
• certificates or associate degrees in subjects such as human services, gerontology or one of the social or behavioral sciences meet many employers' requirements

Jobs that may a require a bachelor's or master's degree in human services or a related field may include:

• counseling
• rehabilitation
• social work
• advancement opportunities

The level of education workers have often influence the kind of work they are assigned and the degree of responsbility that is given.

Demand for human service workers is expected to grow due to:

• the growing elderly population who are more likely to need adult day care, meal delivery programs, support during medical crises and other services
• the need to provide services to pregnant teenagers
• a need to provide services to people who are homeless
• the need to provide services to mentally disabled or developmentally challenged people
• and to provide services to those who are substance abusers
• the number of people who are disabled is increasing
• more community-based programs and supportive independent-living sites are expected to be established to house and the assist the homeless and the mentally and physicall disabled.
• more substance abusers are being sent to treatment programs instead of prison

Opportunities are expected to be the greatest in:

• private social service agencies as State and local governments continue to contract out services to the private sector in an effort to cut costs
• some private agencies have been employing more social and human service specialists in place of social workers, who are more educated and more highly paid

Job prospects for social and human specialists are expected to excellent, particularly for individuals with appropriate education after high school.  These job openings are expected to come from:

• job growth
• the need to replace workers who advance into new positions, retire, or leave the workforce for other reasons

Qualified applicants should have little difficulty finding employment, however, competition for jobs in urban areas is expected to be greater than in rural areas.

Projected earnings:

$22,530 to $30,510 (depending upon geographical location and facility)

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Social and Human Service Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos059.htm visited March 16, 2008