Chapter 1 An Introduction to Human Services

Learning Outcomes Explain the historical beginnings and growth of the human services field. Identify the broad employment categories in the field of human services. Give examples of career opportunities for human services workers within each of the broad employment categories. Recognize common aptitudes, attitudes, and skills of human services workers. continued

Learning Outcomes Summarize key education, training, and experience expectations for human services careers. Identify common challenges and rewards in human services careers. Describe the job outlook for careers in human services.

Warm-Up When you think of careers in human services, which jobs come to mind? Which human services career interests you the most? Why? What interests or skills do you have that make this job a good fit for you? What skills or education do you need to succeed in this job? Odua Images/Shutterstock.com

What Is Human Services? A career field that provides for people’s needs Human services workers assist people at all stages of life help coordinate services support and offer advice to those who are struggling solve and prevent problems people face iQoncept/Shutterstock.com

Types of Services Housing assistance for people with low income Financial education and assistance to single parents Counseling for people struggling with problems After-school activities for young teens Day care for older adults Nutrition advice for young parents Temporary housing for people in transition

Creation of Human Services Relatively new career field that has been around for approximately the past 100 years Represents a cultural shift in ideology about who is responsible to meet needs and how to meet them Expanded and evolved to meet the changing needs of society and offer new services when they are needed

Did You Know? Before an ideology change regarding human services, people living in poverty or with special needs were often thought of as deserving of their circumstances Everett Historical/Shutterstock.com

Shift in Ideology Urban density and the Industrial Revolution led to a shift in ideology Charitable Organization Society (COS) US Settlement House Movement World War I and the Great Depression resulted in Americans needing financial support New Deal Social Security Act of 1935

Expansion of Human Services World War II led to economic recovery During the latter part of the twentieth century, the Department of Health and Human Services expanded services Head Start Family and Medical Leave Act Today, new programs continue to be developed

Common Careers in Human Services Human Services Career Opportunities Agency administrator Caseworker Child advocate Child care worker Child life specialist Consumer advocate Counselor Credit counselor Curriculum specialist Customer service representative Day care center director Education advisor Extension specialist Financial advisor Health educator Life coach Mental health counselor Nanny Patient advocate Public relations specialist Recreation therapist Rehabilitation counselor Sales representative School counselor Social services assistant Social worker Teacher Volunteer coordinator

Human Services Career Settings Family and children’s services agencies Federal and state governments Public or private schools Private businesses Places of worship Nursing homes Hospitals Josef Hanus/Shutterstock.com

Employment Categories in Human Services Consumer services Counseling and mental health services Early childhood development and services Family and community services Personal care services Entrepreneurial careers Food, clothing, and housing related services

Consumer Services Involve helping people budget, solve financial problems, and make good consumer decisions Educate clients on how to invest, save, and spend wisely and plan financial goals Evaluate consumer media and solve consumer issues EdBockStock/Shutterstock.com

Counseling and Mental Health Services Involve helping people maintain healthy, productive lives Achieved through therapy, counseling, and education or training Rob Marmion/Shutterstock.com

Early Childhood Development and Services Involve understanding and meeting the needs of infants, toddlers, and young children Know how children grow and develop Apply knowledge through use of age-appropriate activities and teaching methods stockphoto mania/Shutterstock.com

Family and Community Services Involve offering advice and assistance to people at all stages of life Work with people directly in the field Help people cope with and resolve personal issues and maintain healthy relationships Assist people following natural disasters Iakov FilimonovShutterstock.com

Personal Care Services Provide personal services, such as hair care, nail care, and skin care Have a lot of one-on-one interaction with clients Help people with daily living skills, such as feeding, bathing, or cooking Provide companionship IvanRiver/Shutterstock.com

Entrepreneurial Careers Offer people an opportunity to establish and run their own businesses Entrepreneurs make the decisions for their services or goods assume the responsibilities and risks for their own businesses enjoy the flexibility of being one’s own boss Charlotte Purdy/Shutterstock.com

Food, Clothing, and Housing Related Services Help people meet their needs for food, clothing, and shelter Assist in making decisions, purchasing, using, and maintaining products and services in these industries Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

Aptitudes, Attitudes, and Skills People in human services share common aptitudes, attitudes, and skills Have a common desire to help people Are socially perceptive Are compassionate, caring, and patient Possess good communication, problem-solving, and time management skills Can work well in teams and independently All of these skills and abilities are portable

Think Further What skills and abilities do you have in common with human services workers? What portable skills would you like to develop? Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

Common Core of Competencies Understanding of human development Awareness of social and societal interactions Knowledge of how national policy is set and how public policy is used to solve human problems Consideration of, and respect for, personal values, client values, and corporate culture Understanding of what people need to live healthy lives and maintain healthy relationships continued

Common Core of Competencies Knowledge of conditions that promote or limit optimal healthy living and relationships Belief that for people with the right resources and support, quality of life can be enhanced Awareness of resources that can promote healthy functioning

Education, Training, and Experience A career and technical program prepares students for careers in specific trades and occupations that need skilled workers Available for high school and college students Combine academics and job-specific skills An apprenticeship involves working for a qualified professional to learn a skilled trade Earn a salary while learning important skills May last from one year to four years continued

Education, Training, and Experience Postsecondary educational requirements vary by occupation, and may include an associate’s degree a bachelor’s degree a master’s degree a doctorate degree on-the-job training state licensure, certification, or professional registration Mega Pixel/Shutterstock.com

Challenges and Rewards Dealing with people in times of crisis and need can be challenging and emotionally taxing In some human services careers, the hours can be quite long and the pay relatively low Helping people achieve their goals, secure needed resources, and maintain healthy relationships is very gratifying and rewarding Human services workers work with diverse clients and develop meaningful relationships

Human Services Job Outlook Employment of human services workers is expected to grow much faster than the average for most occupations in the coming decades As the population grows, so does the need for human services workers Careers in human services may ebb and flow in relation to what is happening in the overall economy

Think Further What places in your community may experience an increased demand for human services workers as the expected human lifespan continues to lengthen? Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

Review What is the primary focus of the human services profession? meeting the needs of people and improving their quality of life What two factors influenced the formation of human services? urban density and changing ideologies continued

Review Identify the broad employment categories in the field of human services. consumer services; counseling and mental health services; early childhood development and services; family and community services; personal care services; entrepreneurial careers; and food, clothing, and housing related services continued

Review What are the common aptitudes, attitudes, and skills of human services workers? have a common desire to help people; are socially perceptive; are compassionate, caring, and patient; possess good communication, problem-solving, and time management skills; and can work well with others, in teams, and independently continued

Review What four degrees may be part of the postsecondary educational requirements for human services workers? associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and a doctorate degree What is the job outlook for human services? employment of human services workers is expected to grow much faster than the average for most occupations in the coming decades