The human services program prepares students for technician, entry, and middle level positions in agencies and programs that specialize in helping people. These include community human services and agencies, mental health centers, and programs provided through nursing homes, institutions for the developmentally disabled, and hospitals.

Nature of Work
Human Service Assistants provide direct and indirect client services. They assess clients' needs, establish their eligibility for services and help clients obtain them. They examine financial documents to determine eligibility for food stamps, Medicaid, welfare, and other human service programs. They provide emotional support, assistance with transportation, meals, crisis intervention, medication, etc. The amount of responsibility and supervision varies a great deal.

Jobs
Social service assistant, case management aide, social work assistant, residential counselor, community support worker, alcohol or drug abuse counselor, mental health technician, child care worker, community outreach worker, life skill counselor, home interventionist, head custodian, parent mentor, program support staff or coordinator, women's shelter supervisor, and crisis hotline worker.

Employers
Offices, group homes, rehab programs, shelters, day programs, sheltered workshops, hospitals, clinics, corrections departments, state and local governments, and job training programs.

Outlook
The number of social and human service assistants is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations between 1996 and the year 2006-ranking among the most rapidly growing occupations. These jobs are not attractive to everyone due to the emotionally draining work and relatively low pay, so qualified applicants should have little difficulty finding employment.

Earnings
Starting salaries for social and human service assistants ranged from about $13,000 to $24,000/yr in 1997. Locally, salaries ranged from $11,000-$18,000.

Tech Prep
Human Services is currently designed for Tech Prep. Students in High School should contact their High School Counselor.

Earnings vary greatly according to location, experience, and individual.