A degree in human services equips the students with the expertise they need to address the needs of clients in various organizations engaged in public outreach. Some of the job requirements of human services graduates include working with detectives, doctors, social workers, and other specialists to support individuals working through health-related personal challenges. Many of the tasks performed by human services workers involve intervening on behalf of people struggling with substance abuse, crime, and/or violence in their lives.
What Can You Do With a College Major in Human Services?
Quite a number of careers require a degree in human services with you easily get from the University of Phoenix online these days. Employment opportunities include psychotic healthcare facilities, community homes, and daycare facilities for senior citizens, and rehabilitation centers. Below are some of the job titles human services graduates might occupy;
Administrative Services Managers
Administrative services managers are responsible for directing other professionals in human services. They often manage social services agencies and are often appointed by federal, state, regional, and local authorities to participate in and head temporary projects or task forces. Another important job for administrative services managers is that of lobbying, whereby they pressure politicians and other public officials to increase funding for social welfare projects.
Administrators also oversee the budgetary allocations for their departments and supervise their team members to ensure compliance with budgetary quotas. Another important responsibility of administrative services managers is that of evaluating the performance of junior employees.
A professional certification body known as The International Facility Management Association certifies administrative services managers. Two different levels namely Facilities Management Professional (FMP) and Certified Facility Manager (CFM) are available.
Child and Family Social Workers
Child and family social workers are tasked with helping vulnerable children and families to gain access to affordable housing and such government assistance programs as food stamps. Child welfare workers also look into abuse and neglect reports and collaborate with law enforcement to take legal action against those responsible. Clinical social workers may also require certification and license depend on the state laws.
Corrections Officers
Correctional officers work as parole officers and halfway house coordinators, but there is increasing demand for corrections officers to work with prisoners during their prison stays to modify behavior.
Substance Abuse Social Worker
The de-stigmatization of substance abuse has increased the number of people seeking for help in battling their addictions to alcohol and other drugs. Human services professionals are contributing in a big way to the fight against drug addiction by assisting counselors in rehabilitation facilities and liaising with outpatient recovery programs.
Substance abuse social workers assist their patients to deal with mental illnesses and addictions and to overcome them ultimately. Substance abuse social workers also contribute to the knowledge bank available for support services, being responsible to guide their clients through the recovery and reintegration process.
Substance abuse social workers with bachelor’s degrees can only be employed in entry-level jobs, as their skills do not allow them to hold positions of greater seniority. However, clinical social workers only require two years of experience in supervised clinical employment and a master’s degree to qualify for senior positions with supervisory and administrative privileges.
Clinical substance abuse social workers are required to get certification and licensing by professionals bodies, although regulations vary by state.
Social and Human Services Assistants
The job of social and human services assistants is to give a hand to individuals dealing with addiction, poverty, and mental health issues. The responsibilities of a social and human services assistant include finding out the type of aid required by their clients. They then collaborate with social workers to come up with therapeutic strategies and are ultimately responsible for helping patients with tasks such as eating, cleaning, and bathing. Social and human services assistants also assist their patients in applying for government and non-governmental organization support and checking with patients to monitor their progress.
While many of the professionals in human services work in individual and family services, there are some employment opportunities in specialized homes (homes for the elderly, disabled, etc.), rehabilitation centers, and working for federal, state, regional, and local governments. Higher education is often not required to get work as a social and human services assistant. Instead, workers receive on-the-job training after earning a high school diploma.