What is Human Services?

The profession is “dedicated to interdisciplinary education and integrated services to clients. Help is focused not only on remediation of problems, but also on meeting basic human needs and advocating for change in the systems that affect the lives of our clients.”

– The National Organization for Human Services

The human services professional is motivated by the chance to create change in his or her community. Prior to entering the field, most admit that they’ve always wanted to help people. Human Services is a diverse field that encompasses opportunities in the public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors.

According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, human services occupations are among the most rapidly growing in the country, and continue to expand even during troubled economic times.

Areas of Human Service Opportunities

Alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment
Community organizing and advocacy
Corrections and probations
Crisis intervention
Early childhood development
Education
Elder care
Human rights
Law enforcement
Mental health
Welfare services
Violence prevention
Youth programs

Human Services positions

Administrator
Case manager
CEO
Child advocate
Community outreach
Corrections officer
Counselor
Eligibility examiner
Executive director
Gerontology aide
Group home worker
Human service worker
Human rights advocate
Life skills counselor
Mental health worker
Parole officer
Police officer
Probation officer
Program manager
Supervisor
Training specialist
Welfare reform advocate