Introduction to Human Services

1. Chapter 1 Introduction to Human Services

2. Themes and Purposes of Human Services Problems in living Human Services has developed in response to the needs of individuals, groups, or communities for assistance to live better lives. Very young Elderly Limited physical and mental capabilities Victims of crimes, disasters or abuse Immigrants Etc� Focused on the present and future by looking at the client and their relationship with their environment. Unemployment, friends doing drugs, family with no value for school

3. Problems in living cont. Growing number of problems in the modern world. Feelings of isolation and separation from others. Worry about how to feed, clothe and shelter those we care for. New Sources of worry are problems of overpopulation, malnutrition, urbanization, and the environment. Self-Sufficiency Strengthens self-esteem and feelings of independence. Make decisions and take responsibility for the control of their own lives.

4. Problems in living cont. Social care, Social control, and rehabilitation. Social care: assisting clients in meeting their social needs, with the focus on those who cannot care for themselves. Ex. Elderly, children, or victims of crime. Social Control: clients can care for themselves but have either failed to do so or have done so in a manner that violates society�s norms for appropriate behavior. Ex. Children, youth or adults in the criminal justice system. Rehabilitation: the task of returning an individual to a prior level of functioning. Ex. Veterans and people with a physical disability.

5. The Interdisciplinary Nature of Human Services Sociology: examines the ways in which human societies influence the people who live in them. It assesses the individual and the broader culture, and tries to account for and understand the differences within human culture. Psychology: the study of the mind and behavior. Numerous theories examine how people think, feel, and behave, and why we do these things in the manner in which we do. The professional develops a better understanding of people. Anthropology: studies the culture, physical, and social development of humans and the variation of their customs and beliefs.

6. Relationship Between Client and Helper Today, human service professionals assist the whole person and empower clients to help themselves. Human service professionals cannot meet all the clients needs but can assist in linking them to the appropriate services.

7. The Client and the Client�s Environment Culture and motivation should be taken into account when working with clients. The professional should find out about the clients current situation, including stress, relationships and everyday life while trying to see life through the clients eyes. The professional also assists the client in identifying their strengths and limitations and developing new skills and abilities to enhance their own personal development. The professional is also an educator and tries to empower the client to solve future problems independently. The professional educators also teach clients to determine the influence their environments have on their lives and to assess when and how their environments can be changed.

8. Management Principles In Human Service Delivery Networking to Develop a Human Service Umbrella Increased communication, cooperation, and collaboration among helpers and agencies can promote effective service delivery. Teaming Forming Teams and Partnerships to Provide Services Partnerships are emerging as a way that organizations in the human service delivery system can work together to serve their clients more effectively. Two or more service agencies agree to work together towards common goals.

9. Management Principles In Human Service Delivery Cont. Case Management: The goal of case managers is to teach those who need assistance to manage their own lives but to support them when expertise when needed or a crisis occurs. Gather information, make assessments, and monitor services. They also arrange services from other agencies, provide advocacy service, and assume responsibility for allocating scarce resources and providing quality assurance. Must learn to be proactive.

10. Roles and Activities of the Human Service Professional The Generalist: describes the kinds of skills the professional has and the types of functions the professional performs. Has the knowledge, values, and skills to perform several job functions in most human service settings also understanding how these functions fir with client and agency goals.

11. Activities of the Human Service Professional Academic training from 2 to 4 years. Focused on intense training, academically and experientially based, focuses on the acquisition of knowledge and skills pertinent to human services system, professionals and clients. Ethical Standards: define professional human service activities. Commit to the ethical treatment of clients and the development of ethical relationships with coworkers, other professionals, and the system. Confidentiality and respect for the clients values, heritage, beliefs, and self-determination. Bound by 2 sets of ethical standards: those developed by human service professionals and educators, and those developed specifically for the population they serve. Most professionals are required to maintain current knowledge of the Human Services field through continuing education and/or in-service training.