Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Chapter 1 An Introduction to Human Services 11
Current Careers in Human Services
Human services workers can be employed wherever there are
people. Today, there are many positions available in the fi eld of human
services. Common human services careers include case managers,
counselors, therapists, and social workers. This is just a beginning list of
opportunities in human services, however. At the administrative level,
program directors, development directors, and executive directors lead
human services agencies. Figure 1.4 shows some examples of human
services careers. Keep in mind that hundreds of human services careers
exist that this chapter or even this book cannot begin to cover.
Human services career settings vary greatly (Figure 1.5). For
example, agencies provide client services in offi ces, schools, government
offi ces, and clinics or hospitals. Day treatment programs, correctional
institutions, group homes, shelters, and clients’ homes are other settings.
Within each setting, human services workers serve diverse clients. This
includes infants, older adults, people with special needs, addicts, and the
homeless. Because of this diversity, workers’ job titles and daily tasks
Examples of Human Services Careers
4-H youth development
specialist
Agency administrator
Business family and consumer
scientist
Caseworker
Child advocate
Child care consultant
Child care worker
Child life specialist
Child protective services
caseworker
Child recreation specialist
Child support case officer
Community organizer
Consultant to child-related
industry
Consumer advocate
Consumer credit counselor
Consumer educator
County extension agent
Crisis counselor
Curriculum specialist
Daycare center director
Early childhood intervention
specialist
Early childhood program director
Education advisor
Extension specialist
Family and consumer science
researcher
Family finances consultant
Family life specialist
Family planning counselor
Foster care social worker
Head Start program director
Health educator
Hospital child life specialist
Hospital education/trainer
Life coach
Mental health counselor
Nanny
Parent education specialist
Patient advocate
Personal financial advisor
Public relations specialist
Recreation therapist
Rehabilitation counselor
Residence life coordinator
Residential counselor
Sales representative
School counselor
School social worker
Social services program
coordinator
Social worker substance abuse
counselor
Teacher of English as a second
language
Teacher—preschool,
elementary, secondary
Victim advocate
Volunteer coordinator
Youth organizer
Figure 1.4 This chart shows some examples of human services careers. Which of these careers are the most
appealing to you?