Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
1 1
Do you want to have a career that focuses on people? If so, the fi eld of
human services may be for you. Human services workers are those ready
to offer a helping hand to people struggling with life’s countless obstacles.
They do their best to help others meet their own needs. They understand and
appreciate the human condition, and for those who enjoy working with people,
human services careers can provide ample opportunity.
People are drawn to human services careers for different reasons. For
those who enjoy working with people and value helping others, these careers
are ideal. From child care workers and educators to fi nancial counselors,
from marriage and family therapists to housing specialists, these jobs can
be found wherever people have needs, which, of course, is everywhere. The
fi ve different career pathways in human services include consumer services,
counseling and mental health services, early childhood development and services, family
and community services, and personal care services. Human services careers are
not limited to these pathways, however. In this book, you will learn about the
broad range of jobs that exist in human services.
The human services fi eld can offer you an opportunity to work with
diverse clients, including infants, children, teens, and adults. Human services
workers interact with older adults; the homeless; and people with mental
illnesses, disabilities, and addictions. In doing so, they may provide housing
assistance for low-income individuals, offer fi nancial education and assistance
to single parents, provide counseling to those in grief, or offer after-school
activities for young teens. They may also provide day care for older adults,
nutrition advice for young parents, or supply temporary housing for people in
transition. Daily tasks may be highly varied, requiring workers to employ a
wide range of skills, knowledge, creativity, and resources.
Will you be prepared to enter the human services fi eld when you fi nish
this book? No. This book will, however, inspire you and provide a road map
for your exploration of the human services fi eld. Remember, helping people
requires action. Begin to take action toward your human services career today!
To the Student To the Student