Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 1 An Introduction to Human Services 7 These care providers offer a wide variety of services. For example, some agencies provide housing assistance for people with low income. Some offer fi nancial education and assistance to single parents. Other agencies provide counseling to those in grief. Some offer after-school activities for young teens and day care for older adults. Still others offer nutrition advice for young parents or supply temporary housing for people in transition. For every identified personal need, there is usually a provider that can allocate (distribute) the resources to meet the need. Human services care providers employ human services workers to coordinate access to services, helping to simplify complex problems people face. People who receive services range from the very young to the very old. Human services workers serve those who have few emotional resources and those who have many. They serve the underprivileged and sometimes the very privileged. They serve the unskilled and the skilled. They serve the dependent and the independent. They also serve those who need assistance and those who can help themselves (Figure 1.2). Sometimes they serve people struggling with addictions. Human services workers are 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. For those who enjoy working with people, human services careers can provide ample opportunity. Reading Recall 1. What is human services? 2. Name one common goal of human services professionals. 3. List three types of services provided by human services care providers. 4. What does the term allocate mean? 5. Describe the type of people human services workers serve. JPC-PROD/Shutterstock.com Figure 1.2 Some human services workers assist older adults with daily living tasks, transportation, and simple companionship. Why do you think compassion for others is an important personal trait for human services workers?