vi Spotlights Diverse Careers As you prepare for your future education and a career in human services, the knowledge and skills you gain from this text will help ignite your passion for the path you choose. Principles of Human Services presents a comprehensive introduction to various careers in human services, including consumer services, counseling and mental health services, early childhood development and services, family and community services, and personal care services. Career Spotlight features give you a closer look at human services careers from the perspective of professionals in the field. Succinct career tables list relevant occupations in each pathway, including future trends and projected growth. ©iStock.com/Rauluminate Career Spotlight Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Mateo Villanueva I am a registered dietitian nutritionist in a large university hospital. As a clinical dietitian, I am an expert in nutrition. My specialty is in the care and feeding of cancer patients. On an average day, I usually begin by answering and sending e-mails and generally taking stock of the day ahead. I plan and organize my day by reviewing the patient charts and status. Then, I’m ready to start my “rounds.” These are patient visits and consultations with medical staff. My pager keeps me moving from consult to consult. While on rounds, the pace can sometimes be hurried, but I always take time to keep thorough records of each patient. If any of my patients are being discharged, I need to allot extra for consulting with the patient, his or her family, and the community dietitian who will be monitoring the patient after discharge. For example, one of my patients had surgery and chemotherapy for cancer of the stomach, can only manage liquids, and needs to be fed by tube. She is also diabetic. This further complicates matters. I need to make surAdvocateanndfitounderstandsyworkerfullysheesociala her dietary needs because she lives alone. I’m currently working with home health aide who can provide support services.. Another important aspect of my involves participating in staff problem solving and consultations. A team of doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, and other specialists reviews cases together. These sessions are invigorating. Our team works together to provide the best care and treatment for our patients. When a new patient health issue challenges one of us, another usually has some experience or insight to share. I am really proud of my profession. Dietitians help people in a very tangible way. As a registered dietitian, I have many career options open to me. There are always new procedures to learn, research ideas to apply, drug therapies to explore, and patients who present new and unique challenges. Research Activity Conduct online research to fi nd out more about a possible career as a registered dietitian. What are the educational requirements becoming a dietitian? In what types of settings can dietitians work? What is the projected job outlook for this occupation? After completing research, determine whether or not would be interested in pursuing this as a career. Why or why not? Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.Bachelor’s constantly p These are consumer advocacy, fi nancial se buying. Examples of careers in each of these areas are shown in Figure 8.1 Examples of Consumer Services Careers Consumer advocacy • Community consumer educator • Community organizer • Consumer advocate • Consumer journalist • Consumer litigation attorney • Consumer lobbyist • Nonprofit foundation manager • Policy analyst Financial services • Budget • Credit counselor • Financial advisor • Financial analyst • Financial manager • Insurance sales agent • Insurance underwriter Customer service • Computer support specialist • Customer service representative • Retail sales manager • Retail sales worker • Sales manager • Sales worker Buyingservice • Buyer • Purchasing agent • Purchasing manager • buyer • Supply chain manager Figure 8.1 There are many different careers in consumer services. Which area of consumer services interests you most? Financi al serv ices B ganalyst • Credit counselor • Financial advisor Financial analyst Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 8 Consumer Services Figure 8.20 Learning as much as possible about careers can help you make informed career decisions. to the infor mation in this c hart, which consumer services careers are predicted to have the highest projected growth?wth? Future Trends for Consumer Services Careers Occupation Projected Growth (2018–2028) Projected Job Openings (2018–2028) Median Wages (2018) Education Budget analyst As fast as average (4%) 4,800 $76,220 Bachelor’s degree Computer support specialist Faster than average (11%) 65,100 $50,980 Bachelor’s degree Credit counselor Faster than average (7–10%) 3,800 $45,180 Bachelor’s degree Customer representative Decline (−2%) 387,600 $33,750 High school diploma or equivalent Event specialist Faster than average (7–10%)Retail 16,800 $49, 370 Bachelor’s degree Family and consumer sciences extension agent Average (8–6%) 1,000 $49,840 Master’s degree Financial advisor Faster than average (7–10% ) 23,200 $88,890 degree Financial analyst As fast as average (4–6%) 30,900 $85,660 Bachelor’s degree Financial manager Much faster than average (11% or higher) 64,900 $127,990 Bachelor’s degree Insurance sales agent Faster than average (7–10%) 53,400 $50,600 High school diploma or equivalentdiplomaCommunity Insurance underwriter Decline (−2% or lower) 8,400 $69,380 Bachelor’s degree Investment underwriter Average (4–6%) 13,700 $70,280 Bachelor’s degree Occupational health and safety technician Faster than average (7–10%) 1,300 $50,780 Associate’s degree Online merchant Average (4−6%) 119,600 $70,530 Bachelor’s degree Operations research analyst Much faster than average (11% or higher) 10,900 $83,390 Master’s or Doctoral degree Purchasing agent Decline (−7%) 400,200 $62,750 Bachelor’s degree Purchasing manager Average (4%) 6,400 $118,940 Bachelor’s degree Retail buyer Decline (−2%) 40,200 $62,750 Bachelor’s degree Retail loss prevention specialist Average (4–6%) 35,400 $30,720 High school diploma or equivalentand Retail sales worker Decline (−2%) 4,663,700 No formal educational credential Sales manager As fast as average (5%) 426,300 $124,220 Bachelor’s degreeofficer Social and community service manager Much faster than average (13%) 190,700 $63,320 Bachelor’s degree Supply chain manager Average (4–6%) 91,300 $107,480 Bachelor’s degree Sources: O*NET and the Occupational Outlook Handbook ©iStock.com/Rauluminate ult to consult. While on rounds, d, but I alwa ys take time to keep d ischarged, I need to allot extra time or her f amily, and the community dietitian who will be arge. For example, one of my pat ients had su rgery and o mach, can onl y mana ge liquids, and needs to be fed b y tube. o mplicates matters. I need to make sure she full understands s alone. I’m curr ently working with a social worker to fi d a fi e support services y jjob ob involves participatin g in staff problem solvin g and n urses, therapists, social workers, and other specialists reviews nvigorating. Our team works tog ether to provide the best s. When a new patien t health issue cha llenge s one of us, nce or insi ght to share. sion. Dietitians help people in a ver y tangible wa y. A s a a reer options open to me. Th ere are al ways new procedures r u g therapies to explore, and patients who prese nt new and d out more about a possible career as a registered dietitian. ments ffor or becoming a dietitian? In what types o f settings can cted job outlook for this occupation? After completing yyour our t yyou ou would be interested i uing this as a career. Why or uld be interested i uing this as a car eer. W Courtesy of Crystal Johnson, photo by Mary Campbell Career Spotlighttime Children’s Domestic Violence Crystal Johnson As a children’s domestic violence advocate, my job is to provide a 10-week in-home psycho-educational program for children who have witnessed domestic violence. I work with the nonviolent parent and his or her children to address issues that arise post-separation from an abusive partner. The program focuses on fostering a healthy relationship between the nonviolent parent and his or her children. Research shows this is the number one predictor of resiliency in a child who has witnessed domestic violence. Each week of the program focuses on a different topic. Topics may include safety planning, counseling around why the violence is not the child’s fault, coping skills, feelings identifi cation, problem-solving skills, and anger education. I use tools, such as games, puppets, videos, and art for these topics. Most of my job consists of direct service with clients. I am either meeting with clients for the program or conducting intakes on the phone with new clients. The indirect services include preparation for home visits, professional consultations (CPS, legal services, sexual assault centers, schools, etc.), paperwork, and community education about domestic violence. Every day looks different, so there are always new challenges to navigate. The clients I work with, however, do all of the hard work. I am there to offer support and expertise. The greatest reward in my work is seeing a child’s face when his or her parent is sitting on the ground playing silly games, singing a song, or talking about how he or she feels. Sometimes when we go through big transitions, we forget to take time with the people we love to be silly and laugh. It’s great to see the families feel like they are able to do that again, and to be a part of that is something special. My goal in this work is to help families feel safe and whole again, and empower them to change the course of their children’s lives. Research Activity Conduct online research to explore how to become a children’s domestic violence advocate. What common aptitudes, abilities, and skills are needed? What are the educational and licensure requirements? What are the rewards and demands of working as a children’s domestic violence advocate? What is the projected job outlook? After completing your research, determine whether or not you would be interested in pursuing this as a career. Why or why not? elp formed career decisions.According According to $127,990 B $ 50,600 High school or equivalent $69,380 Bachelor’s degree $70,280 Bachelor’s degree $50,780 Associate’s degr ee $70,530 Bachelor’s degree $ 83,390 Master’s or Doctoral degree $62,750 Bachelor’s degree $118,940 Bachelor’s degree $62,750 Bachelor’s degree $30,720 High school diploma or equivalent 700 $$24,340 24,340 No for mal educationa l credent ial 00 $124,220 Bachelor’s degree 00 $63,320 Bachelor’s deg ree 0 $107,480 Bachelor’s degree elp yo formed career decisions. Accor wth? Chapter 11 Family and Services Social and Human Services Assistantsspend Social and human services assistants typically most of their time researching, fi nding, and obtaining available resources to meet d For example, they may fi nd affordable child care for l help a client with a Figure 11.2 Family and community services workers’ job titles and daily tasks may be very different, depending on the agency for which they work. Which of the careers listed appeals to you the most? Examples of Family and Community Services Careers • Caseworker (also called case coordinator or case manager) • Certified health coach • Community health worker • Development director • Development officer • Disaster relief worker • Emergency relief worker • Executive director • Firefighter • Law enforcement • Program director • School social worker • Social and human services assistant • Social worker • Volunteer coordinator • Wellness coach