If you answered the age-old question, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” with, “I want to help people,” you are in the right place in human services! However, now that you are thinking about your future career, it is typical to wonder where to start, whether a degree is needed and what degree, are there certifications, how long will it take, and can I do this?
You are capable! Though it is good to consider some planning and education.
In order to help you on your journey, it is best to define “human services.” One great definition is: “Human services, collectively, are an interdisciplinary set of social assistance programs that include everything from healthcare and counseling services to food and shelter offered through government and nonprofit agencies and designed to contribute to the welfare and happiness of communities by delivering a broad range of help and support to individuals and families.” Specific examples of careers in human services are
- caseworker
- drug and alcohol counselor
- adult day care worker
- life skills instructor
- client advocate
- home health aide
- crisis intervention counselor
- community organizer
- behavioral health technician
- mental health worker
- clinician
- intake worker
- housing management
- or food insecurity assistance, among many others.
Broadly speaking, Human Services professionals can serve individuals or groups, providing services such as policy and advocacy, direct care, management, disaster relief, linkage to resources, behavioral health interventions, and mental health interventions, to name a few.
To work in human services, one must hold certain personal qualities – and, if you reflect on your life and think about positive adult role models and influences, it is likely they shared some of these qualities. Supportive adults early in life can unlock the potential for resilience in individuals. Even more, they can help build feelings of safety, consistency, attachment – all of which create a positive environment for hope and change. In many cases, someone who enters this field exhibits patience, empathy, compassion, humility, and follow-through; they are non-judgmental, an excellent listener, trustworthy, demonstrates ethical behavior, healthy boundaries, and an ability to analyze situations and problem solve in an effort to assist others reach toward their goals while providing trauma-informed, recovery-based solutions. A great human services professional can help people unlock their own potential. Is it easy? Not always. Is it worth it? Yes, it is. Much like replenishing or rebuilding after a storm, the work is challenging for all involved but seeing the final product thriving is beautiful and life-changing for all.
If you hold these human qualities, there are some additional things to consider before entering the human services. For example, what level of care do you wish to work in? Do you prefer working with individuals or groups? With adults or children? Would you prefer to work from an office or in people’s homes and community environments? Do you have appropriate transportation? And what type of schedule are you and your family comfortable working around? You do not need to have all these questions answered prior to starting your new career; however, it may help you chose the best academic or skilled pathway for your future.
In most cases for entry-level employment, a high school diploma or equivalency is required and some college or certifications past high school are preferred. In the event you hope to help people physically, you might consider becoming a home health aide or a certified nursing assistant as an entry-level position on a pathway to a licensed practical nursing degree.
If you are more interested in grassroots organizing and community uplift, it may be useful to start volunteering at an early age to better understand the need of your community and the systems involved. Consider Meals on Wheels, a soup kitchen, or working at a local YMCA or at a shelter warming station. An entry level job at a day care or pre-school is always a wonderful way to better understand childhood development and behaviors. An Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, or Social Work all would be a great start toward working in the fields of drug and alcohol treatment, child welfare, nursing home care, mental health, and other social services agencies. This will allow you to work in direct care and possibly advance over time. While working on your degree, there are many opportunities available with flexible schedules such as working as a behavioral health technician (BHT).
No matter the career path you choose, certain certifications are often necessary. For the safety of all our clients and their families, most employers in our field require child abuse clearances, criminal background checks, and FBI fingerprint database clearances. In addition, most facilities require passing a basic workplace physical, drug test, and immunization records to keep our employees and community members as healthy as possible. Lastly, most employers will offer first aid and CPR certifications; however, it is useful if your already have a certification card. Many community colleges also offer certification classes to the public for a nominal fee. (Community colleges are a wonderful resource for certifications as well as for job fairs and networking opportunities.)
It is never too late to change careers. You probably already hold many of the skills necessary to serve others in the community around you! Don’t fret if you are not sure which pathway to choose or if you are an older professional who has a degree or work history not listed in this article. The sky is the limit if you have the courage to choose a new path and follow through. There have been many skilled and valuable professionals in the human services field who started out in another profession with different credentials. Overall, the most important qualification is the “human” component, for it is the hardest to teach. It does not come from a book, nor from a presentation; it comes from a place within us often unlocked by witnessing and valuing the humanity of others. To work in the service of others is a courageous choice to put people and communities first. It is a choice to do things because it is the right thing to do – not the easy one. We build scaffolding to strengthen communities and embrace people at all ages and stages as they navigate life’s challenges.
Service is a commitment to all our futures with an understanding that people need good people. If this sounds like you, take a chance and apply for a job in the human services. We would love to have you on our team!
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References:
“What Is Human Services?” Human Services Edu, November 10, 2023. https://www.humanservicesedu.org/what-is-human-services/. “What Is Human Services.” National Organization for Human Services, July 5, 2024. https://www.nationalhumanservices.org/what-is-human-services/.
Some local government jobs such as probation, parole, aging, child welfare, early intervention often require a civil service test of some sort.
