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| Human Services Workers |
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| Employment Increase: |
136% |
| People In Field: |
445,000 |
| Average Salary: |
$21,000 |
| Qualifications: |
Associate or Bachelor's Degree |
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Nature of the Work:
"Human services worker" is a generic term for people
with various job titles, such as social service technician, case
management aide, social work assistant, residential counselor,
alcohol or drug abuse counselor, mental health
technician, child abuse worker, community outreach worker, and
gerontology aide. They generally work under the direction of
social workers or, in some cases, psychologists. The amount of
responsibility and supervision they are given varies a great
deal. Some are on their own most of the time and have little
direct supervision; others work under close direction.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement:
The federal government has enacted guidelines for
home health aides whose employers receive reimbursement
from Medicare. The federal law requires home health aides to
pass a competency test covering 12 areas: communication
skills; observation, reporting, and documentation of patient
status and the care or services furnished; reading and recording
vital signs; basic infection control procedures; basic elements
of body function and changes; maintenance of a clean, safe,
and healthy environment; recognition of and procedures for
emergencies; the physical, emotional, and developmental
characteristics of the patients served; personal hygiene and
grooming; safe transfer techniques; normal range of motion
and positioning; and basic nutrition. A home health aide may
also take training before taking the competency test. The
federal law requires at least 75 hours of classroom and practical
training supervised by a registered nurse. Training and testing
programs may be offered by the employing agency, but
they must meet the standards of the Health Care Financing
Administration. Training programs may vary depending
upon state regulations. Thirteen states have specific laws on
personal care services.
Job Outlook:
Opportunities for human services workers are expected
to be excellent for qualified applicants. The number of
human services workers is projected to more than double, making
it among the most rapidly growing occupations. It is estimated
that there will be 445,000 human services workers by
2005. Also, the need to replace workers who retire or stop
working for other reasons will create additional job
opportunities. However, these jobs are not attractive to everyone because
the work is responsible and emotionally draining and can
offer relatively poor pay. Qualified applicants should have
little difficulty finding employment.
Sources of Additional Information:
Information on academic programs in human services
may be found in most directories of two- and four-year
colleges, available at libraries or career counseling centers.
For information on programs and careers in human
services, contact:
Council for Standards in Human Services Education
Montgomery Community College
340 Dekalb Pike
Blue Bell, PA 19422
National Organization for Human Services Education
Fitchburg State College
PO Box 6257
Fitchburg, MA 01420
Information on job openings may be available from state employment services
offices or directly from city, county, or state departments of health,
mental health and mental retardation, and human resources.
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