Trends
Kriste Gutierrez
BSHS/305

Trends Today’s world is ever-changing and as service providers it is our responsibility to change and adapt. As we move forward in life we increase our knowledge and available resources. Technology is constantly changing as well, giving us many tools to work with. In the last decade technology has given us a boost in communications with: text messaging, emails, instant messenger and all the social media venues such as Instagram, Twitter, Myspace, and Facebook. With the use of social media, people have become more comfortable talking about what is going on in their lives. This has led to a more productive environment in some cases.
In the last twenty years we have seen social movements that have brought on a rights-based approach to health care. The implementation of HIPPA laws to protect the client’s personal information. The concern for privacy while maintaining the most open flow of communication with a client has become priority.
The Affordable Health Care Act has caused quite a stir amongst the people of the United States. Most people don’t understand what it means for them, leading to the need for someone to explain it. With the ever changing population, the Affordable Health Care Act was used to help regulate and make available health care to those that weren’t covered before, same sex partner, dependent children over 18, people with pre-existing conditions and expanding the coverage of state funded insurance. Also the Affordable Health Care Act removed the annual and life time limits for clients.
With the economic downturn, clients have had to rely on resources available. People that were once well off, have faced being laid off and losing their income. Unfortunately the need for services has increased but the resources available have decreased. Government cutbacks and poor economic situations have limited the availability of funds.
Many people are finding the rural life more comfortable due to the cost of living. Services are more difficult to provide in those areas, they are more remote. Getting quality care in rural areas is difficult for many reasons; one reason is the social stigma that follows those who live the rural life. This stigma includes things such as: the belief that you must not show emotions, cope without complaining, and working hard. Addressing mental health issues possess a problem because of this stigma and even once diagnosed and referred to the proper provider we are again faced with the dilemma of travel. Most specialists aren’t found in rural areas, thus the client has to travel some distance to get to the provider.
In 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA was brought forth. Since then it has been refined and fine-tuned to help those with disabilities. This effects the Human Services field in many ways and the Human Services field is shaping the ADA as well. As clients with disabilities come forward to receive help, the human service providers are learning of new needs that must be met.
The War on Terrorism, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom has caused many military service people to need services once they return. Things such as traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, and other mental health issues plague the service members. For many service members it is hard to address mental health issues, they have been taught to shoulder these things and continue on with what needs to be done. Providers have had to adjust the way they approach clients or potential clients. This has helped prepare providers for other situations that are similar.
As our world continues to evolve with technology, the services from human service professionals continue to grow as well. With the rise of mental illness affecting many families, the growth of professionals is important. The needs of clients 20 years ago are not necessarily the same in 2015. In the past agencies primarily did not branch out for different options for their clients and only used a branch agency. Now day’s agencies are becoming open to other services to become more client centered for the benefit of the client. These changes are benefiting everyone by opening the communication between agencies to better assist the client for who is in the need.
The human service delivery system can be simplified into three major categories’; education, health and social services. Previously mentioned about the health system, all three of these have grown tremendously over the years. Education has been pushed through the government to increase funding to ensure the success rate of students. The resources have evolved at schools from having computer classes to having day care for teenage mothers attending school to obtain the diploma. The typically family at this day in age is primarily a single parent who is working the minimum of 30 hours a week. With this come child provider and poverty issues for the overall family. Poverty has been an ongoing problem in our country; however it sometimes goes unspoken and ignored. These are simply some problems that with the continuing changes in the human services system that are faced.
Although there are problems to be faced, these problems are ongoing and going to continue to be a struggle. As our country and world continues to grow and change, the problems a human service professional will change as well. If all the human service providers and agencies ( whether they be nonprofit or profit ) they continue to work together, everyone will continue to help the client to the best of their ability.

References www.globalissues.org www.obamacarefacts.com
Health and Human Rights: An International Journal Dec 2012 Vol. 14 Issue 2 http://futureofchildren.org/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=68&articleid =483&sectionid=3292 http://www.govtech.com/health/5-Trends-Driving-the-Future-of-Human-Services.html http://outreach.msu.edu/bpbriefs/issues/brief15.pdf