INDIVIDUAL: What is Human Service

What is Human Services BSHS/302 April 9, 2012 Instructor: Joe Spalding

INDIVIDUAL: What is Human Services What is Human Services? The need to help someone who cannot meet his or her own basic needs of food, shelter and, health, has been a need that some have fulfilled for centuries dating back to Elizabethan time in England during the 16th century, and which carried over to the original 13 colonies in America. With the creation in 1953 of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by President Eisenhower (HHS.gov, where the professional advocates for improving service systems by attending to the convenience, responsibility, and assortment of professionals and agencies that will carry out services to those in need according to the National Organization of Human Services (NOHS). The skills and intervention strategies for the professional includes the professional themselves. Attaining a level of understanding of one’s own principles and mores is crucial in recognizing these in others. A Clinical assessment, family genograms, psychological testing, and basic counseling techniques will start the professional on the path to finding help for the individual, using patience, active listening skills, observation skills, sympathy, and empathy. Ethical considerations for the professional are treating each client with respect, dignity while apprising clients of limits of confidentiality, protecting client records, and the client’s right to refuse services, and to build on the client’s strengths (Martin, 2011). Factors such as these are considered when speaking about what a professional does for people in need in today’s world.

INDIVIDUAL: What is Human Services
The goal of human services professionals is to advocate the service systems through an interdisciplinary information core as well as correcting problems, and a solid commitment to develop the complete quality of the life of those in need. The human service worker starts by having an understanding of his or her own principles and mores because they will recognize these in others. An understanding of why people may need intervention from issues, such as medically, socially, behaviorally, and educationally models, along with the skills in recognizing and choosing the correct treatment that advances growth while reaching the goal of the client. Human service professionals should display a deep understanding, patience and also a high level of care and the want to help others. Strong communication skills, the skill to manage time effectively, and an overwhelming need to help others are all traits that human service workers should embody. Social service agencies, community-based agencies, and residential settings are just an example of where service workers can work.
The United States wanted independence from England, although much of England’s social welfare customs, the ideas, and outlook of the poor, remained the same in the new world. The Elizabethan Poor Laws of 1601 played a major role in America’s social welfare policy according to Martin, 2011. There were three principle obligations started with one’s family that poor relief would be dealt at the local level, and people should not be allowed to move to a new neighborhood if they could not take care of themselves. Hard work, strong moral behavior, and a life centered in purity and denial was the concept thought to be accepted

INDIVIDUAL: What is Human Services by society. The Rev. S. Humphreys started the Charity Organization Society (COS) in 1870s that is acknowledged as the first organization to help with the poor, by sending out friendly visitors, known today as caseworkers, too establish the needs of the poor. By the late 1800s, Jane Addams brought settlement houses with the start of the Hull House in Chicago. With the 1929 stock market crash, many started to push for the first federal system of social welfare with many entitlement programs passed by Roosevelt, and in 1935 the Social Security Act, which assists the unemployed, aid to families, and to the disabled (Martin, 2011). Interventions used today will range from assistance, referral, advocacy, and direct counseling. The caseworker must have a firm ability to orally and written communication skills, have a grasp on interpersonal relationships and how they work, managing time effectively and be self-disciplined. Caseworkers use evaluating, diagnosing, treating mental, and emotional problems, research, and referring people for additional education in areas of need, from the social to the personal (Martin, 2011). According to Zins, 2001, there are six key elements which touch all areas of human services. They are the provider, recipient, environment, organization, need, and finally the method. The actions are determined by the provider and the recipient, all of which will determine what type of intervention is necessary.
The areas of ethical consideration the human services professional will need to address are: the responsibility to the patient, responsibility to the community and society in general, to their colleagues, the profession, and a responsibility to their employer. They must treat all patients with dignity and respect. The professional in helping with the community and society,
INDIVIDUALS: What is Human Services the professional must keep current with what is happening in their communities, how that will affect families and individuals. Colleagues are treated respectfully; conflicts are addressed professionally, and unethical behavior of a colleague is reported. Professionals will conduct themselves with dignity, honesty, and objectivity. Follow through on behalf of employer is a goal to maintain while providing the client with the highest standards of services. Holding oneself to the standards of accountability, empathy, compassion, and respect for others is something the professional should do for themselves (NOHS, 1998).
The human service professional provides people who cannot meet their basic needs, food, shelter, and health, with the necessary tools, skills, and interventions that will enable them to lead full, productive lives. Starting with the Elizabethan era, to the New Deal, to present day, providing appropriate interventions for the client is still the number goal of the professional. Taking into consideration the professional must remain accountable, display empathy, compassion, and respect for the client, colleagues as well as themselves will ensure ethical integrity in human services.

INDIVIDUAL: What is Human Services Parper Resources
Martin, M.E. (2011). Introduction to Human Services: Through the Eyes of Practice Settings (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon Publishing.
National Organization of Human Services. Ethical Standards for Human Service
Professionals. Retreived from: www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-standards -for-hs-professionals.
National Organization of Human Services. What is Human Services. Retreived from: www.nationalhumanservices.org/what-is-human-services
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services HHS.gov. History of Human Services: Historical Highlights. Retrieved from: www.hhs.gov/about/hhs.hist./html