What Is Human Services? Bshs/302

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What is Human Services? BSHS/302 What is Human Services? Many people live their lives as middle-class families and lead successful lives on a consistent basis. There are many other people however who need assistance in meeting their basic needs. The field of human services allows caring individuals to help those who cannot help themselves. The Goal of Human Services The human services field is comprised of many different types of professionals including social workers, caseworkers, program coordinators, outreach and crisis counselors, and victim advocates, who all have a common goal (Martin, 2011). That goal is to help “people meet their basic physical and emotional needs that for whatever reason cannot be met without outside assistance” (Martin, 2011, p. 4). Some people are not able to meet their needs on their own; this can be due to the fact that some people lack a family and friend support system, are unemployed or uneducated, face social exclusion, are affected by natural disasters or are suffering from a mental illness (Martin, 2011). Social service professionals work in diverse settings in order to reach the varied populations that need assistance. Human service professionals also advocate for changes in laws and policies that enable marginalization in society (Martin, 2011). According to Martin (2011), the main goal in the human services field is to “support individuals as well as communities function at their maximum potential, overcoming personal and social barriers as effectively as possible in the major domains of living” (p. 6). The way that clients are helped depends on the setting in which they are found. Social work in a school setting is very different from social work in a hospice. The social issue, area of specialty, and target population will alter how the human service professional will deliver services and what the ultimate goal of
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