Class notes for Sept 12..
We started with a discussion of the events of last Sept. 11th and their relevance to the needs of the people we serve.
People brought in  listings to add to the 'Encyclopedia of Human Services that we are building, as well as current job listings for human service positions.
We touched on the current state of human services: A number of people brought in recent articles from newpapers and magazines giving a glimpse of the enormous range of social problems and needs that are currently in the news: Prejudice and hatred, homelessness and hunger, problems of disability and lack of job training, etc. As the agency and job listing shows, there is also a huge range of services available. As our test book says:
"At no time in the history of social services has there been such a wide array of program approaches for solving social service problems..." and attitudes toward many problems (addiction, disability, etc) have become more accepting.... BUT at the same time, the actual availability of many services is being cut back . Three reasons especially stand out: 1) public support for government spending on such programs isn't there: cutting government debt and cutting taxes is deemed more important; 2) the profit motive underlying many of the agencies and organizations ('managed care' insurance companies, for instance) has curtailed services, and 3) increases in the costs of providing services (due to insurance issues, providing health coverage for employees, the cost of building, maintaining, heating, and running the facilities, etc) have put the price tag for services too high for long-term treatment approaches.  In addition, many services were enhanced by the efforts of volunteer workers who now are members of the paid work force and have no time - or energy - to devote to volunteer jobs.
Human service agencies are often organized in loose networks that center on meeting particular problem areas. Some are government sponsored, some are private-profit or non-profit agencies that are funded by government monies (local, state or federal),  private grants from charitable foundations, charities and/or client fees.
How do you find the appropriate agency for a particular problem? Finding the right fit between a human need and the appropriate source of help depends on: 
1) understanding the nature of the problem,
   2) understanding about what the causes and history are for the problem, 
      3) knowing what  resources are available, the cost of services needed and the ability of the person to pay for them,   
         4) and, sometimes, luck or chance. 
Some possible sources of information are: 
  • Info line (211), or, in an emergency, police or medical response teams (911)
  • the service directory in the front of the phone book
  • the local town hall
  • directories of services (put out by United Way, Community Chest, the Social Service Coalition, etc)
  • The Human Services Yellow Pages
  • Also, develop and use your own directory of local services, contacts and sources of information. You have the start of one in the directory pages handed out in the first class. The information is being compiled with other classes' input and will be eventually posted on a web page for continual updating, but I suggest you keep a hard or electronic copy and MAKE IT YOUR OWN! This is for your use and will not be collected for this class. Arrange it in whatever way it is most useful to you.   Make notes for yourself about particular people in the agency that are especially helpful, unique aspects of the services they offer, etc. You also might want to start a page of web connections that provide good information and file them in your directory.
What does  'Human Services' refer to, exactly?  It's a 'holistic' approach to human needs, which takes into account all of a person's needs, not just those traditionally dealt with by social workers or counselors. WE discussed the Human Service worker as both a GENERALIST and a  SPECIALIST.  While often a human service worker is a specialist in one area, often designated by the job title or by the specific assigned tasks of the job, he or she also sees the whole person and how the individual's problems are all interwoven into a web of needs, all of which have to be addressed in order to allow success to be made in the worker's targeted area. (For example, if a child has special needs, the family may need special supports such as medical care, respite care, rental or food assistance, etc. If these needs are not met, the specialist working on that child's educational needs will not be as effective. Thus, the knowledge base for making referrals to meet these needs is important even though they are not the worker's field of expertise.)

   Also, job titles rarely give a clue to the multiple roles and tasks involved in any one position. We listed some of the different kinds of tasks people do in their work and I read a Performance Plan written for a Youth-at-Rish worker for the Hall Neighborhood House.
Even with a range of services in existence and knowledgeable workers ready to provide those services, not everyone gets the help they need.
    What are some of the barriers to a person obtaining or accepting the help they need?

 Some possible 'external' barriers: 
  • The services needed may be too specialized; they may not exist or may be inadequate.
  • The cost of the services may be too high for the people in need to afford.
  • The application process may be prohibitively complex and/or the admissions criteria too stringent.
  • Their may be language barriers; no interpreters for clients who so not speak English.
  • There may be conditions that make getting access to the services very challenging: for instance physical barriers if a person is in a wheelchair, lack of transportation, lack of required proof of eligibility for services, lack of money to pay for them.
  • Other service agencies may know little, or what is known may be wrong, about what services an agency offers.
  • The agency's reputation or image in the community may keep people away.

 Some possible 'internal' barriers:

People often have difficulty accessing reaching out or accepting help even when there are no external barriers because of their values, beliefs, training and past experiences.
  • They may not perceive or may deny the existence or seriousness of the problem.
  • They may fear stigmatization: being judged, labeled or discriminated against.
  • They may have realistic and/or unfounded fears of the consequences of seeking help or of the service agency.
  • They may feel shame about the situation they are in or their lack of ability to deal with it.
  • They may fear change: the known difficulties may seem less scary.
  • They may have limited or no knowledge of the available programs
Choosing Human Service Work:  Human service workers are 'Generalists': they use wide range of resources and helping strategies, working at many levels in various roles/jobs,  in many difference fields and work settings. If you don't yet know what you would like or be good at, expose yourself  to as many as possible before choosing. What attracts you most? What is uncomfortable, too scary, not attractive? KNOW YOURSELF.  Which roles seem most comfortable, natural to you? You need to consider four aspects:
  • Personality:  Are you outgoing? Reticent? Easily intimidated? Bold and confident? Patient? Impatient? Organized? You need to have good insight into who you are, strengths, weaknesses, etc. Not necessary to totally avoid areas you that aren't your strongest, can be a great learning opportunity.  Shy? Required yourself to do public speaking, door to door organizing. Opinionated? Can practice becoming a good listener, placing yourself in other's shoes and trying on their world views, values.
  • Personal beliefs and values: Religion, political and general ethical beliefs systems are an important part of who you are and must be compatable with the work you do, so take this into account when making choice about the kind of work you do.
  • Lifestyle:  There are practical realities that can undermine even the 'perfect' match between who you are and what you do in human services. Family demands, physical needs can interfere with shift work demands. There are risks or challenges in working with some populations: physical interventions or altercations, risk of disease or illness, dangerous areas you might have to work in, etc. Also, consideration of pay scales for a job you would love may be a concern.
  • Practical realities: What jobs/agencies are have openings? Where are they located? Do you have the level of skill, experience or education required for the job?
In small groups, people read "Confessions of a Welfare Mom" and discussed their reactions to the article. What attitudes do you have that would enhance or inhibit your work with someone like this?
Assignment for next week: Read Chapter 4, "Attitudes, Values, Skills, and Knowledge". Then write up an assessment of yourself in terms of the four aspects  in terms of how they guide you in your choice of  careers/jobs..